Volume 28, Number 1, 2004

This work explored the applicability of the fractal theory for studies into space variability of soil aggregation. Fractal geometry has become a model for soil size particle distribution. The distribution of soil aggregates in terms of its mass was obtained, and model parameters such as the fractal dimension D, which is a representative measure of the soil fragmentation (the larger its value, the larger the fragmentation), and the largest aggregate size RL were defined as descriptive tools for soil aggregation. […]

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine the structural modifications engendered by wetting-drying cycles in Latosol samples (Oxisols) with different mineralogical properties submitted to dry grinding, compared with bulk samples. Air-dried soil samples were sieved through a 1.00 mm sieve and separated in two groups. One was kept as control group and the other ground in a mortar and sieved through a 0.105 mm sieve. This second was also split in two groups, one of which received particulate humic acid […]

The objectives of this work were to generate a representation of soil properties expressed by categorical attributes by kriging indicator; to assess the uncertainty in estimates, and to model the uncertainty propagation of map algebra by means of boolean procedures. The studied attributes were potassium (K) and aluminum (Al) exchangeable contents, sum of bases (SB), cationic exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (V), texture (Tx) and relief classes (RC), effective soil depth, internal drainage, and stoniness and/or rockiness, extracted from 222 […]

The objectives of this study were to use kriging indicators to generate a representation of soil properties expressed by numeric attributes, to assess the uncertainty in estimates, and to model the uncertainty propagation generated by the fuzzy procedures of map algebra. The studied attributes were exchangeable potassium (K) and aluminum (Al) contents, sum of bases (SB), cationic exchange capacity (CEC), base saturation (V), and total sand content (TST), extracted from 222 pedologic profiles and 219 extra samples, located in Santa […]

The state-space approach is used to evaluate the relation between soil physical and chemical properties in an area cultivated with sugarcane. The experiment was carried out on a Rhodic Kandiudalf in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Sugarcane was planted on an area of 0.21 ha i.e., in 15 rows 100 m long, spaced 1.4 m. Soil water content, soil organic matter, clay content and aggregate stability were sampled along a transect of 84 points, meter by meter. The state-space […]

Soil water storage of Central Amazonian soil profiles in upland forest plots subjected to selective logging (in average, 8 trees or 34, 3 m3 of timber per hectare were removed) was measured in four layers, down to a depth of 70 cm. The study lasted 27-months and was divided in two phases: measurements were carried out nearly every week during the first 15 months; in the following year, five intensive periods of measurements were performed. Five damage levels were compared: […]

Herbicides are normally applied directly onto the soil, where they enter in contact with soil organisms, among these with earthworms, whose metabolism can act on herbicide residues. Focusing on the earthworms Eisenia foetida as model we determined: dissipation of the 14C- herbicides Simazine and Paraquat as well as bioaccumulation in the animal tissues from soil treated with the recommended doses and with 10 and 100 times higher doses for paraquat. Earthworms and soil were analyzed by solvent extraction and radiometric […]

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of sulphur (S) inoculated with Acidithiobacillus on phosphorus (P) availability from natural phosphate (NP) using different fertilizer application methods on yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus) grown in a “Tableland Forest” soil (Podzol Hydromorphic dystrophic) of the “Zona da Mata” in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Plants were inoculated with rhizobia strains (NFN 747 and NFB 748) and control treatments added without rhizobia inoculation. The P treatments were: (1) NP pelleted with […]

Diazotrophic endophytic bacteria enhance plant growth through biological nitrogen fixation and production and release of plant growth regulating substances, which facilitate the revegetation of areas degraded by human activities. However, little is known about populations of such bacteria in soils or plants of mining areas. Aiming to study the effects of different vegetation types and rehabilitation periods on some endophytic diazotrophic bacteria species, soil samples were collected under two environmental conditions (“Campo” and “Serra”) in bauxite mined areas undergoing different […]

The leguminous tree Anadenanthera peregrina var. falcata (angico-do-cerrado) forms symbiotic associations with nitrogen fixing bacteria (rhizobia) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the influence of rhizobial and arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation on the initial growth of angico-do-cerrado plants, in autoclaved and non-autoclaved soil with and without inoculations. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse using mycorrhized roots of maize and a mixture of rhizobial isolates as inocula. Plant growth was positively affected by […]