Volume 30, Number 1, 2006

The physical characterization of two typical Coastal Tableland soils (Yellow Latosol-YL and Gray Argisol-GL) of the State of Bahia, Brazil, was carried out in 2001 and the citrus root system in such soils was evaluated in order to determine attributes that best identify the cohesive layer. The first four horizons in each soil were sampled for analysis of particle size distribution, soil bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Soil resistance to penetration and critical humidity of […]

To evaluate the decrease in infiltration rate in crusting soils an experiment was carried out using a rainfall simulator. Treatments were distributed in a factorial schedule 5 x 6, using five soils (Red Ultisol, Red-Yellow Ultisol, Red-Yellow Oxisol, Fluvic Entisol and Arenic Entisol) and six rainfall kinetic energies (0, 525, 1051, 2102, 3153, and 4204 J m-2) with three replications. According to the water infiltration rate and crust thickness, as determined by micromorphometry, the crust hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic resistance […]

The study aimed at evaluating of calibration models for two kinds of TDR waveguides used with Trase System and TDR 100 equipments linked to the cable tester or the multiplexer. Disturbed samples of three soils were packed in PVC columns and, after soil saturation, two TDR waveguides of three rods with capacitor and with resistor were inserted into the soil columns. The waveguides were connected to two TDR equipments (Trase System and TDR 100), directly to the cable tester or […]

Compaction is a process that can occur in soils managed inadequately, affecting crop growth and yield directly or indirectly. The shoot development was evaluated as a function of different degrees of subsoil compaction in soybean, corn, cotton, and Brachiaria brizantha plants grown in pots filled with soil material from a dystrophic Dark-Red Latosol, with water supply through subsurface irrigation. The experiment was carried out in screened greenhouse at the School of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine of UFMT, in rigid PVC […]

An in-depth experimental study into heat and water transference in the soil – vegetation – atmosphere complex was carried out in a semi-arid region dominated by Caatinga (Xerophytic) vegetation in the state of Paraiba, Brazil. Results showed that the thermodynamic soil behaviour plays a fundamental role in soil evaporation and sensitive heat fluxes. In this paper we show how the thermal difusivity of the soil was calculated in situ by three different methods with different hypotheses. The harmonic method (HM) […]

The cultivation of cover crops with vigorous root systems in crop rotation can improve the physical quality of compacted soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate shoot and root growth of soybean (Glycine max) and five species used as summer cover crops (Cajanus cajan, Cajanus cajan var. small, Mucuna aterrima, Dolichos lab lab and Crotalaria juncea) in a soil submitted to three different levels of subsurface compaction. Plants were grown in pots assembled with three PVC rings, 50 […]

Little is known about chemical and mineralogical attributes of soils from the upper Amazon, compared with well-studied soils from the middle and lower Amazon. In the well-drained uplands of Upper Amazon, due to the Andes Cordillera proximity, soils are expected to be chemically richer. This work aimed to increase the knowledge of soils from the upper Amazon, by means of studying three soils along a typical topossequence at Benjamin Constant, near the Brazilian-Peruvian Border. These soils range from the uplands, […]

This study was carried out in 1996/97, 1997/98 and 2000/01 crop seasons in Cruz Alta, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, aiming at evaluating the efficiency of commercial inoculant formulations, isolated and in combination with Mo and Co foliar fertilizer in an area that has been under no tillage for eight to twelve year and where Bradyrhizobium had already been established. In the 1996/97 crop year, the treatments were: non-inoculated control; 200 kg ha-1 of nitrogen fertilizer, split twice […]

Maize genotypes with contrasting genetic variability have different yield potential. This distinct yield potential may be partially caused by differences in the root system morphology or in the nutrient uptake kinetics parameters. This study aimed to assess such morphological and physiological plant attributes of three maize genotypes with different genetic bases. A single-cross hybrid (P32R21), a double-cross hybrid (Traktor) and an open-pollinated variety (BRS Planalto) were studied. The uptake kinetics parameters (maximum influx – Imax, Michaelis-Mentem constant – Km, and […]

Cover crop residues mobilize cations and benefit the action of lime applied on the soil surface owing to the release of low molecular weight organic acids from the soluble fraction of residues. However, these effects in no-till system are yet to be confirmed in field studies. A five-year trial was carried out on a no-till dystrophic Rhodic Hapludox in Ponta Grossa, State of Paraná, Brazil, with the aim of evaluating changes in chemical soil attributes, as well as the corn […]