Volume 31, Number 3, 2007

The soils, some those considered homogenous, show some spatial and temporal variability of its physical, chemical and biological atributes. To define this variability is very important to efficient soil management. This study had the objective of investigating the spatial variability of some physical attributes of an Red Latosol in Mossoró, state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, to determine the best procedure for soil sampling. Soil samples were collected on a 100 x 100 m area, in 10 m grid […]

The traffic of agricultural machinery and soil compaction occur near the canopy of citrus trees, which increases soil physical restrictions to root growth. Soil management strategies include the use of permanent groundcover in the interrows of orange tree plantations, although the effects of these practices on the soil physical quality are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of groundcover management systems on some indicators of soil physical quality for orange tree orchards. The study […]

The spatial variability and spatial dependence structure of physical water soil attributes (total porosity – VTP, saturated hydraulic conductivity – k0, drainable porosity – DP and soil moisture at field capacity – qcc) was evaluated for an Oxisol representative of Ribeirão Marcela watershed, in the Alto Rio Grande domain. Spherical and exponential semi-variograms were fitted by the weighted minimum square (WMS) and maximum likelihood (ML) methodologies. Undisturbed and disturbed physical water samples were collected from the 0-0.15 m layer for […]

The present study aimed at characterizing the main soil types under melon crop in the Apodi Tableland, state of Rio Grande do Norte. This investigation focused on the mineralogical soil features as an attempt to generate information for adequate soil and crop management. Three soil types were selected: Typic Haplocambids, Typic Eutrotorrox and Arenic Kandiustults. The mineralogy of sand, silt and clay fractions was evaluated through X ray diffraction analyses and scanning electron microscopy in complementary, undisturbed samples. The mineralogical […]

The use of elemental S as fertilizer can reduce costs in agriculture, but elemental-S must first be oxidized to sulfate-S to become plant-available. Little information is found in the literature about the capacity of Brazilian soils to oxidize elemental-S. This study was carried out with the objective of determining the oxidation rates of 42 soils samples from different Brazilian states to verify how soil attributes affect oxidation. Samples were collected in the A horizon (0-20 cm layer) and incubated in […]

According to the system conditions, humic acids act as oxidants or as reductants. In natural systems the electron flow is directly associated with humus content and quality. Electrode potential and oxidation capacity inform about the intensity and capacity of the redox systems. In previous studies it has been assumed that free radicals participate in humic acid redox reactions. In our study six humic acids isolated from composed organic residues were titrated with an oxidant (I2) in inert atmosphere and specified […]

Boron deficiency in coffee is widely spread in Brazilian plantations, but responses to B fertilizer have been erratic, depending on the year, form and time of application and B source. A better understanding of the effects of B on plant physiology and anatomy is important to establish a rational fertilization program since B translocation within the plant may be affected by plant anatomy. In this experiment, coffee plantlets of two varieties were grown in nutrient solutions with B levels of […]

This study evaluated the influence of Ni addition to Hoagland – Arnon nutrient solution on the growth and mineral nutrition of Umbu (Spondias tuberose) tree seedlings. The experiment was in a completely randomized design with four replications and six Ni doses (0; 0.0005; 0.05; 0.1; 0.5; and 1.0 mmol L-1). Low Ni concentrations in the nutrient solution stimulated Umbu seedlings growth. The application of 0.03 mmol L-1 of Ni is recommended for the cultivation of Umbu seedlings in Hoagland – […]

Knowledge about the proper management of not-burned sugar cane is still limited, particularly regarding nitrogen fertilization. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate sugar cane yield, the balance of 15N fertilizers in the soil-plant-residue system and ammonia loss by volatilization in sugarcane ratoon crop without straw burning prior to mechanical harvesting, comparing different locations of surface-applied nitrogen fertilizers. The sugar cane variety SP81-3250. Treatments were arranged in a complete randomized blocks, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of four […]

Responses of leaf senescence to P supply could constitute adaptive mechanisms for plant growth under P-limiting conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil P supply on leaf senescence of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Eight P levels, ranging from 5 to 640 mg kg-1 P, were applied to pots containing four bean plants of cultivar Carioca in 10 kg of an Oxic Haplustult soil. Attached leaves were counted weekly, abscised leaves were collected every […]