Volume 30, Number 5, 2006

Eucalypt root growth and yield are affected directly by soil compaction during forestry operations, particularly harvesting. These effects are intensified under high soil moisture conditions. An experiment was carried out under controlled conditions in order to evaluate the effects of compaction under increased soil moisture levels, on seedling growth and nutrition. An oxidic-gibbsitic Red Yellow Latosol (LVA) and a kaolinitic Yellow Latosol (LA) were used. The treatments consisted of five compaction pressure levels (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kPa) and […]

Selective logging may become a form of sustainable use of Amazon forest ecosystems since most part of the forest biomass is maintained and the impacts on the exploited area are lower than in comparison to those under other land uses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of selective logging on some soil physical characteristics. The study area lies about 80 km north of Manaus and the vegetation is a humid tropical rainforest. Seven to ten trees/ha (DAP > 55 cm) […]

The microenvironment near the seed is directly affected by the type of mechanism of furrow opening and the soil compacting element. This study was therefore carried out to evaluate the soil density close to the seed in a no-till system using computerized tomography. The experiment was set up in a split-plot design in which the plots consisted of three soil water contents (0.22; 0.28; and 0.34 kg kg-1), and the subplots of two mechanisms for furrow opening (stub runner and double disk-type). […]

Machinery traffic in modern agriculture is the main cause of soil compaction, and it often affects soybean yields. The objective of this study was to evaluate the development of soybean cultivars in relation to soil compaction levels. An experiment was carried out on a sandy-loam Haplustox located in Jaboticabal County, SP, Brazil. The following compaction levels were tested: T0 = 0 (no tractor passing), T1* = 1, T1 = 1, T2 = 2, T4 = 4 and T6 = tractor […]

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) is one of the main food crops in the north and northeast of Brazil nowadays, being planted on large areas in other Brazilian regions as well, with bright prospects in the Brazilian agribusiness. Symbiosis of cowpea and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (NFB) can raise yields and decrease yield costs. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of previously selected rhizobia strains compared to the strain recommended until 2004 (BR 2001). The phenotypic diversity of […]

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an economically and socially highly relevant staple food and an excellent protein source for the Brazilian population. Symbiosis of beans and N2 fixing bacteria can increase yields and decrease yield costs. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of previously selected rhizobia strains compared to the recommended strain (CIAT 899). Phenotypic diversity of rhizobia native populations was evaluated by cultural characteristics and analysis of total protein profiles by polyacrilamide gel […]

The presence of straw on soil surface affects K cycling in the production system and can affect soil chemistry by modifying K leaching rate and intensity. An experiment was conducted to evaluate K leaching as affected by 30 mm of simulated rain over pearl millet straw receiving several broadcasted K rates. Pearl millet was grown for 55 days in a green house and then cut at soil level into pieces of 3 to 5 cm. Then it was distributed over the […]

A well-developed root system is necessary for plant growth and sustentation, and, as a consequence, for high pasture yield. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate root characteristics in Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu in response to combinations of nitrogen and sulphur rates in nutrient solution. Ground quartz was used as substrate in a greenhouse experiment from September to December 2001. An incomplete 52 factorial was arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. The 13 combinations of nitrogen […]

Aruana grass (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana) is well adapted to pastures, especially those grazed by sheeps, but knowledge on mineral nutrition of this grass is scant. In order to evaluate the nutritional status of this forage in relation to nitrogen, Aruana grass was grown in a nutrient solution with N six rates (14; 112; 210; 294; 378 and 462 mg L-1). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in the Spring, from October to December 2000. Each experimental unit consisted of […]

Insights on the variability of soil fertility in cultivated areas can contribute significantly to a rationalized use of fertilizers and soil amendments. The objective of this study was to determine the soil fertility variability through the fractionation of a commercial corn field into small management cells. The study was carried out on the farm Alto Alegre, Planaltina, GO, Brazil, on an Oxisol previously under Cerrado (savannah) in an area of 373 ha under corn in the 2003/2004 growing season. A polygon […]