Volume 35, Number 6, 2011

Evaluation systems of agricultural land suitability are being used in different regions of Brazil, by distinct teams and with multiple applications. The objective of this study was to evaluate, for soils in the State of Acre, how different experts evaluate the relative importance of indicators of a land suitability system, and how they interpret properties that can define land suitability classes. Ten soil profiles analyzed for the IX Brazilian Soil Classification and Correlation Workshop were used. These soil profiles are […]

Birdsfoot trefoil is a perennial winter-spring forage legume, highly important in Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of Brazil. It stands out for the ability to survive in relatively acidic and nutrient-poor soils. This study aimed to select birdsfoot trefoil rhizobial strains with tolerance to acidity and aluminum toxicity and efficiency in nitrogen fixation in nutrient-poor soils. Fifty-two isolates of Lotus spp rhizobia from soils of five locations in the state of Rio Grande do Sul were evaluated. The […]

Tannery wastes generation is increasing every year and a suitable method for tannery sludge management is necessary in order to decrease this environmental problem. The composting is recognized as a suitable method for sludge recycling.. The effect of tannery sludge compost (TSC) rates on growth, nodulation and N fixation of cowpea was investigated. Sandy and clayey soils were amended with TSC at rates of 0, 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 t ha-1. The shoot dry weight of cowpea plants 45 […]

To mitigate soil erosion and enhance soil fertility in orange plantations, the permanent protection of the inter-rows by cover species has been suggested. The objective of this study was to evaluate alterations in the microbial biomass, due to different soil tillage systems and intercropped cover species between rows of orange trees. The soil of the experimental area previously used as pasture (Brachiaria humidicola) was an Ultisol (Typic Paleudult) originating from Caiuá sandstone in the northwestern part of the State of […]

Most studies on olive trees in Brazil and in the world have focused on yield and management. Despite the importance for plant growth and resistance to various stresses, there are no studies on the occurrence of mycorrhizal association in olive trees, in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mycorrhizal interaction in olive trees on the Fazenda Experimental de Maria da Fé – MG (FEMF – EPAMIG), underlying the production of commercial inoculants of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi […]

One of the main negative anthropic effects on soil is the formation of crusts, resulting in soil degradation. This process of physical origin reduces soil water infiltration, causing increased runoff and consequently soil losses, water erosion and/or soil degradation. The study and monitoring of soil crusts is important for soil management and conservation, mainly in tropical regions where research is insufficient to explain how soil crusts are formed and how they evolve. The purpose of this study was to monitor […]

Due to the importance of studying solute displacement in soil columns to evaluate soil and groundwater pollution risks, and the lack of standardization in the soil column length (L) and also the pore-water velocity () used, this study evaluated the relation of L and with the dispersive-diffusive coefficient (D), the dispersivity (λ) and retardation factor (R) of the potassium ion (K+) in an Oxisol and in a Dystric Quartzarenic Neosol. Five column lengths were tested (0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, and […]

The modeling and estimation of the parameters that define the spatial dependence structure of a regionalized variable by geostatistical methods are fundamental, since these parameters, underlying the kriging of unsampled points, allow the construction of thematic maps. One or more atypical observations in the sample data can affect the estimation of these parameters. Thus, the assessment of the combined influence of these observations by the analysis of Local Influence is essential. The purpose of this paper was to propose local […]

Soil compaction can be minimized either mechanically or biologically, using plant species with vigorous root systems. An experiment was carried out with soybean (Glycine max) in rotation with triticale (X Triticosecale) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) in fall-winter associated with pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) or sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) in spring. Crop rotation under no-till was compared with mechanical chiseling. The experiment was carried out in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. Soil quality was estimated using the […]

Field capacity is a parameter of undeniable importance for an adequate irrigation management. From the reliable determination of soil water content and field capacity, crop yields cam be optimized, maximizing the plant water use efficiency and preventing groundwater contamination by leaching of fertilizers and agrochemicals. The objective of this study was to evaluate field capacity (a) from the calculation of soil water flux density during water redistribution in a classical experiment to determine this parameter and (b) from a given […]