Volume 34, Number 4, 2010

The genetic diversity of ten Bradyrhizobium strains was evaluated for tolerance to high temperatures, to different salinity levels and for the efficiency of symbiosis with cowpea plants (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). Eight of these strains were isolated from nodules that appeared on cowpea after inoculation with suspensions of soil sampled from around the root system of Sesbania virgata (wand riverhemp) in ecosystems of South Minas Gerais. The other two strains used in our analyses as references, were from the Amazon […]

Considerations on the interactions of P in the soil-plant system have a long history, but are still topical and not yet satisfactorily understood. One concern is the effect of liming before or after application of soluble sources on the crop yield and efficiency of available P under these conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil acidity on availability of P from a soluble source, based on plant growth and chemical extractants. Nine soil samples […]

Brazil is the largest sugar cane producer in the world and, due to the increasing interest in renewable energy sources, the cultivated area is expanding. Sugar cane is usually planted in soil with low nutrient levels, which can limit the yield. In sugar cane, potassium is basically applied in the furrow, which can decrease the K use efficiency due to leaching or salinizaton to plant roots. The goal of this study was to evaluate stalk yield and technological properties of […]

A striking characteristic of soils under savanna vegetation is the low natural fertility, as in soils in the Upper Paranaíba region – MG. This characteristic is aggravated by the use of low fertilizer quantities, which may cause nutritional imbalance in plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of coffee plants in the Upper Paranaíba region – MG, using the integrated system for diagnose and recommendation (DRIS) to interpret leaf analyses and apply the fertilization response […]

Agriculture and soil management in the Cerrado can cause soil compaction, resulting in decreased porosity and water and nutrient availability, with a negative impact on plant growth and development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil density and phosphorus doses (P) on soybean and eucalyptus grown in two Cerrado oxisols with different texture: one (LV) with 610 g kg-1 clay and the other (LVA), with 190 g kg-1 clay. Three soil densities (0. 90, 1. 10 and 1. 30 Mg m-3) […]

The great difficulty of incorporation of N fertilizers into the “green sugarcane” system causes concern and since urea is the most commonly used source, there is the risk of loosing NH3 through volatilization. For this reason, a field experiment was undertaken (in a Hapludox Typic) with the objective of evaluating the agronomic efficiency of ammonium chloride on stubble of the second ratoon (SP89 1115), as well as its residual effect on the subsequent cycle (third ratoon). The experimental design was randomized […]

Nitrogen has strong impact on potato yield and its effects on plants can be evaluated by specific nutritional diagnostic techniques. The objective of this work was to determine the optimum economical N rate for tuber yield and to estimate the critical value of plant N indices in leaf of two potatoes cultivars. The experiment had a 4×2 factorial in a completely randomized block design with four replications, with four N levels (0, 100, 200 e 400 kg ha-1 of N, pre-planting applied […]

Maize yield has increased with the development of modern cultivars and the demand for N has followed the same trend. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect the timing of N application on grain yield and distribution in maize plant components in the presence and absence of Mo fertilizer under no-tillage. The experiment was conducted in the 2006/07 growing season, at the Experimental Station of Coimbra-MG. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block with three replications […]

The eutrophication of aquifers is strongly linked to the mobility of P in soils. Although P mobility was considered irrelevant in a more distant past, more recent studies have shown that P, both in organic (Po) and inorganic forms (Pi), can be lost by leaching and eluviation through the soil profile, particularly in less weathered and/or sandier soils with low P adsorption capacity. The purpose of this study was to determine losses of P forms by leaching and eluviation from […]

Crop residues on the soil surface act mainly as protection against raindrop impact, reducing aggregate disruption, runoff, sediment transport and consequently, erosion. This protection can have significant effects on the corn plant characteristics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the amount of black oat residues on no-tillage root development, nutrient uptake and grain yield of corn genotypes. The experiment was conducted in an Oxisol, in a randomized block design in split plots with three replications. […]