Volume 38, Number 1, 2014

The period between anthesis and fruit ripening varies according to the Conilon coffee (Coffea canephora) genotype. Therefore, the time of the nutritional requirements for fruit formation may differ, depending on the formation phase and the genotype, and may directly affect split application of fertilizer. The aim of this study was to quantify the accumulation of dry matter and N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S at several stages in the fruit of the Conilon coffee genotype with different ripening cycles, […]

The dynamics of N losses in fertilizer by ammonia volatilization is affected by several factors, making investigation of these dynamics more complex. Moreover, some features of the behavior of the variable can lead to deviation from normal distribution, making the main commonly adopted statistical strategies inadequate for data analysis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the patterns of cumulative N losses from urea through ammonia volatilization in order to find a more adequate and detailed way of […]

Physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) is a perennial oilseed species that has aroused economic interest for biodiesel production. Among other factors, it is essential to determine the nutritional demands of this species to facilitate raising it as a crop. This study aimed to evaluate the early growth and mineral nutrition of physic nut, as well as soil fertility, as affected by phosphorus fertilization. The study was carried out in a plastic greenhouse in a completely randomized block experimental design with […]

Soybean is one of the annual crops most demanding of boron (B); however, borate fertilizer should be managed cautiously, especially in regard to application rates, because of the narrow range between the appropriate level and toxic level for this nutrient in the soil. Another important factor directly related to B availability to plants refers to soil water conditions. In this context, this study evaluated the effect of sources and application rates of B on soybean growth (Glycine max) in a […]

The effects on soil chemical properties brought about by cover crops vary considerably. This study was conducted to evaluate nutrient uptake by five cover crops used for grain, seed and forage production at different seed densities per hectare, as well as uptake by spontaneous vegetation, and their effect on the chemical properties of two Oxisols when grown in rotation with soybean and corn. The experiments were set up in Votuporanga, SP, Brazil and Selvíria, MS, Brazil in March 2008 after […]

Analyzing the soil near crop roots may reveal limitations to growth and yield even in a no-tillage system. The purpose of the present study was to relate the chemical and physical properties of soil under a no-tillage system to soybean root growth and plant yield after five years of use of different types of limestone and forms of application. A clayey Oxisol received application of dolomitic and calcitic limestones and their 1:1 combination in two forms: surface application, maintained on […]

Due to the extensive use of nitrogen fertilizers in the agriculture e due to the elevate potential of nitrate leaching, there is a great demand for slow or controlled release fertilizers. Synthetic layered double hydroxides (HDLs) combine the characteristic that qualifies them to be used as matrixes for nitrate slow release fertilizers. The objectives of the present work are focused in the synthesis, characterization and investigation of the slow release of nitrate process in one structure of a HDL containing […]

Intensive land use can lead to a loss of soil physical quality with negative impacts on soil aggregates, resistance to root penetration, porosity, and bulk density. Organic and agroforestry management systems can represent sustainable, well-balanced alternatives in the agroecosystem for promoting a greater input of organic matter than the conventional system. Based on the hypothesis that an increased input of organic matter improves soil physical quality, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of coffee production systems on soil physical […]

Soil penetration resistance is an important indicator of soil physical quality and the critical limit of 2 MPa has been widely used to characterize the soil physical quality, in both no-tillage and conventional systems. The aim of this study was to quantify the influence of different tillage and cropping systems on the soil penetration resistance in a Rhodic Eutrudox. The experiment was carried out in a 5 × 2 factorial, completely randomized block design (tillage systems vs cropping systems), with […]

The presence of trash from the mechanical harvest of green cane on sugarcane plantations promotes changes in the agricultural management, for example, in the mechanical cultural practices of ratoon cane in-between the rows and nitrogen (N) fertilization. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of sugarcane in different harvest systems, associated to the mechanical cultural practices in interrows and N rates. The study was carried out on a sugarcane plantation in Sales Oliveira, São Paulo, Brazil, with […]