Volume 32, Number 1, 2008

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the rainfall variability on the runoff and sediment amount in the Pipiripau river basin (A = 235 km2), in the Distrito Federal, Brazil. To represent the climatic variability of the historic precipitation series, 5 years were selected: the moistest, the driest, an average, and 2 years representing the standard deviations from the series (half-wet and half-dry). After the calibration of the model with basin rainfall and runoff data, each rainfall event was simulated […]

Planter machines, responsible for the correct placing of seeds and fertilizer in the ground, have dosing mechanisms set in motion by the drive wheels, as they rotate in function of the contact with the ground surface. This contact is influenced, among other factors, by tire pressure. The objective of this work was to study the performance of a planter as affected by soil tillage, machine speed and planter tire pressure. The following variables were evaluated: traction force and drawbar pull, […]

Surface soil roughness is affected by many factors, such as the residual effect of the soil management, tillage and rainfall erosivity and, together with the soil cover of crop residues, influences water erosion. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a chiseling operation, together with rainfall erosivity, on soil surface roughness, from June 2005 to March 2006, in an aluminic Typical Hapludox, under the following soil management systems: bare soil under conventional tillage (BCT), cultivated soil […]

The conventional soil tillage used in the implantation of citrus orchards is based on the removal of the plant residues and soil tilling in the entire area, and the management of orchards on the elimination of any plant residues from the interrows. This has led to erosion and reduced soil fertility, with negative effects on the trees and the environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil management systems that decrease soil erosion and improve the fertility status […]

To evaluate the effect of soil tillage and management of winter cover crops (black oat + radish intercrop) on the soil temperature, an experiment was conducted in a Nitossol (Alfisol) in Botucatu, state of São Paulo, Brazil, in the 2000 fall/winter season. A design in randomized blocks was used in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme (three tillage and three cover crop managements). Soil tillage consisted of: conventional tillage, conservation tillage with chiseling, and no-tillage. The cover crops managements included plant killing […]

The agroforestry systems have been widely promoted as one sustainable agricultural system, mainly for developing areas, where the external use of resources are not feasible. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of one conventional and four agroforestry systems on the contents of total soil nitrogen, mineral nitrogen and different organic nitrogen fractions after five years of experimental cultivation on a Luvisol (Alfisol). The study area was in the semi-arid zone at the National Caprine Research Center […]

In São Paulo State, the autumn – winter seasons rainfall distribution restriction as well as high temperatures constitute a serious limitation for soil surface covering and crop production. For this reason it is very important to study alternatives for the no tillage system establishment in that State, specially for biomass production and for adequate management for better mulching in amount enough to improve soil physical quality and organic matter content. This study was carried out at the Lageado Experimental Station […]

The inadequate use of soils induces alterations, exhausting the productivity, and resulting in growing areas of degraded soil. This study had the objectives of a) studying alternatives to promote the formation of the A horizon of a degraded soil through the use of green manure, sewage sludge, and cultivation of a native tree species; and b) selecting soil quality indicators to detect the alterations in the surface layer. Evaluations were executed annually. The experimental design was in random blocks with […]

Large amounts of solid wastes are produced in tanneries, which use chromium (III) to obtain wet blue leather hides. The solid residues (leather scraps and strips) contain around 3 % chromium (III), which represent a serious environmental problem and, presently, have no adequate destination. The leather waste after chromium extraction (collagen) was used as a nitrogen source for elephantgrass- Pennisetum purpureum Schum cv. Napier. Four doses of collagen (4, 8, 16, and 32 t ha-1) and three additional treatments (control; mineral fertilizer N; […]

This study had the objective of evaluating the dry matter production, root growth, and the absorption and distribution of Ca, P and Al in the leaves, stem and roots of two Conilon (Coffea canephora) coffee clones (Mtl 25 and Mtl 27) and the coffee variety Catuaí Amarelo (Coffea arabica) grown in nutrient solution with increasing Al3+ activity. The plants were cultivated in 5 L pots, containing modified Hoagland & Arnold nutrient solution. After eight days of adaptation, the plants were subjected to Al […]