Volume 42, 2018

ABSTRACT The “Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure” (VESS) is a method used primarily to evaluate the soil structural quality of Oxisols in Brazil and secondly for more specific research, consultancy, and teaching purposes. Since the methodology was never applied and compared with laboratory evaluations of physical properties of hydromorphic soils of the Pampa biome in the south of Brazil, this study evaluated the use of VESS as a visual indicator of the structure quality of a typic eutrophic Albaqualf soil […]

ABSTRACT: Springtails (Collembola) are soil organisms with wide morphological diversity and are sensitive to alterations in the soil, regardless of whether they are human-caused or not. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of land use on the morphological diversity of springtails and verify their relationships with soil physical, chemical, and microbiological properties. Samples were collected in the eastern region of Santa Catarina, in three municipalities: Joinville, Blumenau, and Timbó. They included the following land use systems […]

ABSTRACT Water and oxygen deficiencies in the soybean crop cultivated on lowland soils are an important topic of research. The objective of this study was to investigate changes in water and oxygen supply and soybean yield caused by soil management in lowland soils. A soybean crop was grown under four soil conditions: no-tillage (NT), chiseling (CH), ridge tillage on no-tillage (NTR), and ridge tillage on chiseling (CHR). Soil bulk density, total porosity, macro- and microporosity, air permeability, and saturated hydraulic […]

ABSTRACT Although the physical environment of the Atlantic Forest realm is well known, studies on the soil-landform relationships are fundamental to improve the management of soil resources to facilitate sustainable development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a representative topossequence on the “Mares de Morros” landscape of deeply weathered regolith on leucocratic granite rocks and demi-orange convex slopes. The soils varied along the topossequence according to drainage and were classified as Acrudox, Pseudogleysol, and Epiaquent. The clay fraction […]

ABSTRACT Brazilian soybean producers commonly apply maintenance potassium (K) fertilization during cultivation to restore the K taken up by plants; however, this measure can modify the morphophysiological plant characteristics, since the functions of K are closely related with plant growth and development. This study assessed the morphological changes in soybean plants in response to K rates, sowing fertilization, and the application periods of K fertilization in a Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico (Oxisol) under a no-tillage system, located in the municipality of […]

ABSTRACT Rice yield increases in response to improvements in crop management, but the impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the subtropical region of Southern Brazil remains unknown. A three-year field study was developed aiming to evaluate the impact that an increase in crop management levels (high and very high) has on soil methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, as compared to the level (medium) currently adopted by farmers in Southern Brazil. Differences in crop management included seed and […]

ABSTRACT The efficiency index (EI) refers to the ratio of nutrients mineralized/made available in the soil to the total amount of nutrients added by organic fertilizer. Therefore, understanding the EI is essential for recommendation of organic fertilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the availability through mineralization and the efficiency index of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in organic fertilizers produced from cattle manure. The following treatments were evaluated in an incubation experiment under controlled conditions: […]

ABSTRACT Growth in the agricultural and industrial sectors has increased the demand for rare earth elements (REEs) in the production of technological devices and fertilizers. Thus, the accumulation of these elements in the soil has become an environmental concern. Here, we aim to determine the natural contents of REEs in soils derived from different parent materials and under climatic conditions ranging from humid to semi-arid. We then evaluate the influence of major elements and soil properties on the geochemistry of […]

ABSTRACT Among the equations available to describe the relation between matric potential and soil water content, the soil water retention function, the most commonly used is the equation proposed by Van Genuchten in his 1980 landmark paper. In soil physics literature, especially in Brazil, several authors relate the inverse of the Van Genuchten parameter α to the air-entry pressure. This study aimed to show this common interpretation to be erroneous, as 1/α corresponds to water contents lower than saturation. The […]

ABSTRACT Recycling of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) from plants into soils is decisive for maintaining soil organic matter and soil fertility. Therefore, we quantified plant biomass and C and N in the shoots and roots from the topsoil layer for a wide range of annual crops grown under subtropical conditions. We grew 26 species, 13 main crops, and 13 cover crops, in the field in standard sowing arrangements. Root biomass was recovered from the 0.00-0.20 m soil layer at […]