Produção de café sombreado

As concern about the environment and demand for special coffees, this review aimed to gather information about the effects of shading on the coffee crop, whereas its origin in the African's understory. Among the effects discussed are the increase in organic matter and improving of the soil fauna, nutrient cycling, decrease of soil erosion, environmental contamination, greenhouse gases, biodiversity conservation, light availability, temperature and wind mitigation, incidence of pests, plant diseases and weeds, production of the shade species and, finally, how all of these factors together have an effect on the phenology, yield and quality of coffee.

Soil, water and nutrient losses by interrill erosion from green cane cultivation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fuzzy Logic and Geostatistical Techniques for Spatialization of Soil Texture in Region with Rough Terrains

From the geotechnical standpoint, it is interesting to analyse the soil texture in regions with rough terrain due to its relation with the infiltration and runoff processes and, consequently, the effect on erosion processes. The purpose of this paper is to present a methodology that provides the soil texture spatialization by using Fuzzy logic and Geostatistic. The results were correlated with maps drawn specifically for the study area. The knowledge of the spatialization of soil properties, such as the texture, can be an important tool for land use planning in order to reduce the potential soil losses during rain seasons. (c) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of Spatial Statistics 2011

Action of soil microorganisms on PCL and PHBV blend and films

Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) PCL/PHBV (4:1) blend films were prepared by melt-pressing. The biodegradation of the films in response to burial in soil for 30 days was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG). The PHBV film was the most susceptible to microbial attack, since it was rapidly biodegraded via surface erosion in 15 days and completely degraded in 30 days. The PCL film also degraded but more slowly than PHBV. The degradation of the PCL/PHBV blend occurred in the PHBV phase, inducing changes in the PCL phases (interphase) and resulting in an increase of its crystalline fraction.

Effect of tillage on fractal indices describing soil surface microrelief of a Brazilian Alfisol

Soil surface roughness is known to influence water infiltration, runoff and erosion. Soil surface roughness changes with management and weather and its mathematical description still remains an important issue. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of tillage on the two fractal indices, fractal dimension, D, and crossover length, 1, currently used in characterizing soil surface microrelief. The statistical index random roughness, RR, was also assessed. Field experiments were done on an Alfisol located at Rio Grande do Sul State (Brazil). Two tillage treatments (conventional versus direct drilling) were tested. The soil surface microrelief was assessed by point elevation measurements in 16 plots for each treatment. The sampling scheme was a square grid with 20 x 20 mm between point spacing and the plot size was 280 x 280 mm, so that each data set consisted of 225 individual elevation points. All indices were calculated after trend removal, both by slope correction, i.e., oriented microrelief, and by slope plus tillage marks correction, i.e., random microrelief. The implemented algorithm for estimating D and 1 consisted in evaluating the roughness around the local root mean square deviation (RMS) of the point elevation values. Irrespective of tillage treatment and detrending procedure, fractal behavior extended only over a bounded range of scales, from 40 to 100 mm, due to the experimental setup. In these conditions, assessing fractal indices was not always straightforward. The statistical index RR and the fractal index I were significantly different between tillage treatments for oriented and random surface conditions. D values of random soil surfaces were not affected by tillage treatment, whereas D values of oriented microrelief were significantly lower in the direct drilled plots. Removal of tillage marks trend resulted in a significant increase in D values. Within each tillage treatment, 1 and D were significantly correlated. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Space analysis of water erosion in the red-yellow latosol under conilon coffee cultivation

This work aimed to study the space behavior of the water erosion in a red-yellow latosol. Then a study was developed in an area with colinon coffee cultivation in an Experimental Farm of Bananal do Norte of INCAPER in Cachoeiro de Itapemirim - ES. Soil samples were obtained from 0,0 to 0,20 m depth in an irregular grid with 109 samples. The analyzed variables were granulometric fractions, erodibility (K), natural erosion potential (PNE), soil loss (A) and erosion risk (RE). All the variables showed space dependency with moderate index of space dependency and similar standard of space distribution. The soil loss is related with the space distribution of the granulometric fractions.

Restoration of a degraded area using soil tillage systems in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

In Brazil the intensive agriculture use, mainly pasture, is the main cause of the presence of extensive areas of degraded lands. This study aimed to assess the impact of different soil management practices in a pasture degraded area used as garbage disposal. The experiment was performed at the Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, in Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil, from 1990 to 1996. This area has undergone a process of recovery through removal of trash deposited on the surface, in 1985, levelling of soil, followed by application of limestone, subsoiling, planting of legumes (Crotalaria juncea) and crop rotation (soybean and maize). Since 1990 only popcorn maize was grown and established plots managed with different soil tillage systems, including harrow, chisel plow, moldboard plow, no tillage, disk plow and revolving hoe. One plot was planted exclusively with guinea grass (Panicum maximum) to serve as a reference for minimum loss of soil and another grown on a downhill direction to correspond to the expected maximum erosion. There were differences in sediment loss, nutrient loss and productivity of the popcorn maize in the period analyzed. The chisel plow and no tillage treatments caused the slightest loss of soil and nutrients, compared to other tillage systems. The results show that the soil management systems influenced the physical and chemical characteristics of soil, allowing an economical and environmental recovery of the area, providing the conditions for grain agricultural production.

Sound absorption coefficient in situ: An alternative for estimating soil loss factors

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Alteração da fertilidade do solo como indicador do processo de antropização e presença de atividades não agrícolas no assentamento rural Horto Aimorés, municípios de Bauru e Pederneiras/SP =: Change of soil fertility as an indicator of the anthropization process and presence of non agricultural activities at the rural settlement Horto Aimorés, cities of Bauru and Pederneiras/ SP

Pós-graduação em Geografia - FCT

Managing soil carbon for multiple ecosystem benefits positive exemplars: Latin America (Brazil and Argentina)

Agriculture provides food, fibre and energy, which have been the foundation for the development of all societies. Soil carbon plays an important role in providing essential ecosystem services. Historically, these have been viewed in terms of plant nutrient availability only, with agricultural management being driven to obtain maximum benefits of this soil function. However, recently, agricultural systems have been envisioned to provide a more complete set of ecosystem services, in a win-win situation, in addition to the products normally associated with agriculture. The expansion and growth of agricultural production in Brazil and Argentina brought about a significant loss of soil carbon stocks, and consequently the associated ecosystem services, such as flooding and erosion control, water filtration and storage. There are several examples of soil carbon management for multiple benefits in Brazil and Argentina, with new soil management techniques attempting to reverse this trend by increasing soil carbon (C) stocks. One example is zero tillage, which has the advantage of reducing CO2 emissions from the soil and thus preserving or augmenting C stocks. Crop rotations that include cover crops have been shown to sequester significant amounts of C, both in Brazilian subtropical regions as well as in the Argentinean Pampas. Associated benefits of zero tillage and cover crop rotations include flood and erosion control and improved water filtration and storage. Another positive example is the adoption of no-burning harvest in the vast sugarcane area in Brazil, which also contributes to reduced CO2 emissions, leaving crop residues on the soil surface and thus helping the conservation of essential plant nutrients and improving water storage.

Avaliação da erosão hídrica e transporte de sedimentos através do modelo hidrossedimentológico SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool)

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Correlating soil porosity and respective geological unit in Paraíba do sul Valley, Brazil: a geostatistical methodology proposal

This manuscript aims proposing a methodology for correlating soil porosity to the respective geological units using geostatistical analysis techniques, including interpolation data by kriging. The site studied was in Lorena municipality, Paraíba do Sul Valley, southeastern Brazil. Specifically all studies were carried out within an area of 12 km2 located at Santa Edwirges farm. The database comprehended 41 soil samples taken at different geological and geomorphologic units at three different depths: surface, 50 cm and 100 cm depth. The geostatistical analyses results were correlated to a geological mapping specifically elaborated for the site. This mapping accounts for two different geological formations and a geological contact characterized by a shearing zone. The results indicate the existence of a significant relationship between the soil porosity and the respective geological units. The studies revealed that the residual soils from weathered granitic rocks tend to have higher porosities than the residual soils from weathered biotite gneiss rocks, while the soil porosity within the shearing zone is relatively un-sensitive to the respective geological formation. The spatial patterns observed were efficient to evaluate the relationship between the soil porosity, geology unit and the and geomorphology showing a good potential for correlating with others soil properties such as hydraulic conductivity, soil water retention curves and erosion potentials.

Effects in mechanical properties and structure of the soil tillage with rotary paraplow

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genetic erosion risk by environmental and antropic factor applied on strategies for Lychnophora ericoides conservation

This study evaluated the genetic erosion risk factors and the strategic points for the conservation of Lychnophora ericoides population in “Paraíso Perdido” farm, Serra da Canastra (20° 37’ 54” S; 46° 19’ 37” W; 833 m height) in São João Batista do Glória City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The number of young and adult plants, the soil and the phenology were evaluated in two sample areas of 125 m2. Information about the species utilization was obtained with local informants. Data on the region were obtained through literature review, in loco evaluation, GPS and geo-referenced map. In addition, local use of the plant for mixtures of drug was evaluated. According to the results obtained, the soil of the population is lithic with a weathered portion of frank-sandy texture, very acidic and dystrophic. The population density is 0.16 individuals/m2, 0.078 young/adult plant. The predominant phenophase was fruiting (100% plants) followed by flowering (21.62% plants). The local community uses the leaves of the plant in the form of hydroalcoholic extracts, as anti-inflammatory. Based on the evaluated parameters, the population is at 73% risk of genetic erosion. The detected key points were the development of activities including the participation of the local community for habitat protection as well as germplasm collection, seedlings production and reintroduction, together with environmental education, supervision, and reduction in the propensity for fire.

Effects in mechanical properties and structure of the soil after tillage with rotary paraplow

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)