Biodiversity of rhizobia associated with cowpea cultivars in soils of the lower half of the São Francisco River Valley

The biodiversity of rhizobium in soils of the São Francisco Valley is unknown and can be studied using cowpea as trap plants. The objective of this study was to verify the diversity of diazotrophic bacteria that nodulate cowpea in soils of the lower half of the São Francisco River Valley by morphological and genotypic characterization. Seven soil samples (A1, A2, A3, A4, C1, C2 and MC) were collected to capture bacteria associated to five cowpea cultivars (IPA 206, BRS Pujante, BRS Marataoã, Canapu Roxo, and Sempre Verde), in a 5x7 factorial design with three replications. Thirty days after plant emergence, the nodules were collected and the bacteria isolated and analyzed in relation to their growth characteristics in YMA medium. The 581 isolates were grouped in 49 morphologic groups. Of this total, 62.3 % formed colonies in up to three days, 33.4 % grew from the 6th day on, and 4.3 % began to grow 4 to 5 days after incubation. Regarding the formation of acids and alkalis, 63 % acidified the medium, 12 % made it alkaline and 25 % maintained the medium at neutral pH. The highest diversity was observed in the A3 sample and in isolates associated with the cultivars Canapu Roxo and BRS Pujante. Thirty-eight representative isolates were chosen for the genotypic characterization, clustered in four groups based on the restriction analysis of 16s rDNA. This grouping was strongly correlated with the sampling site; 13 rhizobium isolates had an electrophoretic profile distinct from the standard rhizobium strains used in this study.

Genesis and classification of Oxisols in a highland toposequence of the upper Jequitinhonha Valley (MG)

The Brazilian System of Soil Classification (SiBCS) is a taxonomic system, open and in permanent construction, as new knowledge on Brazilian soils is obtained. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical, physical, morphological, micro-morphological and mineralogical properties of four pedons of Oxisols in a highland toposequence in the upper Jequitinhonha Valley, emphasizing aspects of their genesis, classification and landscape development. The pedons occupy the following slope positions: summit - Red Oxisol (LV), mid slope (upper third) - Yellow-Red Oxisol (LVA), lower slope (middle third)- Yellow Oxisol (LA) and bottom of the valley (lowest third) - "Gray Oxisol" ("LAC"). These pedons were described and sampled for characterization in chemical and physical routine analyses. The total Fe, Al and Mn contents were determined by sulfuric attack and the Fe, Al and Mn oxides in dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate and oxalate extraction. The mineralogy of silicate clays was identified by X ray diffraction and the Fe oxides were detected by differential X ray diffraction. Total Ti, Ga and Zr contents were determined by X ray fluorescence spectrometry. The "LAC" is gray-colored and contains significant fragments of structure units in the form of a dense paste, characteristic of a gleysoil, in the horizons A and BA. All pedons are very clayey, dystrophic and have low contents of available P and a pH of around 5. The soil color was related to the Fe oxide content, which decreased along the slope. The decrease of crystalline and low- crystalline Fe along the slope confirmed the loss of Fe from the "LAC". Total Si increased along the slope and total Al remained constant. The clay fraction in all pedons was dominated by kaolinite and gibbsite. Hematite and goethite were identified in LV, low-intensity hematite and goethite in LVA, goethite in LA. In the "LAC", no hematite peaks and goethite were detected by differential X ray diffraction. The micro-morphology indicated prevalence of granular microstructure and porosity with complex stacking patterns.. The soil properties in the toposequence converged to a single soil class, the Oxisols, derived from the same source material. The landscape evolution and genesis of Oxisols of the highlands in the upper Jequitinhonha Valley are related to the evolution of the drainage system and the activity of excavating fauna.

Alterations of soil chemical properties by eucalyptus cultivation in five regions in the Rio Doce Valley

Little is currently known about modifications in edaphic characteristics caused by short-rotation eucalyptus and the impacts of these alterations on the sustainability of eucalyptus wood production. This study was carried out to identify theses changes at five sites of eucalyptus plantation in the region of the Rio Doce Valley, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Areas with more than three previous eucalyptus cycles, adjacent to pasture land or native forest, were chosen. Soil samples were collected and soil fertility analyzed by routine methods and other fractionation methods in order to measure alterations in the K, Ca and Mg contents as a consequence of eucalyptus cultivation. In the eucalyptus areas, reductions in the exchangeable Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ contents and pH were observed and increased Al3+ and H + Al contents. Of all nutrients, only P contents (Mehlich-1 P) increased in the eucalyptus areas. The reduction in exchangeable forms and in medium-term soil nutrient pools indicates the need for higher nutrient rates than the currently applied in order to prevent nutritional limitations and soil nutrient exhaustion. After several eucalyptus rotations there was a recovery in the SOM content in comparison to degraded pasture soils, although not to the level of the native forest soil. The positive correlation between effective CEC and medium-term non-exchangeable Ca, Mg and K with SOM emphasizes the need for adequate fertilizer and plant residue management to sustain or even increase forest productivity in future cycles.

Influência do fenômeno El Niño na erosividade das chuvas na região de Santa Maria (RS)

O fenômeno El Niño Oscilação Sul (ENOS) altera o tempo e o clima em vários locais, provocando alterações na circulação atmosférica que afetam os elementos meteorológicos e climáticos, principalmente a chuva, nas diferentes regiões do Brasil. Na região Sul do País, em anos de El Niño, fase positiva do fenômeno, a chuva é frequentemente acima da normal, e, em anos de La Niña, fase negativa do fenômeno, a chuva é frequentemente abaixo da normal. Algumas características das chuvas são alteradas pelo ENOS, como a frequência de ocorrência, a intensidade e a quantidade. Essas características são importantes para a definição das chuvas erosivas. Entre os métodos de determinação da erosividade das chuvas, o índice de erosividade EI30 é o mais usado no Rio Grande do Sul (RS). O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar e associar o índice de erosividade EI30 com o fenômeno ENOS para a região de Santa Maria, RS. Usaram-se os dados diários de chuva registrados em pluviogramas a partir de 1º de julho de 1978 a 30 de junho de 2008, coletados na Estação Climatológica Principal de Santa Maria, RS. As chuvas individuais e erosivas foram identificadas nos pluviogramas, classificadas em anos de El Niño, La Niña e Neutros, e foi calculado o seu índice EI30. Foi realizada a análise de correlação de Pearson e análise de regressão entre o EI30 e o Índice Oceânico do Niño (ION). A significância da regressão foi testada com o teste t, a fim de quantificar a associação entre as duas variáveis, com vistas à possível previsibilidade do potencial erosivo das chuvas a partir de anomalias de Temperatura da Superfície do Mar (TSM) no oceano Pacífico. Também foram classificadas as chuvas em padrões Avançado, Intermediário e Atrasado. O potencial erosivo das chuvas em Santa Maria é afetado pelo fenômeno ENOS, de modo que maior número de chuvas tem maior potencial erosivo em anos de El Niño e em anos Neutros. A variabilidade do potencial erosivo das chuvas em Santa Maria é maior nos anos Neutros do que nos anos de anomalia da TSM. O padrão das chuvas é alterado em anos de anomalia da TSM, no sentido de que nos anos de El Niño há aumento nas chuvas de padrão avançado e em anos de La Niña há aumento nas chuvas de padrão atrasado; no padrão intermediário, há diminuição do número de chuvas em anos de El Niño e La Niña, em comparação com anos Neutros. A capacidade preditiva do potencial erosivo das chuvas em Santa Maria pelo índice ION é fraca.

Atributos químicos do solo influenciados por sucessivas aplicações de dejetos suínos em áreas agrícolas de Santa Catarina

Os dejetos de suínos constituem uma boa fonte de nutrientes, porém, quando inadequadamente usados, podem constituir-se em fator negativo de impacto ambiental. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do uso prolongado de dejetos de suínos como fertilizante sobre os atributos químicos do solo, em áreas com culturas anuais sob plantio direto. Amostras de solo foram coletadas em propriedades rurais da região oeste de Santa Catarina com tradição no uso de dejetos de suínos como fertilizante. Foram selecionadas áreas de três tipos de solo: Latossolo, Cambissolo e Neossolo, que haviam recebido dejetos de suínos por um período de aproximadamente 15 anos e por mais de 20 anos. Foram também coletadas amostras de solo adubado com fertilizante mineral e sob mata nativa em áreas adjacentes, para comparação. A amostragem do solo foi feita em sete profundidades (0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, 40-50, 70-80 e 100-110 cm), para determinação dos teores de matéria orgânica e de P, K, Cu e Zn disponíveis. O uso prolongado de dejetos de suínos proporcionou o acúmulo desses nutrientes nas camadas superficiais do solo, principalmente até a profundidade de 5 cm. O teor de matéria orgânica dos solos não foi alterado pelas sucessivas aplicações de dejetos de suínos. Em geral, as adubações anuais com dejetos de suínos não influenciaram a disponibilidade dos nutrientes no subsolo. No Neossolo e no Cambissolo, porém, observou-se movimentação de P até as camadas de 40-50 e 70-80 cm, indicando maior potencial de lixiviação do elemento nesses solos. O acúmulo de Cu e Zn ocorreu principalmente até 10 cm de profundidade no Latossolo e até 20 cm no Cambissolo e Neossolo. O grande acúmulo de nutrientes na camada superficial do solo (0-5 cm) em áreas adubadas com dejetos de suínos indica maior potencial de poluição ambiental por escoamento superficial do que as áreas com adubação mineral.

Copper, zinc and manganese in soils of two watersheds in Santa Catarina with intensive use of pig slurry

Systematic pig slurry application to crop soils may lead to the accumulation of heavy metals in regions with intensive pig raising. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of Cu, Zn and Mn in soils under systematic pig slurry application. For this purpose, soil samples were collected from two of the most representative watersheds of Santa Catarina where the predominant activity is pig raising. In each watershed, 12 properties were chosen to evaluate the different systems of pig husbandry (complete cycle (CC), farrowing (FaU) and finishing units (FiU)). Based on information of the producers, soil samples were collected in areas with and without systematic manure application. To determine the total Cu, Zn and Mn content in soils and manure, a methodology proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States (USEPA), method nº 3050B, was used. For the available heavy metal content, Cu and Zn was extracted with HCl 0.1 mol L-1 and Mn with KCl 1 mol L-1. Data were subjected to multivariate analysis, using the canonical discriminant analysis to identify the metals that best differentiate the soils studied within each swine housing system. Successive pig slurry applications cause an increase in Cu, Zn and Mn availability in the soil and this indicates the need for monitoring of the metal concentrations over time. The critical values of Cu in the soil can be reached and exceeded more rapidly than Zn. The results showed that the soil type may be one of the attribute underlying the determination of public policies in pig raising and waste management because soils such as Inceptisols were shown to be more prone to possible contamination since they may more rapidly reach total critical Cu levels.

Highlands of the upper Jequitinhonha valley, Brazil: I - characterization and classification

In the upper Jequitinhonha valley, state of Minas Gerais, Brazi, there are large plane areas known as "chapadas", which are separated by areas dissected by tributaries of the Jequitinhonha and Araçuaí rivers. These dissected areas have a surface drainage system with tree, shrub, and grass vegetation, more commonly known as "veredas", i.e., palm swamps. The main purpose of this study was to characterize soil physical, chemical and morphological properties of a representative toposequence in the watershed of the Vereda Lagoa do Leandro, a swamp near Minas Novas, MG, on "chapadas", the highlands of the Alto Jequitinhonha region Different soil types are observed in the landscape: at the top - Typic Haplustox (LVA), in the middle slope - Xanthic Haplustox (LA), at the footslope - Xanthic Haplustox, gray color, here called "Gray Haplustox" ("LAC") and, at the bottom of the palm swamp - Typic Albaquult (GXbd). These soils were first morphologically described; samples of disturbed and undisturbed soils were collected from all horizons and subhorizons, to evaluate their essential physical and chemical properties, by means of standard determination of Fe, Al, Mn, Ti and Si oxides after sulfuric extraction. The contents of Fe, Al and Mn, extracted with dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate and oxalate treatments, were also determined. In the well-drained soils of the slope positions, the typical morphological, physical and chemical properties of Oxisols were found. The GXbd sample, from the bottom of the palm swamp, is grayish and has high texture gradient (B/A) and massive structure. The reduction of the proportion of crystalline iron compounds and the low crystallinity along the slope confirmed the loss of iron during pedogenesis, which is reflected in the current soil color. The Si and Al contents were lowest in the "LAC" soil. There was a decrease of the Fe2O3/TiO2 ratio downhill, indicating progressive drainage restriction along the toposequence. The genesis and all physical and chemical properties of the soils at the footslope and the bottom of the palm swamp of the "chapadas" of the Alto Jequitinhonha region are strongly influenced by the occurrence of ground water on the surface or near the surface all year long, at present and/or in the past. Total concentrations of iron oxides, Fe d and Fe o in soils of the toposequence studied are related to the past and/or present soil colors and drainage conditions.

Highlands of the upper Jequitinhonha valley, Brazil: II - mineralogy, micromorphology, and landscape evolution¹

Palm swanp formations, the so-called veredas, typically occur in the Brazilian biome known as "Cerrado" (savanna-like vegetation), especially on flattened areas or tablelands (chapadas). The aim of this study was to characterize the mineralogy and micromorphology of soil materials from a representative toposequence of the watershed of the vereda Lagoa do Leandro, located in Minas Novas, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, on plains in the region of the upper Jequitinhonha valley, emphasizing essential aspects of their genesis and landscape evolution. The toposequence is underlain by rocks of the Macaúbas group and covered with detrital and metamorphic rocks (schists of Proterozoic diamictites). The soil profiles were first pedologically described; samples of the disturbed and undisturbed soils were collected from all horizons for further micromorphological and mineralogical analyses. The mineralogical analysis was mainly based on powder X ray diffractometry (XRD) and micromorphological descriptions of thin sections under a petrographic microscope. The soils from the bottom to the top of this toposequence were classified as: Typic Albaquult (GXbd), Xanthic Haplustox, gray color, here called "Gray Haplustox" ("LAC"), Xanthic Haplustox (LA) and Typic Haplustox (LVA). The clay mineralogy of all soils was found to be dominated by kaolinite. In soil of LA and LVA, the occurrence of goethite, gibbsite, and anatase was evidenced; "LAC" also contained anatase and the GXbd, illite, anatase, and traces of vermiculite. The micromorphological analyses of the LVA, LA and "LAC" soils showed the prevalence of a microaggregate-like or granular microstructure, and aggregate porosity has a stacked/packed structure, which is typical of Oxisols. A massive structure was observed in GXbd material, with the presence of illuviation cutans of clay minerals and iron compounds. Paleogleissolos, which are strongly weathered, due to the action of the excavating fauna , and resulted in the present "LAC". The GXbd at the base of the vereda preserved the physical, mineralogical and micromorphological properties that are typical of a pedogenesis with a strong influence of long dry periods.

Heavy rainfall equations for Santa Catarina, Brazil

Knowledge of intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) relationships of rainfall events is extremely important to determine the dimensions of surface drainage structures and soil erosion control. The purpose of this study was to obtain IDF equations of 13 rain gauge stations in the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil: Chapecó, Urussanga, Campos Novos, Florianópolis, Lages, Caçador, Itajaí, Itá, Ponte Serrada, Porto União, Videira, Laguna and São Joaquim. The daily rainfall data charts of each station were digitized and then the annual maximum rainfall series were determined for durations ranging from 5 to 1440 min. Based on these, with the Gumbel-Chow distribution, the maximum rainfall was estimated for durations ranging from 5 min to 24 h, considering return periods of 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, and 100 years,. Data agreement with the Gumbel-Chow model was verified by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, at 5 % significance level. For each rain gauge station, two IDF equations of rainfall events were adjusted, one for durations from 5 to 120 min and the other from 120 to 1440 min. The results show a high variability in maximum intensity of rainfall events among the studied stations. Highest values of coefficients of variation in the annual maximum series of rainfall were observed for durations of over 600 min at the stations of the coastal region of Santa Catarina.

Microbial and soil properties in restoration areas in the jequitinhonha valley, Minas Gerais

To mitigate the impacts of eucalypt monoculture, forestry companies in the Upper Jequitinhonha Valley (MG) have adopted the insertion of strips of native vegetation in-between the commercial plantations. The method used for the creation of these corridors is to allow spontaneous regrowth of native vegetation in areas previously under eucalypt. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crops on microbial and soil properties for a detailed description of the restoration process of native vegetation in forest soils of the Jequitinhonha Valley. The treatments were represented by an initial restoration stage (< 4 years) with or without remaining eucalypt and the advanced restoration stage (> 4 years) with or without remaining eucalypt, plus the three controls: commercial eucalypt plantation, Cerrado vegetation and native forest. Soil samples were collected for three consecutive years in the dry and rainy season (August and February, respectively). The microbial activity, regardless of the presence of remaining eucalypt , did not differ among the restoration areas, except for the metabolic quotient (qCO2) in the rainy season of February 2007. At this time, this microbial activity was higher in the advanced restoration stage without eucalypt than initial restoration without eucalypt and advanced restoration with eucalypt. The restoration areas, in general, did not differ from the control: eucalypt plantation and Cerrado either. Compared to the forest, the levels of organic C, microbial C, basal respiration (Rbasal) and hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) in the restoration areas were, in general, lower and did not differ in qCO2 and microbial quotient (qMIC). In general, the soil quality was similar in the initial and advanced restoration stages. Most of the soil and microbial properties in the three years indicated that the restoration areas were most similar to the Cerrado. In the advanced restoration areas without eucalypt compared to Cerrado, the lower Rbasal in the 3rd year and the lower FDA and qMIC and higher qCO2 in the 2nd year indicated that the removal of the remaining eucalypt trees was unfavorable for restoration.

Tampão Santa Maria (TSM) como alternativa ao tampão SMP para medição da acidez potencial de solos ácidos

O tampão SMP contém p-nitrofenol e cromato de potássio, que são substâncias potencialmente perigosas para a saúde e o ambiente. Uma solução sem substâncias tóxicas, denominada Tampão Santa Maria (TSM), foi desenvolvida para reproduzir o comportamento do tampão SMP usado na estimativa da acidez potencial do solo nos Estados do Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina (SMP-RS/ SC). A fim de obter a composição ótima do TSM, foram feitas titulações ácidas do tampão SMP-RS/SC e de várias misturas dos componentes do novo tampão, empregando-se a análise de regressão multiparamétrica. A eficiência do TSM em reproduzir o SMP-RS/SC foi avaliada em 21 solos coletados no Rio Grande do Sul e no Cerrado, cujos valores de acidez potencial foram determinados pela incubação úmida com carbonato de cálcio. O TSM reproduziu o pH solo-tampão obtido com o tampão SMP-RS/SC, fornecendo valores de acidez potencial e de recomendações de calcário similares aos obtidos com o SMP-RS/SC. O TSM pode ser utilizado em substituição ao SMP-RS/SC, sem a necessidade de alteração das interpretações laboratoriais para estimativa da acidez potencial ou da necessidade de corretivo do solo.

Recommendation of soil fertility levels for willow in the southern highlands of Santa Catarina

The species Salix x rubens is being grown on the Southern Plateau of Santa Catarina since the 1940s, but so far the soil fertility requirements of the crop have not been assessed. This study is the first to evaluate the production profile of willow plantations in this region, based on the modified method of Summer & Farina (1986), for the recommendation of fertility levels for willow. By this method, based on the law of Minimum and of Maximum for willow production for the conditions on the Southern Plateau of Santa Catarina, the following ranges could be recommended: pH: 5.0-6.5; P: 12-89 mg dm-3; Mg: 3.2-7.5 mg; Zn: 5.0-8.3 mg dm-3; Cu: 0.8-4.6 mg dm-3; and Mn; 20-164 mg dm-3. The Ca/Mg ratio should be between 1.2 and 2.9. For K and Ca only the lower (sufficiency level), but not the upper threshold (excess) was established, with respectively 114 mg dm-3 and 5.3 cmol c dm-3. It was also possible to determine the upper threshold for Al and the Al/Ca ratio, i.e., 1.7 cmol c dm-3 and 0.28, respectively. For maximum yields, the clay in the soil surface layer should be below 320 g dm-3.

Duration-frequency relationships of heavy rainfall in Santa Catarina, Brazil

The purpose of this study was to adjust equations that establish relationships between rainfall events with different duration and data from weather stations in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. In this study, the relationships between different duration heavy rainfalls from 13 weather stations of Santa Catarina were analyzed. From series of maximum annual rainfalls, and using the Gumbel-Chow distribution, the maximum rainfall for durations between 5 min and 24 h were estimated considering return periods from 2 to 100 years. The data fit to the Gumbel-Chow model was verified by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test at 5 % significance. The coefficients of Bell's equation were adjusted to estimate the relationship between rainfall duration t (min) and the return period T (y) in relation to the maximum rainfall with a duration of 1 hour and a 10 year return period. Likewise, the coefficients of Bell's equation were adjusted based on the maximum rainfall with a duration of 1 day and a 10 year return period. The results showed that these relationships are viable to estimate short-duration rainfall events at locations where there are no rainfall records.

Mineralogia e gênese de argissolos das Serras do Tabuleiro/Itajaí, Estado de Santa Catarina

As rochas do escudo cristalino, que afloram na porção centro-leste e nordeste do Estado de Santa Catarina, estão dispostas em relevo forte ondulado e montanhoso da unidade geomorfológica Serras do Tabuleiro/Itajaí. A movimentada superfície é resultante dos ciclos tecto magmático metamórficos sofridos pela crosta, responsáveis pelo retrabalhamento de rochas muito antigas formadas do Arqueano ao Proterozoico. Esse compartimento é constituído por rochas metamórficas, e informações sobre pedogênese e composição mineralógica dos solos delas derivados são escassas, fator que motivou a condução deste trabalho. Cinco perfis resultantes da pedogênese desses materiais foram estudados. O primeiro, desenvolvido de hornblendito do Complexo Granulítico de Santa Catarina (P1), foi descrito no topo de elevação em Pomerode, em condições de relevo forte ondulado. O segundo e o quinto perfis (P2 e P5), ambos desenvolvidos de granulitos máficos do mesmo complexo, respectivamente em Massaranduba e Blumenau, foram descritos na base da encosta, em relevo local ondulado. O terceiro perfil (P3), resultante da alteração de xistos do Complexo Metamórfico Brusque, foi descrito em encosta de relevo forte ondulado, em Botuverá. O quarto perfil (P4) foi fruto da pedogênese de granitoides foliados da faixa Granito-Gnáissica Faxinal, sendo descrito no terço inferior da encosta, num relevo ondulado. Foram feitas descrições gerais e morfológicas dos solos e da litologia subjacente, análises físicas e químicas de caracterização e análises mineralógicas da fração argila por difratometria de raios X (DRX), procurando avaliar as transformações sofridas pelos minerais presentes nas rochas durante a evolução dos solos. Todos os solos apresentaram alta relação textural e, ou, grau de desenvolvimento de estrutura em blocos, associada à presença de cerosidade, caracterizando a presença de horizonte diagnóstico B textural, com argila de atividade baixa ou alta e caráter distrófico, alumínico ou alítico, o que permitiu classificá-los como Argissolo Amarelo distrófico típico (P1), Argissolo Amarelo alítico típico (P2, P3 e P5) e Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo alumínico típico (P4) no Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos, versão de 2006. Em todos os Argissolos predominou caulinita, secundada por argilominerais do grupo da ilita, interestratificados ilita-vermiculita e, ou, vermiculita com polímeros de hidroxi-Al entrecamadas. Gibbsita, em baixas quantidades, também foi constatada nos perfis P2, P3 e P5. A formação de caulinita é resultante da dissolução de minerais primários, favorecida pelas condições climáticas subtropicais úmidas. Os argilominerais com estrutura 2:1 são provavelmente resultantes da transformação de filossilicatos presentes no material originário. O aumento da atividade da fração argila dos solos relacionou-se com o aumento na quantidade de argilominerais 2:1, cuja proporção foi mais alta no Argissolo desenvolvido de Muscovita-Xisto.

Pedotransfer functions to estimate retention and availability of water in soils of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Studies on water retention and availability are scarce for subtropical or humid temperate climate regions of the southern hemisphere. The aims of this study were to evaluate the relations of the soil physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties with water retention and availability for the generation and validation of continuous point pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for soils of the State of Santa Catarina (SC) in the South of Brazil. Horizons of 44 profiles were sampled in areas under different cover crops and regions of SC, to determine: field capacity (FC, 10 kPa), permanent wilting point (PWP, 1,500 kPa), available water content (AW, by difference), saturated hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, aggregate stability, particle size distribution (seven classes), organic matter content, and particle density. Chemical and mineralogical properties were obtained from the literature. Spearman's rank correlation analysis and path analysis were used in the statistical analyses. The point PTFs for estimation of FC, PWP and AW were generated for the soil surface and subsurface through multiple regression analysis, followed by robust regression analysis, using two sets of predictive variables. Soils with finer texture and/or greater organic matter content retain more moisture, and organic matter is the property that mainly controls the water availability to plants in soil surface horizons. Path analysis was useful in understanding the relationships between soil properties for FC, PWP and AW. The predictive power of the generated PTFs to estimate FC and PWP was good for all horizons, while AW was best estimated by more complex models with better prediction for the surface horizons of soils in Santa Catarina.