Soil-lime reactions: the behaviour of a Brazilian red soil.

A red tropical soil was selected, with the main purpose of investigating how it reacted with calcitic and dolomitic limes, and which products are formed. Under normal (23-28oC) or slightly accelerated (40o and 60oC) conditions there is a rapid and substantial interaction between lime (calcitic or dolomitic) and the soil. The reactions take place in two steps, one before 7 g lime/100 g soil, and the other after 8 g lime/100 g of soil, either for calcitic or dolomitic lime. A morphologically discrete reaction product (tri-calcium aluminate hexahydrate) was found in the study, and in spite of the difference in morphology the product is shown to be the same by XRD for all compositions and T.-J.M.H.

Soil water dynamics and availability for citrus and peanut along a hillslope at the Sunjia Red Soil Critical Zone Observatory (CZO)

Acknowledgments This work was granted by the China-UK jointed Red Soil Critical Zone project from National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC: 41571130053; 41301233) and from Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC: Code: NE/N007611/1), and by the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (2011BAD31B04). We thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

Nitrificação e aproveitamento de alguns adubos nitrogenados

The rate of nitrification of several nitrogenous fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, nitre-chalk, ureia, and cottonseed meal) was studied in three soils, namely, "terra roxa legítima", a red soil derived from basalt, "terra roxa misturada", a soil also derived from basalt but with a higher proportion of sand, and "areito Corumbataí", a sandy soil. The effects of the following treatments on nitrification were considered: addition of limestone of micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Mo), and inoculation with a suspension of spores of Aspergillus wentii, a heterotrophic nitrifier. The results showed that: in "terra roxa legítima" limestone had no influence on the nitrification rate, whereas the micronutrients estimulated the oxidation of nitre-chalk, cottonseed meal and urea; inoculation with A. wentii helped only the nitrification of ammonium sulfate and of the cottonseed meal; the latter, in all the treatments employed gave use to a smaller amount of nitrates; in "terra roxa misturada", all the fertilizers depending upon the treatments they were subjected to, presented maximum values for nitrification; limestone estimulated the oxidation of ammonium sulfate as well as the mineralization of the cottonseed meal; the addition of micronutrients helped the nitrification of all the fertilizers, except that of urea; inoculation showed a benefical influence on the nitrification of ammonium sulfate and cottonseed meal; in "arenito de Corumbatai", the amounts of nitrates produced was roughly the same for all the fertilizers investigated; limestone estimulated the nitrification of nitro-chalk, ammonium sulfate and cottonseed meal whilst the addition of micronutrients benefited only the latter two; the inoculation with A. wentii helped the oxidation of all the fertilizers. In order to study the availability of the various fertilizers above discussed, two plant growing experiments were carried cut, one in pots, using the three soil types and another one in the field, with "terra roxa misturada". In "arenito de Corumbatai" there was no significant difference in the yield both of straw and rice grains for none of the fertilizers: Chilean nitrate of soda was used as a control; ho marked agreement could be detected between the data concerning nitrification and the yield results. In "terra roxa legítima", ammonium sulfate won the competition and there was a good parallelism between nitrification and yield. In "terra roxa misturada", there was no statistical difference among the various fertilizers; the agreement between nitrification and yields was reasonable. In the field (corn), Chilean nitrate, ammonium sulfate and nitro-chalk were clearly beter than urea and cottonseed meal which did not differ from the minus nitrogen plots.

Estudos sôbre a alimentação mineral do cafeeiro. II: absorção do superfosfato radioativo pelo cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L., var. Bourbon Amarelo) em condições de campo

In order to find out the best way to supply phosphorus to coffee plants when growing in "terra roxa misturada", a red soil with a high fixing capacity, tagged superphosphate was applied by the following procedures: (1) topdressed in a circular strip around the trees; (2) placed in the bottom of a circular furrow 15 cm deep; (3) placed in a semicircular furrow also 15 cm deep; (4) sprayed directly to the leaves. In each case 150 gms. of ordinary superphosphate tagged with H3 P32 O4 to give 5 X 10(9) c.p.m. were given to the two and half year old coffee plants. It was found that for the several treatments of the total phosphorus in the leaves the following values, on a per cent basis, came from the applied superphosphates: (1) topdressed 10.2 per cent, (2) circular furrow 2.4 per cent, (3) semicircular furrow 1.7 per cent, (4) sprayed 38.0 per cent; one can see, then, that methods (2) and (3) commonly used by the coffee planters are a very inefficient way to supply phosphorus in this type of soil. The remarkable foliar absorption was checked twice: a water culture experiment was carried out, the radiophosphorus being supplied by brushing it in the upper and lower surfaces of a given leaf; radioactivity was detected all over the plant as a result both of absorption and translocation; on the other hand, leaves collected from the sprayed trees were radioautographed; the radioautographs showed the pattern of distribution of the P32 which indicates true absorption rather than a surface contamination. In another locality, an experiment was caried out with 8 year old plants growing in "arenito de Bauru" which is a sandy soil with much less phosphorus fixing capacity. In this experiment the aim was to compare absorption of tagged superphosphate by trees growin under mulch against plants not receiving this treatment, The uptake of phosphorus was the same for both sets of plants. In both field experiments soil samples down to 15 cm in the profile were collected and its 0.2NHC1 soluble phosphorus was counted; rather significant values were observed mainly in the upper 5 cm layers.

A disponibilidade do fósforo de oiversos fosfatos estudada por meio do método de Neubauer"

In order to study the phosphorus availability from various phosphates fertilizers an experiment was performed according to the biological seedling method of Neubauer. The physico-chemical properties of the soil "terra roxa-misturada", a red soil derived from basaltic rocks are given in the Portuguese text. Rice (Oryza sativa, L.) instead of rye (Secale cereale, L.) was used. Five replications of each of the following treatments were made: 1 - check, with 350 g of sand 2 - 350 g of sand plus 100 g of soil 3 - 350 g of sand and plus 100 g of soil plus 40 mg of P2O5, from superphosphate. 4 - 350 g of sand plus 100 g of soil plus 40 mg of P2O5. from Olinda (Brazil) phosphorite. 5 - 350 g of sand plus 100 g of soil plus 40 mg of P2O5 from Florida (U. S. A.) phosphorite. 6 - 350 g os sand plus 100 g of soil plus 40 mg of P2O5 from Hyperphosphate, a commertial name of a North African (Gafsa) phosphorite. 7 - 350 g of sand plus 100 g of soil plus 40 mg of P2O5 from Araxá (Brazil) apatite. After 18 days of growth, the roots and tops of rice seedlings were harvested and analysed for phosphorus, and the results are summarized in table 1. Table 1 - Milligrams of P2O5 determined in rice seedlings. Treatments Mean of 5 replications mg of P2O5 1 ..................... 24.196 2 ..................... 23.850 3 ..................... 30.724 4 ..................... 27.620 5 ..................... 27.480 6..................... 30.210 7 ..................... 26.032 The least significant difference at the 5% level by Tukey's procedure for comparisons among the treatments means is 1.365 mg of P(2)0. It is interesting to observe that rice plants did not take any phosphorus from the soil according to he data of the treatments n.° 1 and n.° 2. This can be explained by the high phosphorus fixing capacity of the soil "terra roxa misturada".

Estudos sôbre alimentação mineral do cafeeiro: VIII. Estudo da absorção e da translocação do radiozinco no cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.)

WATER-CULTURE EXPERIMENTS. Two water-culture experiments were carried out to study the absorption and the translocation of radiozinc in young coffee plants as influenced by two factors, namely, concentration of heavy metals (iron, man ganese, copper and molybdenum) and method of application. Inert zinc was supplied at an uniform rate of 0. 05 p. p. m.; the levels of iron supply were 0, 1.0, and 10.0 p. p.m.; manganese was supplied in three doses 0, 0.5, and 5.0 p. p.m.; copper- 0, 0. 02, and 0. 2 p. p. m.; molybdenum- 0, 0. 01, and 0. 1 p. p. m. When applied to the nutrient solution the activity os the radiozinc (as zinc chloride) was 0. 15 microcuries per plant. In the study of the leaf absorption, Zn65 was supplied at the level of 0. 10 microcuries per plant; in this case the radioative material was brushed either on the lower or on the upper surface or both two pairs of mature leaves. The absorption period was 8 weeks. The radioactivity assay showed the following results: 1 - Among the heavy metals herein investigated the iron concentration did not affect the uptake of the radiozinc; by raising the level of Mn, Cu and Mo ten times, the absorption dropped to 50 per cent and even more when compared with the control plants; when, however, these micronutrients were omitted from the nutrient solution, an increase in the uptake of zinc was registered in the minus Cu treatment only. The effects of high levels of Mn, Cu and Mo probably indicate an interionic competition for a same site on a common binding substance in the cell surface. 2 - The absorption of the radiozinc directly applied to the leaf surface reached levels as high as 8 times that registered when the root uptake took place. Among the three methods of application which have been tried, brushing the lower surface of the leaves proved to be the most effective; this result is easily understood since the stomatal openings of the coffee leaves an preferentially located in the lower surface - in this treatment, about 40 per cent of the activity was absorved and around 12 per cent were translocated either to the old or to the newer organs. Chemical analyses for heavy metals, were carried out only in the plants received Zn65Cl2 in the nutrient solution; the results were as follows; 1 - Control plants had, per 1,000 gm, of dry weight the following amounts in mg.: Zn- 48 in the roots and 29 in the tops; Fe- 165 in the roots and 9 in the tops; Mn- 58 in the roots and 15 in the tops, Cu- 15 in the roots and 1. 2 in the tops; Mo- 2. 8 in the roots and 0. 45 in the tops. 2 - The effect of different levels of micronutrients in the composition of the plants can be summarized as follows: Fe and Zn- when omitted from the nutrient solution, the iron and zinc contents in the roots decreased, no variation being noted in the tops; the higher dosis caused an accumulation in the roots but no apparent effect in the tops; Mn- by omitting this micronutrient a decrease in its content in the roots was noted, where as the concentration in the tops was the same; Mo- no variation in roots and tops contents when molybdenum was omitted; higher dosis of manganese and molybdenum increased the amounts formed both in the roots and in the tops. 3 - The influence of the different concentrations of micronutrients heavy metals on the zinc content of the coffee plants can be described by saying that: Fe and Mo- no marked variation; Mn- no effect when omitted, reduced amount when the high dosis was supplied; Mn- when the plants did not receive manganese the zinc content in roots and tops was the same as in the control plants; a decrease in the zinc content of the total plant occurred when the high dosis was employed; Cu -the situation is similar to that described for manganese. Hence, results showed by the chemical analyses roughly correspond to those of the radioactivity assay; the use of the tracer technique, however, gave best informations along this line. SOIL-POTS EXPERIMENTS. The two types of soils which when selected support the most extensive coffee plantations in the State of São Paulo, Brazil: "arenito de Bauru", a light sandy soil and "terra roxa legitima", a red soil derived from basalt. Besides NPK containing salts, the coffee plants were given two doses of inert zinc (65 and 130 mg ZnCl2 per pot) and radiozinc at a total activity of 10(6) counts/minute. The results of the countings can be summarized as follows: 1 - When plants were grown in "arenito de Bauru" the activity absorbed as per cent of the total activity supplied was not affected by the dosis of inert zinc. The highest value found was around 0. 1 per cent. 2 - For the "terra roxa" plants, the situation is almost the same; there was, however, a slight increase in the absorption of the radiozinc when 130 mgm of ZnClg2 was given: a little above 0. 2 per cent of the activity supplied was absorbed. The results clearly show that the young coffee plants practically did not absorb none of the zinc supplied; two reasons at least could be pointed out to explain such a fact: 1 - Zinc fixation by an exchange with magnesium or by filling holes in the octahedral layer of aluminosilicates, probably kaolinite; 2 - No need for fertilizer zinc in the particular stage of life cycle under which the experiment was set up. The data from chemical analysis are roughly parallel to the above mentioned. When one attempts to compare - by taking data herein reported zinc uptake from nutrient solution, leaf brushing or from fertilizers in the soil, a practical conclusion can be drawn: the control of zinc deficiency in coffee plants should not be done by adding the zinc salts to the soil; in other words: the soil applications used so extensively in other countries seem not to be suitable for our conditions; hence zinc sprays should be used wherever necessary.

Propriedades físicas e indicador de qualidade de um latossolo vermelho submetido a diferentes sistemas de uso e manejo

The conventional system for soil management and preparation has the intensive mechanization as its basic principle and that changes soil properties, especially physical ones, faster and significantly. This study aimed to obtain and compare physical properties such as distribution of particle sizes, density, distribution of pore sizes, curves of water retention and degradation index of a Red Latosol, under intensive cultivation and no-cultivation for six years. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 m. There was a clay increment as a result of cultivated soil increase. The no-till soil density decreased as depth increased; however, in the arable layer (0.3 m) of the cultivated soil, the opposite was verified. The largest volume of pores was verified in the cultivated soil, especially in the superficial layers. In the smallest applied tension (0.001 MPa), the cultivated soil retained more water; however, starting from 0.033 MPa, the highest humidity values occurred in the no-till soil. The highest degradation index was observed at a depth of 0.1 m in no-till soil. However, that value was superior (0.020) to what is physically considered very poor soil.

Variabilidade dos atributos de um latossolo vermelho sob plantio direto no cerrado brasileiro e produtividade da soja

The spatial variability of several soil attributes (bulk density, penetration resistance, water content, organic matter content and pH) as well as soybean yield have been assessed during the 2007/08 growing season, in Selviria (MS) in a Hapludox (Typic Acrustox), under no tillage. The objectives were to assess the spatial variability of soil and plant parameters at the small plot scale and to select the best soil attribute explaining most the variability of agricultural productivity. Soil and plant were sampled on a grid with 121 points within a plot of 25,600 m 2 in area and slope of 0.025 mm -1 slope. Medium and low coefficients of variation were obtained for most of the studied soil attributes as expected, due to the homogenizing effect of the no-till system on the soil physical environment. From the standpoint of linear regression and spatial pattern of variability, productivity of soybeans could be explained according to the hydrogen potential (pH). Results are discussed taken into account that the soybean crop in no-tillage is widely used in crop-livestock integration on the national scene.

Uso de biofertilizante na produtividade do milho

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Gênese, evolução e geomorfologia das ilhas e planície de inundação do alto Rio Paraná, Brasil

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Lâminas de fertirrigação e substratos na produção e qualidade de gérbera de vaso

Fertigation management of gerbera crop has been many times performed inadequately, and it has been worsened when mixtures of substrates with different physical and chemical characteristics are used. Aiming at evaluating the production and quality of potted gerbera in two substrates and different levels of fertigation, the experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of the DRN/Soil Science, FCA/UNESP, Botucatu (SP). A 5 x 2 factorial randomized block design (5 levels of fertigation and 2 substrates) was adopted with 4 replications. Levels of fertigation corresponded to maintenance of 100% available water (AW) in the substrate; 100 to 80% of AW; 100 to 60% of AW; 100 to 40% of AW and 100 to 20% of AW. The substrates were as follows: 1- mixed coconut fiber (50% pellet coconut fiber and 50% coir fiber), 2- 40% red soil, 40% decomposed pine bark, 10% composition 1 (40% decomposed pine bark, 30% vermiculite and 30% carbonized rice husk) and 10% composition 2 (75% decomposed pine bark and 25% needles of pine). Plants at the marketing stage were evaluated according to the number of leaves; diameter of leaf surface; leaf area; fresh and dry phytomass of leaves, inflorescence and total plant; inflorescence number and diameter, stem diameter, plant height, leaf area rate and electrical conductivity of the substrate solution. Plants of better quality were obtained when they were maintained in levels of 100% available water and the mixed coconut fiber was used as substrate.

Contribution à l’étude de l’influence des caractères physico-chimiques du sol sur la stabilité structurale ; cas de la plaine de Sidi Bel Abbes

The aim of the study is to contribute to the knowledge and the identification of the main physical and chemical characteristics of the soil that affect the structural stability of soil types forming the soil cover of the plain of Sidi Bel Abbes region for agricultural use by excellence. Structural stability is an indicator of the cohesion of soil aggregates. This is a parameter that expresses the ability of soil aggregates to resist degradation in general the impact of rain or excess water. Measuring the structural stability makes it possible to evaluate the sensitivity a soil crusting and erosion. The results showed that soils subject of our study are stable and very stable with a slight difference. We have a statistical study made it possible to establish a correlation between the structural stability and other physical and chemical soil parameters measured )fersiallitic red soil and brown calcareous soil( such as organic matter content, the rate of total limestone and soil texture, to better explain the stability or instability of the soil structure and to establish a relationship between these parameters and the structural stability. // Keywords: Sidi Bel Abbes, chemical characteristics, physical, structural stability, soil, plain, fersiallitic red soil, brown calcareous soil

Aplicação do Na2S2O8, H2O2 e ferro na remediação de solos (latossolo e areia destrófica) contaminados com diesel

Environmental liabilities from accidents in the retail petroleum industry, especially in urban areas, have represented a serious problem whose impact reaches the underground, people's health and even economic losses with the remediation process. In U.S.A. are estimated hundreds of billions of dollars invested in soil remediation processes. The results of the reports and investigative reports of liabilities in fuel stations distributed in the urban area of Natal-RN were used to estimate the local scenario of contamination. This database has been possible to determine the main contaminants (BTEX, PAHs, TOC), affected neighborhoods and types of potentially more impacted soils. Experiments were carried out in order to reverse contamination of this scenario, where the soil type was a factor in the planning, because it influences directly on the effectiveness of remediation techniques studied: Oxidation by hydrogen peroxide and oxidation by sodium persulphate. These oxidants are activated forming free radicals (HO•-, SO4 •-, HO2 • , O2 •-, S2O8 -2, etc) responsible for to mineralize the hydrocarbons and other organic compounds (releasing O2 e CO2). In the activation process, the ferrous ions (II) and ferric (III) were studied as well as hydrogen peroxide activation technique with sodium persulfate, the latter being presented the best efficiency among all the study, when activated with Fe+3. In addition to defining the most efficient technique, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different soils among oxidative techniques, characterizing the effect of the concentration of these oxidants and also the concentration of the catalysts. Exists in most scenarios evaluated the presence of intrinsic total iron soil matrix. The so-called latosols present microaggregates reddish indicating the presence of these reactive species like iron and clayey aspect. The kinetic study was conducted by experimental design and monitoring of the percentage of total carbon (SSM-5000A) in the solid and liquid phases, knowing that 82.4% of the diesel molecule is carbon. Yet organic carbon and pH of liquid samples were analyzed for technical, characterizing the influence of soil type and its operating condition. The Fenton-like technique H2O2 e Fe+2 presented satisfactory oxidation, including sandy soil, but well below the best result. The sodium persulphate only activated with temperature, even in the most favorable soil, did not provide good efficiency. The best technique in the study had the concentration profile with 2,2x10- 1mol.L-1 of Na2S2O8 activated with 6,53x10-1mol.L-1 of H2O2 and 2,5x10-2 Fe3+mol.L-1 which reduced in less than a day 96 contamination in red soil, initially with 66,667 mg of diesel per kg of clean soil

Doses and methods of distribution of potassium chloride on soybean crop (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) in a red latosol, affecting soil salinity, grain production and chemical composition of leaves

The present work deal t wi th an experiment under field conditions and a laboratory test of soil incubation the objectives were as follows: a. to study effects on soybean grain product ion and leaf composition of increasing doses of potassium chloride applied into the soil through two methods of distribution; b. to observe chemical modifications in the soils incubated with increasing doses of potassium chloride; and, c. to correlate field effects with chemical alterations observed in the incubation test, The field experiment was carried out in a Red Latosol (Haplustox) with soybean cultivar UFV - 1. Potassium chloride was distributed through two methods: banded (5 cm below and 5 cm aside of the seed line) and broadcasted and plowed-down. Doses used were: 0; 50; 100 and 200 kg/ha of K2O. Foliar samples were taken at flowering stage. Incubation test were made in plastic bags with 2 kg of air dried fine soil, taken from the arable layer of the field experiment, with the following doses of KC1 p,a. : 0; 50; 100; 200; 400; 800; 1,600; 3.200; 6,400 and 12,800 kg/ha of K(2)0. In the conditions observed during the present work, results allowed the following conclusions: A response by soybean grain production for doses of potassium chloride, applied in both ways, banded or broadcasted, was not observed. Leaf analysis did not show treatment influence over the leaf contents for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and CI, Potassium chloride salinity effects in both methods of distribution for all the tested closes were not observed.