In Limpopo Province of South Africa, poor soil fertility and low crop yields are serious problems facing resource poor smallholder farmers. A survey of over 60 farmers in 2 villages (Gabaza and GaKgoroshi) found that most of the smallholder farmers were women (68%), elderly (50% above 68 years of age) and had not attended school or only attended up to the primary level (80%). Very few farmers kept livestock (usually in small numbers) and most grew cereal and legume crops (on 1ha of land) for home consumption and livestock feed, with legumes being planted on 13% of the land. The study showed that 80% of farmers were not fully aware of the benefits of legumes in fixing nitrogen (N) and improving yield. A field study at the survey village of Gabaza found that the application of fertiliser N and grass mulch combination and fertiliser N plus guarbean mulch significantly increased plant height and maize shoot growth at 4 and 8 weeks after planting. However, when grass mulch was without N fertiliser, there was no increase in maize growth relative to the control (0N). A farming systems simulation model (Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator - APSIM) was used to simulate this field study as well as over the long-term (1971 to 2008). Simulation analysis showed poor average maize yield (<3000 kg ha⁻ ¹) with the application of grass residues even when used with 30 kg N fertiliser. However, the application of guarbean residues as mulch with or without N fertiliser and as green manure increased maize yields to >4000 kg ha⁻ ¹. Simulation showed that the grass mulch with or without the addition of N fertiliser reduced water stress and soil water evaporation but increased N stress during the reproductive phase of the crop in most seasons. When guarbean mulch was used as green manure by itself, or mulch plus N fertiliser, N stress was reduced but water stress and soil water evaporation were increased which could have been due to faster decomposition of legume mulch as compared to grass mulch. Addition of N fertiliser reduced N stress to maize but increased water stress and soil water evaporation similar to the guarbean mulch because of high soil evaporation. APSIM analysis clearly showed the importance of N x soil water interactions in determining maize growth and yield at Gabaza. Therefore, two studies were undertaken in the laboratory in Australia to determine the dynamics of carbon (C) and N where residues of different qualities [canola (C:N 43), wheat (26), pea (9) and mucuna (14)] were applied to clay loam (Tarlee) or sandy (Waikerie) soils. In experiment 1, where residues were incorporated into the two soils, the cumulative CO₂-C evolution for the wheat and canola treatments at the end of the incubation period were fairly similar but significantly higher than for pea, mucuna and the control. In general, the application of residues increased microbial biomass C more than the control, with highest increases up to 1.48 and 1.56 mg C g⁻ ¹ soil for canola and wheat in Tarlee soil, respectively and 0.82 mg C g⁻ ¹ soil for pea in Waikerie soil. Even though the Tarlee soil showed greater C release than Waikerie soil, the C turnover from the residues between the 2 soils was not significantly different except for pea residues. Canola and wheat residues were found to immobilise N whereas N content increased in both soils with the application of legumes (pea and mucuna). In experiment 2, mucuna, pea and wheat residues were either incorporated or applied as surface mulches on Waikerie soil. Initially the CO₂-C release was higher for incorporated than mulched residues and CO₂-C released was higher for pea residues. However, at the end of the incubation more CO₂-C was released with the application of wheat residue indicating differences between residue types in the pattern of soil respiration. Microbial biomass C was higher for incorporated than mulched residue treatments; pea residue showed the highest biomass C for incorporated (0.78 mg C g⁻ ¹ soil) whereas mucuna had the highest microbial biomass (0.11 mg C g⁻ ¹ soil) treatments. The method of residue application resulted in a significant difference in C turnover between residues, with pea residue showing significant increase in C utilisation than mucuna and wheat. The pea residues, which had the lowest C:N, increased soil mineral N more than other treatments in both incorporated and mulched treatments. Lower mineralisation of N observed in residues of high C:N ratio compared to the control could be due to immobilisation of N. Therefore, understanding the nutrient dynamics of different crop residues could play an important role in the management of residues in different soil types. Based on these results it can be concluded that legume residues have the potential to improve soil fertility and crop yields in dryland farmers’ fields in Limpopo. Extension programs aimed at increasing farmers’ knowledge of the benefits of N fixation by legumes may increase their adoption and thereby improve soil fertility and maize yield. / Thesis (M.Ag.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2010

Organic corn (Zea mays L.) producers generally use intensive tillage for weed control. No-till methods reduce soil erosion, conserve water, maintain soil structure and reduce CO2 emissions. The objective of this study was test different cover crops, tillage systems, N sources and N rates for organic corn production. Two tillage systems (no-till and moldboard plow), two cover crops [hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) and rye (Secale cereale)] and two organic N sources [Louisville Green (LG) and Nature Safe (NF)] at four N rates (45, 90, 135, 180 kg N ha-1) were evaluated during 2008 and 2009 at three sites. A roller crimper device was used for the no-till operations. A long term aerobic incubation was conducted. Hairy vetch improved yield, ear leaf N and grain N content compared with rye in all sites. Nature Safe increased ear leaf N more than LG in all three sites and yield in two out of three sites. Both sources stopped mineralizing at 28 days after application. Inorganic N production was about 50 kg N ha-1 for LG and 60 kg N ha-1 for NF. The combination moldboard plow and hairy vetch resulted in the highest yields at all experimental sites.

In Limpopo Province of South Africa, poor soil fertility and low crop yields are serious problems facing resource poor smallholder farmers. A survey of over 60 farmers in 2 villages (Gabaza and GaKgoroshi) found that most of the smallholder farmers were women (68%), elderly (50% above 68 years of age) and had not attended school or only attended up to the primary level (80%). Very few farmers kept livestock (usually in small numbers) and most grew cereal and legume crops (on 1ha of land) for home consumption and livestock feed, with legumes being planted on 13% of the land. The study showed that 80% of farmers were not fully aware of the benefits of legumes in fixing nitrogen (N) and improving yield. A field study at the survey village of Gabaza found that the application of fertiliser N and grass mulch combination and fertiliser N plus guarbean mulch significantly increased plant height and maize shoot growth at 4 and 8 weeks after planting. However, when grass mulch was without N fertiliser, there was no increase in maize growth relative to the control (0N). A farming systems simulation model (Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator - APSIM) was used to simulate this field study as well as over the long-term (1971 to 2008). Simulation analysis showed poor average maize yield (<3000 kg ha⁻ ¹) with the application of grass residues even when used with 30 kg N fertiliser. However, the application of guarbean residues as mulch with or without N fertiliser and as green manure increased maize yields to >4000 kg ha⁻ ¹. Simulation showed that the grass mulch with or without the addition of N fertiliser reduced water stress and soil water evaporation but increased N stress during the reproductive phase of the crop in most seasons. When guarbean mulch was used as green manure by itself, or mulch plus N fertiliser, N stress was reduced but water stress and soil water evaporation were increased which could have been due to faster decomposition of legume mulch as compared to grass mulch. Addition of N fertiliser reduced N stress to maize but increased water stress and soil water evaporation similar to the guarbean mulch because of high soil evaporation. APSIM analysis clearly showed the importance of N x soil water interactions in determining maize growth and yield at Gabaza. Therefore, two studies were undertaken in the laboratory in Australia to determine the dynamics of carbon (C) and N where residues of different qualities [canola (C:N 43), wheat (26), pea (9) and mucuna (14)] were applied to clay loam (Tarlee) or sandy (Waikerie) soils. In experiment 1, where residues were incorporated into the two soils, the cumulative CO₂-C evolution for the wheat and canola treatments at the end of the incubation period were fairly similar but significantly higher than for pea, mucuna and the control. In general, the application of residues increased microbial biomass C more than the control, with highest increases up to 1.48 and 1.56 mg C g⁻ ¹ soil for canola and wheat in Tarlee soil, respectively and 0.82 mg C g⁻ ¹ soil for pea in Waikerie soil. Even though the Tarlee soil showed greater C release than Waikerie soil, the C turnover from the residues between the 2 soils was not significantly different except for pea residues. Canola and wheat residues were found to immobilise N whereas N content increased in both soils with the application of legumes (pea and mucuna). In experiment 2, mucuna, pea and wheat residues were either incorporated or applied as surface mulches on Waikerie soil. Initially the CO₂-C release was higher for incorporated than mulched residues and CO₂-C released was higher for pea residues. However, at the end of the incubation more CO₂-C was released with the application of wheat residue indicating differences between residue types in the pattern of soil respiration. Microbial biomass C was higher for incorporated than mulched residue treatments; pea residue showed the highest biomass C for incorporated (0.78 mg C g⁻ ¹ soil) whereas mucuna had the highest microbial biomass (0.11 mg C g⁻ ¹ soil) treatments. The method of residue application resulted in a significant difference in C turnover between residues, with pea residue showing significant increase in C utilisation than mucuna and wheat. The pea residues, which had the lowest C:N, increased soil mineral N more than other treatments in both incorporated and mulched treatments. Lower mineralisation of N observed in residues of high C:N ratio compared to the control could be due to immobilisation of N. Therefore, understanding the nutrient dynamics of different crop residues could play an important role in the management of residues in different soil types. Based on these results it can be concluded that legume residues have the potential to improve soil fertility and crop yields in dryland farmers’ fields in Limpopo. Extension programs aimed at increasing farmers’ knowledge of the benefits of N fixation by legumes may increase their adoption and thereby improve soil fertility and maize yield. / Thesis (M.Ag.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2010

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-06-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:10:45Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 godoi_lm_me_jabo.pdf: 221877 bytes, checksum: d6a13644f869b633dd790316dd00f0f4 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Para conhecer o potencial de plantas de cobertura no fornecimento de nitrogênio para o milho, em sistema de plantio direto, foi avaliado o N potencialmente mineralizável (N0) do solo por meio de ensaio de incubação aeróbia de longa duração e o N disponível por meio dos extratores químicos KCl a quente, Dakota do Sul modificado e tampão fosfato borato a pH 11,2. Foram utilizadas amostras de solo de experimento a campo, instalado em área de Latossolo Vermelho argiloso e conduzido em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos: testemunha com vegetação espontânea, sorgo, milheto, mucuna-preta e feijão-de-porco, e cinco repetições. A coleta de solo nas parcelas foi feita após a dessecação das plantas de cobertura e antes do cultivo de milho, nos anos agrícolas de 2007/2008 e 2008/2009. O solo coletado, representativo da profundidade de 0 a 10 cm, foi utilizado no ensaio de incubação aeróbia, em experimento em vasos, com milho, e para as análises químicas. A eficiência dos extratores foi avaliada por meio de testes de correlação, empregando como variáveis de referência o N0 e o N mineralizado acumulado por 30 semanas, obtidos no ensaio de incubação aeróbia, e a produção de matéria seca e o N acumulado na parte aérea do milho, obtidos no experimento em vasos. As plantas de cobertura não diferem entre si quanto ao potencial de fornecimento de N para o milho. O método do KCl a quente é capaz de predizer a mineralização de N, porém os métodos químicos avaliados para predizer o N disponível não são eficientes / Aiming to determine the potential of cover crops to supply nitrogen for corn in no-tillage system, it was evaluated the soil potentially mineralizable N (N0) by long-term aerobic incubation and available N by chemical extractants (hot KCl, modified South Dakota and pH 11.2 phosphate-borate buffer). Soil samples were collected from a field experiment, installed in an Udox and carried out in a randomized block design with five treatments (control with spontaneous vegetation, Sorghum bicolor, Pennicetum glaucum, Mucuna aterrima and Canavalia ensiformis) and five replications. Plots soil sampling was made after the cover crops desiccation and before growing the corn in the agricultural seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. Soil samples collected from 0 to10 cm depth were used for long-term aerobic incubation, pots experiment with corn, and for soil chemical analysis. Extractants efficiency was evaluated by correlation tests, using as reference the N0 and the mineralized accumulated N over 30 weeks obtained from long-term aerobic incubation, dry matter production and N accumulated in maize shoots, obtained from pots experiment. Cover crops do not differ in their potential to supply nitrogen for corn. Hot KCl is able to predict the N mineralization but the chemical methods evaluated to predict the available nitrogen are not efficients

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A recuperação de funções e processos ecossistêmicos, entre outros atributos, é um dos indicadores mais importantes no processo de retorno de um ecossistema à sua trajetória histórica. A ciclagem de nutrientes é um atributo fundamental do ecossistema, e relaciona-se diretamente à regulação do funcionamento e do desenvolvimento dos ecossistemas e inclui, em um modelo geral, as entradas de nutrientes, as transferências internas entre plantas e solo e as saídas do sistema. A compreensão das mudanças nos processos biogeoquímicos durante a sucessão secundária em áreas em restauração ecológica ainda é incipiente, principalmente em áreas de florestas tropicais. Esse estudo tem por objetivo elucidar a dinâmica do nitrogênio ao longo do processo de restauração ecológica em áreas reflorestadas com espécies nativas da Mata Atlântica. A questão norteadora deste estudo é a seguinte: A restauração florestal com alta diversidade de espécies e predominância de espécies arbóreas nativas regionais restaura a dinâmica original do nitrogênio? Esse estudo visa investigar o funcionamento da ciclagem de nutrientes, com foco no nitrogênio, que é um elemento limitante à sucessão secundária, especialmente em florestas tropicais. Para tal, alguns indicadores da ciclagem do nitrogênio foram mensurados em uma cronosequência florestal formada por uma floresta natural preservada e florestas restauradas de diferentes idades (21 e 52 anos) reflorestadas com alta diversidade de espécies e predominância de nativas regionais. Os indicadores utilizados foram: 15N e teor de N da vegetação, serrapilheira e solo; razão N:P da vegetação e da serrapilheira; taxas líquidas de mineralização e nitrificação; teor de amônio, nitrato, N mineral e razão nitrato:amônio. As florestas foram amostradas entre agosto de 2008 e abril de 2009, nas seguintes estações: seca, transição entre seca e chuvosa, chuvosa, e transição entre chuvosa e seca. Foram encontrados padrões claros de mudanças na ciclagem do N ao longo da cronosequência estudada, incluindo diferenças nos valores de 15N foliar, teor de N, razão N:P, N mineral e taxas líquidas de mineralização e nitrificação, caracterizadas por um aumento de valores médios dessas variáveis ao longo da cronosequência. Os resultados encontrados sugerem que as florestas em processo de restauração, mesmo a de 52 anos, ainda não possuem uma ciclagem de N característica de uma floresta madura e, portanto, a recuperação da ciclagem de N ainda não foi completamente atingida. Entretanto, é possível afirmar que as florestas em processo de restauração estudadas estão seguindo uma trajetória de desenvolvimento caracterizada por uma ciclagem de N cada vez mais parecida com a de uma floresta natural madura, como a da floresta natural madura utilizada como referência. Através dos modelos de restauração utilizados para as florestas da cronosequência estudada, os processos da ciclagem do N são recuperados à medida que a floresta desenvolve-se, com uma clara tendência de mudança na economia de N para economia de P típica de florestas tropicais maduras. / The recuperation of ecosystem processes and functions, among other attributes, is one of the most important indicators in the process of return of an ecosystem to its historic trajectory. Nutrient cycling is a fundamental ecosystem attribute, and relates directly to regulation of functioning and development of ecosystems and includes, in a general model, nutrients entering, being transferred internally between plants and soil, end leaving the system. The comprehension of changes in biogeochemical processes during secondary succession in areas in ecological restoration is still incipient, mainly in tropical forests. This study aims to elucidate nitrogen dynamics along the process of ecological restoration in areas reforested with Atlantic Forest native species. The question driving this study is: Does ecological restoration with high diversity of species and predominance of regional native tree species restore nitrogen original dynamics? This research investigated nutrients cycling functioning, focusing on nitrogen, which is a limiting nutrient in secondary succession, particularly in tropical forests. In order to do so, some indicators of nutrient cycling were assessed in a forest chronosequence formed by a preserved natural forest and restored forests of different ages (21 and 52 years) reforested using high species diversity and predominance of regional native species. The indicators used were: 15N and N content in green foliage, litter and soil; N:P ratio of green foliage and litter; net mineralization and net nitrification rates; content of ammonium, nitrate, inorganic N, and nitrate:ammonium ratio. The forests were sampled between August 2008 and April 2009, in the following seasons: dry, dry-rainy transition, rainy, rainy-dry transition. Clear patterns of change in the N cycling along the studied chronosequence were found, including differences in green foliage 15N values, N content, N:P ratio, inorganic N and net mineralization and nitrification rates, characterized by an increase in the mean values of these variables along the chronosequence. The results found suggest that the forests in restoration process, even the 52 years old one, still do not present a N cycling characteristic of a mature forest and, therefore, the recuperation of the N cycling was not completely reached yet. However, it is possible to state that the forests in restoration process studied here are following a development trajectory characterized by a N cycling progressively more similar to what is common to a mature native forest, as the one used as the reference ecosystem in this study. Through the restoration models used for the forests studied, the N cycle processes are recovered as the forests develop, as they present a clear tendency of changing from N economy to P economy, typical to mature tropical forests.

Agronomic practices, including tillage, crop rotation and N fertilization, have been developed to efficiently manage soil N dynamics and crop N nutrition. These practices can affect soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN) sequestration, and consequently influence soil nitrogen mineralization (SNM) and crop N nutrition. However, little research has been systematically and simultaneously conducted to examine the effect of agronomic management on (1) SOC and STN stocks; (2) SNM; and (3) crop N nutrition. Burley tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum L.) is a N demanding crop and subject to inefficiency in N fertilization. Moreover, conservation tillage and rotation have been integrated into traditionally tillage intensive tobacco cropping systems. Thus, a tobacco tillage and rotation study was used to test how agronomic practices can affect N dynamics and crop N status in a series of sequential experiments. Firstly, different tobacco production systems were utilized to investigate the effects of tillage and rotation on soil aggregate stabilization and associated SOM sequestration. No-tillage and rotation management enhanced SOC and STN stocks, mainly by increasing the proportion of macroaggregates and SOC and STN concentrations. Secondly, a series of studies were conducted on SNM, including: (1) comparison of laboratory and in situ resin-core methods in estimating SNM; (2) evaluation of the influence of N fertilizer application on SNM; and (3) comparison of chemical indices for predicting SNM across management treatments over time. Laboratory method had different results relative to in situ method due to sample pretreatments. Fertilizer N application had a priming effect on SNM, but priming depended on both the N fertilizer rate and the background SOM level. The effect of rotation/tillage treatments on SNM was stable across years and SOC appeared to be the best indicator of SNM among other soil carbon and N estimates. Thirdly, a N fertilizer study for different tillage systems was conducted in 2012 and 2013. Crop parameters and plant available N (PAN) were collected to investigate the impact of tillage on tobacco production. Crop parameters showed that no-tillage can result in N deficiency in dry years. Similar PAN for both tillage methods suggested N deficiency in no-till tobacco was due to the crop’s lower N uptake capacity. In 2014, tobacco root analysis confirmed that no-tillage can result in less root exploration of the soil volume than conventional tillage.

A recuperação de funções e processos ecossistêmicos, entre outros atributos, é um dos indicadores mais importantes no processo de retorno de um ecossistema à sua trajetória histórica. A ciclagem de nutrientes é um atributo fundamental do ecossistema, e relaciona-se diretamente à regulação do funcionamento e do desenvolvimento dos ecossistemas e inclui, em um modelo geral, as entradas de nutrientes, as transferências internas entre plantas e solo e as saídas do sistema. A compreensão das mudanças nos processos biogeoquímicos durante a sucessão secundária em áreas em restauração ecológica ainda é incipiente, principalmente em áreas de florestas tropicais. Esse estudo tem por objetivo elucidar a dinâmica do nitrogênio ao longo do processo de restauração ecológica em áreas reflorestadas com espécies nativas da Mata Atlântica. A questão norteadora deste estudo é a seguinte: A restauração florestal com alta diversidade de espécies e predominância de espécies arbóreas nativas regionais restaura a dinâmica original do nitrogênio? Esse estudo visa investigar o funcionamento da ciclagem de nutrientes, com foco no nitrogênio, que é um elemento limitante à sucessão secundária, especialmente em florestas tropicais. Para tal, alguns indicadores da ciclagem do nitrogênio foram mensurados em uma cronosequência florestal formada por uma floresta natural preservada e florestas restauradas de diferentes idades (21 e 52 anos) reflorestadas com alta diversidade de espécies e predominância de nativas regionais. Os indicadores utilizados foram: 15N e teor de N da vegetação, serrapilheira e solo; razão N:P da vegetação e da serrapilheira; taxas líquidas de mineralização e nitrificação; teor de amônio, nitrato, N mineral e razão nitrato:amônio. As florestas foram amostradas entre agosto de 2008 e abril de 2009, nas seguintes estações: seca, transição entre seca e chuvosa, chuvosa, e transição entre chuvosa e seca. Foram encontrados padrões claros de mudanças na ciclagem do N ao longo da cronosequência estudada, incluindo diferenças nos valores de 15N foliar, teor de N, razão N:P, N mineral e taxas líquidas de mineralização e nitrificação, caracterizadas por um aumento de valores médios dessas variáveis ao longo da cronosequência. Os resultados encontrados sugerem que as florestas em processo de restauração, mesmo a de 52 anos, ainda não possuem uma ciclagem de N característica de uma floresta madura e, portanto, a recuperação da ciclagem de N ainda não foi completamente atingida. Entretanto, é possível afirmar que as florestas em processo de restauração estudadas estão seguindo uma trajetória de desenvolvimento caracterizada por uma ciclagem de N cada vez mais parecida com a de uma floresta natural madura, como a da floresta natural madura utilizada como referência. Através dos modelos de restauração utilizados para as florestas da cronosequência estudada, os processos da ciclagem do N são recuperados à medida que a floresta desenvolve-se, com uma clara tendência de mudança na economia de N para economia de P típica de florestas tropicais maduras. / The recuperation of ecosystem processes and functions, among other attributes, is one of the most important indicators in the process of return of an ecosystem to its historic trajectory. Nutrient cycling is a fundamental ecosystem attribute, and relates directly to regulation of functioning and development of ecosystems and includes, in a general model, nutrients entering, being transferred internally between plants and soil, end leaving the system. The comprehension of changes in biogeochemical processes during secondary succession in areas in ecological restoration is still incipient, mainly in tropical forests. This study aims to elucidate nitrogen dynamics along the process of ecological restoration in areas reforested with Atlantic Forest native species. The question driving this study is: Does ecological restoration with high diversity of species and predominance of regional native tree species restore nitrogen original dynamics? This research investigated nutrients cycling functioning, focusing on nitrogen, which is a limiting nutrient in secondary succession, particularly in tropical forests. In order to do so, some indicators of nutrient cycling were assessed in a forest chronosequence formed by a preserved natural forest and restored forests of different ages (21 and 52 years) reforested using high species diversity and predominance of regional native species. The indicators used were: 15N and N content in green foliage, litter and soil; N:P ratio of green foliage and litter; net mineralization and net nitrification rates; content of ammonium, nitrate, inorganic N, and nitrate:ammonium ratio. The forests were sampled between August 2008 and April 2009, in the following seasons: dry, dry-rainy transition, rainy, rainy-dry transition. Clear patterns of change in the N cycling along the studied chronosequence were found, including differences in green foliage 15N values, N content, N:P ratio, inorganic N and net mineralization and nitrification rates, characterized by an increase in the mean values of these variables along the chronosequence. The results found suggest that the forests in restoration process, even the 52 years old one, still do not present a N cycling characteristic of a mature forest and, therefore, the recuperation of the N cycling was not completely reached yet. However, it is possible to state that the forests in restoration process studied here are following a development trajectory characterized by a N cycling progressively more similar to what is common to a mature native forest, as the one used as the reference ecosystem in this study. Through the restoration models used for the forests studied, the N cycle processes are recovered as the forests develop, as they present a clear tendency of changing from N economy to P economy, typical to mature tropical forests.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present work aims at assessing the nitrogen mineralization in aerobic and anaerobic conditions in an incubation experiment and monitoring the N level in plants by the use of chlorophyll meter in order to establish a critical value of the SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) reading for flooded rice crop. Two studies were carried out being one in the lab, with incubation of different kinds of rainfed and lowland soils, in humid and flooded conditions. Nine evaluations of N-NH4 + e N-NO3 - content were carried out. Parallelly, an experiment in the greenhouse has been carried out by using the same soils in the same conditions as the rice crop. At the end of the experiment the green/dry matter, Nitrogen content in the plant tissue and accumulated Nitrogen were determined. For the second study, three field experiments were developed in the crops of 2006/07; 2007/08 and 2008/09, with flooded rice cultivars. For the experiment 1, six limits of values in the chlorophyll meter were established as treatment in the R0 stage and six doses for the 1st topdressing fertilization. Assessment with the chlorophyll meter was carried out and when necessary, nitrogen was applied in order to reach the pre-established reading values in R0. For the experiments 2 and 3, different doses of N were used for the 1st and the 2nd topdressing fertilization, one after the readings were done with chlorophyll meter. For the study 2 green/dry matter, N contend in the tissue and accumulated N were also determined. In study 1 the flooded soils presented the highest N-NH4 + contends released during the experiment. The highest N-NO3 - contends were lowland soils, once the soils presented the highest SOM contends, they also presented the highest contends of N-NH4 + and N-NO3 -. The accumulated N mineral at 102 day in the lowlands was higher when maintained under flood and rainfed when kept humid. The best correlation was obtained between the N-mineral contend and the accumulated N in the plant tissue. For the experiment 1 of the study 2 there was a linear reaction between values of the chlorophyll meter readings in R0 and the N contend in plants, however, the grain productivity had a quadratic behavior when related to the chlorophyll meter readings, being the estimated the critical value of the reading of 36 SPAD units in R0. For the experiments 2 and 3 of the study 2 there was effect of the 1st and the 2nd application of N demonstrated by the chlorophyll meter readings, nevertheless, as the time passed by the readings were similar for all treatments. The green and/or dry matter and the accumulated N responded linearly to the doses of N. there was no interaction effect for the doses of N in the grain productivity in both experiments and its answer was quadratic. The nutritional state evaluation of the plants by the chlorophyll meter, alone, is not a good indicator of the general conditions of the crop and the green or dry matter might help in the interpretation of the results for a better adjust in the topdressing N fertilization. / O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a mineralização de N em condições aeróbicas e anaeróbicas em experimento de incubação e monitorar o nível de N nas plantas com o uso clorofilômetro para estabelecer um valor crítico de leitura SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) para a cultura do arroz irrigado. Foram desenvolvidos dois estudos, sendo o estudo 1 em laboratório, com incubação de diferentes tipos de solos de sequeiro e de várzea, em condições úmidas e alagadas. Foram realizadas nove avaliações dos teores de N-NH4 + e N-NO3 -. Paralelamente, foi desenvolvido um experimento em casa-de-vegetação utilizando-se os mesmos solos nas mesmas condições com o cultivo de arroz. Ao final do experimento determinou-se a matéria verde/seca, teor de N no tecido das plantas e N acumulado. Para o estudo 2 foram desenvolvidos três experimentos a campo, nas safras 2006/07; 2007/08 e 2008/09, com cultivares de arroz irrigado. Para o experimento 1 como tratamentos foram préestabelecidas seis faixas de valores de leitura do clorofilômetro no estádio R0 e seis doses para a 1ª adubação de cobertura. Foram realizadas avaliações com o clorofilômetro e, quando necessário, foi aplicado N para atingir os valores de leitura pré-estabelecidos em R0. Para os experimentos 2 e 3 foram utilizadas diferentes doses de N para a 1ª e 2ª adubação de cobertura, sendo posteriormente realizadas as leituras com o clorofilômetro. Para o estudo 2 também foram determinados a matéria verde/seca, teor de N no tecido das plantas e N acumulado. No estudo 1 os solos alagados apresentaram os maiores teores de N-NH4 + liberados durante o experimento. Os maiores teores de N-NO3 - foram para os solos de várzea úmidos, sendo que os solos que apresentaram maiores teores de MOS, apresentaram também maiores teores de N-NH4 + e NNO3 -. O N mineral acumulado aos 102 dias nos solos de várzea foi maior quando mantidos sob alagamento e nos de sequeiro quando mantidos úmidos. A melhor correlação foi obtida entre o teor de N-mineral e o N acumulado no tecido das plantas. Para o experimento 1 do estudo 2 houve relação linear entre os valores de leituras do clorofilômetro em R0 e o teor de N das plantas, entretanto, a produtividade de grãos teve um comportamento quadrático quando relacionadas com as leituras do clorofilômetro, sendo estimado o valor crítico de leitura de 36 unidades SPAD em R0. Para os experimentos 2 e 3 do estudo 2 houve efeito da 1ª e 2ª aplicação de N evidenciado pelas leituras do clorofilômetro, porém com o passar do tempo as leituras foram semelhantes para todos os tratamentos. A matéria verde e/ou seca e N acumulado responderam linearmente às doses de N. Não houve efeito de interação para as doses de N na produtividade de grãos de ambos experimentos e a resposta desta foi quadrática. A avaliação do estado nutricional das plantas pelo clorofilômetro, isoladamente, não é um bom indicador das condições gerais da lavoura, podendo a matéria verde ou seca ajudar na interpretação dos resultados para um melhor ajuste na adubação de N em cobertura.

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