Orientador: Morel de Passos e Carvalho / Banca: Orivaldo Arf / Banca: Marcelo Andreotti / Banca: Gener Tadeu Pereira / Banca: Ednaldo Carvalho Guimarães / Resumo: No Brasil, a cultura do feijoeiro constitui-se numa das mais representativas explorações agrícolas, não só sua pela área de cultivo como também pelo valor econômico de sua produção. No ano agrícola de 2006/07, no município de Selvíria (MS), foi analisada a produtividade de grãos do feijoeiro, em função de alguns atributos de um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico, cultivado nas condições de elevado nível tecnológico de manejo, representados pelo sistema cultivo mínimo e pelo sistema plantio direto, e irrigado com pivô central. Os objetivos foram: a) analisar, nos dois sistemas de manejo empregados, a diferença de produtividade de grãos do feijoeiro, embasada nas diferenças existentes entre os valores médios dos atributos do solo trabalhado, e b) definir o atributo do solo para os dois sistemas de preparo, que melhor se apresente para explicar a variabilidade da produtividade de grãos do feijoeiro. Para tanto, foram instaladas duas malhas geoestatísticas, uma para cada sistema de manejo, para a coleta de dados do solo e da planta, com 117 pontos amostrais cada, numa área de 2025 m2 e declive homogêneo de 0,055 m m-1. Os resultados mostraram que, em relação ao sistema cultivo mínimo do solo, no sistema plantio direto ocorreu um aumento da heterogeneidade dos atributos da planta. Já em relação aos do solo, ocorreu aumento da homogeneidade. Também, a menor produtividade de grãos do feijoeiro, ocorrida no sistema cultivo mínimo do solo, foi provavelmente devido a uma menor densidade de plantas que esse sistema proporcionou. Ainda que no sistema plantio direto o solo cultivado estivesse mais compactado, evidenciado, sobretudo, pelos maiores valores da densidade do solo, resistência à penetração e umidade volumétrica, nele ocorreu maior e significativa produtividade de grãos do feijoeiro. Dessa forma... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In Brazil, the common bean crop is one of the most representative agriculture explorations, not just for its cultivation area, as well as for its production value. The common bean crop productivity was analyzed in function of some attributes of a Dystroferric Red Latosol (Typic Acrustox) in the agriculture year 2006/07, in Selviria County, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. It was cultivated with high technological level of management conditions by minimal tillage and no-tillage systems, irrigated by central pivot. The objectives were: a) to analyze both systems in order to obtain the difference of the common bean grains productivity, based on the existent differences among the medium values of the cultivated soil attributes, and b) to define on both systems the soil attribute that better showed the variability of the grains productivity. Two geostatistical grids were installed - one for each management system - to have the soil and plant data collected, with 117 sampling points each, in an area of 2025 m² and homogeneous slope of 0.055m m-1. Therefore, in relation to the minimal tillage system, on the no-tillage system, an increasing on the heterogeneity of the plant attributes occurred. By the other hand, there was a homogeneity increasing of the soil attributes. A minor common bean grains productivity also occurred. Due to the minor plant density provided by this system, the soil minimum tillage system, a minor bean grains productivity also occurred. Even if in the no-tillage area where the soil was more compacted, fact showed by the higher values of the bulk density and by the index cone as well as by the volumetric moisture, a major and expressive bean grains productivity occurred. So, for both soil tillage crop and no-tillage systems, such productivity could be explained through high significative mathematic models, respectively showed... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Thesis (M.Sc. Agric (Soil Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Knowledge and management of soil pH, particularly soil acidity across spatially variable soils is important, although this is greatly ignored by farmers in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The significance of understanding spatial variability of soil acidity is the implementation of best and site-specific management strategies because when soil acidity is poorly managed, toxicity and nutrient deficiency problems in the soil are inevitable. The objective of the study was to evaluate in-field spatial variability of soil pH, and compare the efficiency of managing soil pH through site-specific method vs. uniform lime application. The study was conducted in 3 site years (23o50’ S; 29 o40’ E and 23o59’ S and 28o52’ E) with site year I, and II adjacent to each other in the semi-arid regions of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Soil samples were taken in four replicates within a 1 m radius from geo-referenced locations in 3 study sites to sampling depths of 0-20 cm on a regular grid of 30m using differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). Soils were analyzed for pH, and SMP buffer pH for lime recommendations. Lime requirement to achieve a soil pH of 6.5 for a 20 cm plough layer per hectare was calculated using CalciumCarbonateequivalent, efficiency factor (fineness factor), and neutralizing index of the liming materials. The spatial maps for SMP buffer pH and lime requirement maps were produced with surfer version 8.0 (Surfer Version 8, Golden Software, Golden, CO). The soil pH datasets from systematic unaligned randomly sampled soils on a 30-m grid were interpolated using inverse distance weighing (IDW) in Surfer software version 8.0 (Surfer Version 8, Golden Software, Golden, CO). Soil pH varied from strongly acidic to slightly acidic with minimum values of 4.22, 3.93, and 4.74 and maximum values of 6.11, 7.00, and 6.82 in site I, II, and II respectively. In Site I, II, and III, the areas of the field that had soil pH values of less than 6.0 were 99.43, 82.61, and 62.89% of the field. When lime was recommended for application using a conventional method of uniform lime application based on an average value derived from samples collected in the whole field, the results of the study showed a waste of lime in excess of lime recommended for individual grids. An excess amount of lime as high as 10, 30, and 7 tons/ha recommended on sites I, II and III respectively under uniform application. These recommendations were in excess on field areas that needed little or no lime applications. Again, the fields showed under applications of lime as much as 30, 35, and 13 tons/ha in site I, II, and III respectively for uniform liming applications. This under- and over recommendations of lime based on average soil pH values suggests that uniform soil acidity management strategy is not an appropriate strategy to be adopted in these fields. Again, in both of these sites as shown in the maps, the areas that required high amount of lime and those that require little or no lime are clearly defined, such that the fields can be divided into lime application zones. When a field is divided into lime application zones, management of soil acidity becomes easier because instead of applying variable rates of lime for every grid, lime rates are applied per zone. These zones could be areas in a field that require, (i) high rates of lime, (ii) low rates of lime, and (iii) areas that requires no lime at all. Agricultural fields that exhibit spatial variability of soil acidity must not be managed or treated as uniform when lime is applied in the field. Keywords: Lime requirement, Site specific management and Soil pH.

Resumo: O sucesso da produtividade da cana–de–açúcar requer adequadas recomendações para a correção e adubação do solo. A acidez do solo deixa indisponíveis inúmeros nutrientes essenciais à planta, enquanto a adubação inadequada retarda a longevidade do canavial. Desse modo, objetivou-se, neste estudo, verificar o potencial da suscetibilidade magnética do solo para auxiliar nas recomendações e no mapeamento de áreas específicas de manejo para as aplicações de calagem, gessagem e fosfatagem corretiva do solo. Foram coletadas 89 amostras de solo em uma área de 443 hectares, nas quais foram determinados os atributos químicos, os teores de argila e a suscetibilidade magnética do solo. Foram calculadas as recomendações de calagem, gessagem e fosfatagem para cada amostra. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística e aos componentes principais. Foram desenvolvidas, nos pontos estratificados, funções de pedotransferência utilizando modelos de regressão entre a suscetibilidade magnética do solo e os atributos estudados. A modelagem da dependência espacial foi feita com o uso da geoestatística e construídos os mapas de krigagem e variogramas cruzados para observar a correlação espacial entre a suscetibilidade magnética do solo e os atributos estudados. A suscetibilidade magnética do solo acompanhou, em mesmo sentido, o grupo discriminado pela fosfatagem e pela gessagem e apresentou correlação espacial linear negativa com a recomendação de calagem (R= -0,84), e positiva com gessagem (R=0,8... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The success of sugarcane productivity requires adequate recommendations for soil correction and fertilization. The acidity of the soil leaves many essential plant nutrients unavailable, while undesirable fertilizer doses delays the longevity of the sugarcane field. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the potential of the magnetic susceptibility of the soil to aid in the recommendations and mapping of specific management areas for liming, gypsum, and corrective soil phosphate applications. Eighty nine soil samples were collected in an area of 443 hectares, on which soil chemical properties, clay content, and magnetic susceptibility of the soil were determined. Recommendations for agricultural liming, gypsum, and corrective soil phosphating were calculated for each sample. Data were subject to descriptive statistical analysis, and main components. Pedotransfer functions were developed at the stratified points using regression models between the magnetic susceptibility of the soil and the attributes studied. The spatial dependence modeling was done with the use of Geostatistics, and the Kriging maps and cross variograms were constructed to observe the spatial correlation between the magnetic susceptibility of the soil and the attributes studied. The magnetic susceptibility of the soil followed in the same direction the group discriminated by the gypsum and corrective soil phosphating and presented negative linear spatial correlation with the liming recommendation (R=... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Resumo: O uso de sistemas conservacionistas de preparo do solo tem ganhado importância, devido à necessidade de conservação do solo e sequestro de carbono da atmosfera. Com o objetivo de avaliar a estruturação do solo determinaram-se os atributos físicos e o teor de carbono orgânico do Latossolo Vermelho de textura argilosa, em área sob mata reflorestada (MR), sistemas de semeadura direta (SSD) e sistema de preparo convencional do solo (SPC). Para avaliação dos atributos do solo foram amostradas áreas próximas às coordenadas geodésicas 21°14’47’’S, 48°17’08’’W e altitude média de 550 metros. Foram amostrados 20 pontos em cada área e coletadas amostras indeformadas e deformadas, nas camadas 0,00-0,10 m, 0,10-0,20 m e 0,20-0,30 m de profundidade. Para avaliação dos atributos do solo amostraram-se a MR e três áreas com semeadura de milho no período da safra, sendo duas áreas sob SSD e uma área sob SPC. A diferença entre as duas áreas sob SSD foi a cultura da entressafra, milho na primeira, constituindo assim uma sucessão de culturas gramínea-gramínea (SSD-gr) e crotalária na segunda, sendo uma sucessão gramínea-leguminosa (SSD-le). As áreas SSD-gr, SSD-le e SPC permaneceram nesses sistemas de preparo por mais de 10 anos. Os atributos do solo determinados foram: diâmetro médio ponderado dos agregados, classes de agregados, índice de estabilidade de agregados, carbono orgânico do solo, macroporosidade, microporosidade, densidade do solo e resistência do solo à penetração. Para a caracteri... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The use of conservational systems of soil cultivation has gained importance due to the need for soil preservation and carbon sequestration from the atmosphere. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical attributes and organic carbon contents of a clayey Red Oxisol in an area under reforested forest (RF), no-tillage system with grass-grass succession (NTS-gr), no-tillage systems with grass-legume succession (NTS-le) and conventional soil tillage system (CTS). The areas used for evaluation of soil attributes were located close to the geodetic coordinates 21°14’47’’S and 48°17’08’’W, at average altitude of 550 meters. Each area was sampled at 20 points and undisturbed and disturbed samples were collected in the layers of 0.00-0.10 m, 0.10-0.20 m and 0.20-0.30 m. The areas used for evaluation of soil attributes were RF and three areas with sowing of corn during the main season, two areas under NTS and one area under conventional tillage system (CTS). The difference between the two areas under NTS was the off-season crop, corn in the first one, thus constituting a grass-grass succession (NTS-gr) and crotalaria in the second one, constituting a grass-legume succession (NTS-le). NTSgr, NTS-le and CTS areas have been under these tillage systems for more than 10 years. The soil attributes determined were: mean weight diameter of aggregates, classes of aggregates, aggregate stability index, soil organic carbon, macroporosity, microporosity, soil bulk density and soil resi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Bibliography: leaves 164-193. This study aims to quantify the belowground input of organic carbon by barrel medic using techniques that account for root death and decomposition as well as root secretion and exudation. It also investigates the effect of defoliation on carbon allocation within the plant so as to determine the potential for optimising carbon input to the soil through grazing management.

Farming systems are characterized by many attributes. In order to evaluate their overall sustainability, it is necessary to consider all relevant attributes together. This study uses a multiattribute utility model (MAUM) to compare two tillage technologies (conventional tillage versus zero tillage) to draw an inference about their sustainability. On the basis of five cropping systems, two soil landscapes and two tillage technologies, twenty large size farms are used to represent different range of farms in Saskatchewan. A bio-economic simulator is used to estimate stochastic values of the attributes characterizing these farming systems. The data for bio-economic simulator are obtained from Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) and Top Management Farm Business Simulator (TMFBS) models. The MAUM, based on the preferences of the individuals from two groups (Producers and Agrologists), is used to identify the preferred farming systems. Based on the simulated attribute values and their desirability, conventional tillage systems are preferred in the Brown soil zone. In the Dark Brown and the Black soil zones, the results are mixed. In the Gray soil zone, the zero tillage systems are preferred.

No description available.

The effect of land management including undisturbed native forest, native grassland, sugarcane (preharvest burnt or green cane harvested), exotic forest (gum, pine or wattle), orchard crops (banana, orange and avocado) and grazed kikuyu grass pastures on soil organic matter status, size of the microbial biomass and size and composition of the earthworm community was studied. The study locality was in the tropical, northern part of KwaZulu-Natal near the town of Eshowe and sites were on a number of sugar estates in the area. Concentrations of soil organic C were notably high under kikuyu pasture, native forest and banana and lowest under burnt cane. Among the land uses, values followed the order: kikuyu pasture ≥ native forest > banana > native grassland = orange ≥ trashed cane = gum ≥ pine ≥ avocado > wattle ≥ burnt cane. Soluble C was considerably higher under kikuyu pasture than other land uses. Soils under native forest and banana also had relatively high values while lowest values were recorded under burnt cane. Values for microbial biomass C showed broadly similar trends with land use to soluble C. Very high values for microbial biomass C (> 2000 mg kg⁻¹ ) and microbial quotient (> 4.5 %) were recorded under kikuyu pasture, native forest, banana and orange whilst lowest values for microbial biomass C ( 250 - 750 mg kg⁻¹ ) and microbial quotient (1- 2 %) were found for soils under avocado, trashed and burnt sugarcane. Earthworm numbers followed the order: kikuyu pasture > native forest > banana > orange > wattle = pine = gum = trashed sugarcane ≥ native grassland ⁻¹ avocado > burnt sugarcane. Values for earthworm numbers and biomass were closely correlated. Earthworm numbers, microbial biomass C and soluble C were closely correlated with each other but none were significantly correlated with soil organic C content. Earthworm numbers were also positively correlated with soil pH and exchangeable Ca content. A total of 11 species of earthworm were collected from the sample sites. Over 80 % of the individuals collected were accidentally-introduced exotic species which originated from India, South America and West Africa. Most land uses supported between 5 and 7 species. Wattle forest and sugarcane, however, had only 2 or 3 species. Juveniles dominated the community under all land uses except kikuyu pasture and avocado where the majority of earthworms were adults. Epigeic species dominated the community under native forest and native grassland and this was also the case under avocado and gum. For the other land uses endogeic species predominated. The most numerous earthworm species present was Pontoscolex coreththrurus which was present under all the land uses. It is a peregrine, endogeic species originating from South America and is thought to have been introduced via India. The most common epigeic species was the Indian species Amynthas rodericensis which made up a particularly notable portion of the community under native and gum forests, avocado and banana. The third most numerous species was A. minimus, also from India, which is a polyhumic, endogeic species. It was particularly numerous under kikuyu pasture. In 8 out of 11 land uses, P. corethrurus, A. rodericensis and A. minimus coexisted together. Another polyhumic, endogeic species, Dichogastersaliens, which originates from West Africa, was present particularly under oranges, wattle and sugarcane. The only land use that contained mainly native species was native grassland where Tritogenia douglasi and Acanthodrilidae sp predominated. It was concluded that organic matter content, microbial biomass C, soluble C and the size and composition of earthworm communities in soils of the study area are greatly affected by land management practice. As is the case in most other parts of the world, the earthworm community under agricultural land management is dominated by accidentally introduced exotic species and these have also emigrated into soils under native vegetation; The role of these species in influencing soil chemical, physical and microbial properties, and thus soil fertility, deserves further studying. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

Agroforestry production methods present one option for addressing growing concerns about the long term sustainability of intensive coffee production techniques. A study was designed to compare the effects of fertilization and shading from two leguminous species, Erythrina poeppigiana and Chloroleucon eurycyclum, on coffee grown at a Costa Rican research site. Coffee below biannually pruned, conventionally fertilized Erythrina exhibited the highest photosynthetic performance under both low and high light levels as well as greater biomass and higher N concentration. Soil P did not affect coffee performance, although shade trees on sites with higher soil P fixed more N compared to trees grown on low P sites, most of which were not found to be fixing. Results suggest shade mechanisms are the most important drivers of coffee adaptation in coffee agroforestry systems, though proper soil nutrient management and legume species pairing also appear to augment coffee response to microclimate conditions.

Agroforestry production methods present one option for addressing growing concerns about the long term sustainability of intensive coffee production techniques. A study was designed to compare the effects of fertilization and shading from two leguminous species, Erythrina poeppigiana and Chloroleucon eurycyclum, on coffee grown at a Costa Rican research site. Coffee below biannually pruned, conventionally fertilized Erythrina exhibited the highest photosynthetic performance under both low and high light levels as well as greater biomass and higher N concentration. Soil P did not affect coffee performance, although shade trees on sites with higher soil P fixed more N compared to trees grown on low P sites, most of which were not found to be fixing. Results suggest shade mechanisms are the most important drivers of coffee adaptation in coffee agroforestry systems, though proper soil nutrient management and legume species pairing also appear to augment coffee response to microclimate conditions.