Winter cover crops grown in rotation with grain crops can be an efficient integrated pest management tool (IPM). However, cover crop biomass production and thus successful provisioning of ecosystem services depend on a timely planting and cover crop establishment after harvest of a cash crop in the fall. One potential management adaptation is the use of short-season soybeans to advance cover crop planting date in the fall. Cover crops planted earlier in the fall may provide a greater percentage of ground cover early in the season because of higher biomass accumulation that may improve weed suppression. However, adapting to short-season soybeans could have a yield penalty compared to full-season soybeans. In addition, it is unclear if further increasing cover crop growing season and biomass production under environmental conditions in Kentucky could limit nitrogen and water availability for the next cash crop. This thesis combines the use of field trials and a crop simulation model to address the research questions posed. In Chapter 1, field trials evaluating yield and harvest date of soybean maturity group (MG) cultivars from 0 to 4 in 13 site-years across KY, NE, and OH, were used to calibrate and evaluate the DSSAT crop modeling software (v 4.7). The subsequent modeling analysis showed that planting shorter soybean maturity groups (MG) would advance date of harvest maturity (R8) by 6.6 to 11 days per unit decrease in MG for May planting or by 1 to 7.3 days for July planting. The earliest MG cultivar that maximized yield ranged from MG 0 to 3 depending on the location, allowing a winter-killed cover crop to accumulate between 257 to 270 growing degree days (GDD) before the first freeze occurrence when soybean was planted in May, and between 280 to 296 GDD when soybean was planted in July. Winter-hardy cover crops could accumulate 701 to 802 GDD following soybean planted in May and 329 to 416 GDD after soybean planted in July. In Chapter 2, a two-year field trial was conducted at Lexington, KY to evaluate the effect of a soybean – cover crop rotation with soybean cultivars MG 1, 2, 3 or 4 on cover crop biomass and canopy cover, and on weed biomass in the fall and the following spring. Results showed that having cover crops was an efficient management strategy to reduce weed biomass in the fall and spring compared to no cover treatment. Planting cover crops earlier in the fall after a short-season soybean increased cover crop biomass production and percentage of ground cover in the fall, but not the following spring. Planting cover crop earlier after a short-season soybean did not improve weed suppression in the fall or spring compared to a fallow control with full-season soybean. Having a fall herbicide application improved weed control when there was a high pressure of winter annual weeds. By the spring, delaying cover crop termination increased cover crop biomass but also did weed biomass. In Chapter 3, a soybean – cover crop – corn rotation was simulated to evaluate the effect of different soybean MG and cover crop termination, as well as year to year variability on water and nitrogen availability for the next corn crop in Lexington, KY. Simulations showed that when cover crops were terminated early, they did not reduced soil available water at corn planting. However, introducing a non-legume cover crop reduced total inorganic nitrogen content in the soil profile by 21 to 34 kg ha-1 implying 15 to 30 kg ha-1 less in corn nitrogen uptake. Cover crop management that was able to maintain similar available water values than fallow treatment while minimizing nitrogen uptake differences was cover crops planted after soybean MG 4 with an early termination. However, the best management strategies that will maximize ecosystem services from cover crops as well as cash crop productivity may need to be tailored to each environment, soil type, irrigation management, and must consider year-to-year variability.

Increasing food, feed, fiber, biofuel production on decreasing amounts of arable land while simultaneously enhancing ecosystem services is challenging. Strategic inclusion of winter rye (<i>Secale cereale</i>) for biomass, silage, grain and Kura clover (<i>Trifolium ambiguum</i>) living mulch into existing Midwestern cropping systems may offer alternative economic income for farmers without displacing or reducing yields of primary crops. Research was conducted at the Purdue Water Quality Field Station (WQFS) where net balances of water, carbon, nitrogen, and radiation can be measured, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are monitored. The agronomic performance of a corn-soybean rotation and continuous corn (controls) were compared to novel systems that included the use of rye cover cropping and Kura clover co-cropping. Rye was harvested for biomass/silage at heading immediately followed by corn or soybean planting. Continuous corn receiving 69 kg N ha^-1was planted into an establishment of Kura clover sod. Controls included these same systems without the rye or clover. GHG samples were taken via the static chamber method and tile-drained water sub-samples were collected, analyzed for nitrate, and load losses calculated. Biomass composition was determined and used to calculate herbage theoretical ethanol (EtOH) yields. Cereal rye did not significantly decrease corn or soybean grain yield. Averaged across years, Kura clover significantly depressed corn grain yields by nearly 70%. Kura clover significantly reduced flow-weighted tile drainage nitrate (NO₃^-) concentrations, however cereal rye did not. Reductions in flow-weighted tile drainage nitrate (NO₃^-) concentrations were found to largely occur during Quarter two (April, May, June). Cover crops did not significantly reduce annual tile drained NO₃^- load losses in most cases, however, they did significantly reduce annual N₂O emissions. Cumulative annual CH₄ emissions were not significantly altered. Annual CO₂emissions were higher after the introduction of Kura clover and not significantly altered following the introduction of cereal rye. Averaged across years, theoretical ethanol yields in the Kura clover system produced 2,752 L EtOH ha^-1, whereas EtOH production in cereal rye systems ranged from 3,245 to 4,210 L EtOH ha^-1. Theoretical ethanol yields of continuous corn and rotational controls ranged from 2,982 to 3505 L EtOH ha^-1 for these same systems without the cereal rye of Kura clover. These data suggest that a multipurpose approach to cover crop inclusion can provide both environmental and economic advantages worthy of consideration.

L’objectif de cette thèse est de proposer une démarche pour identifier des plantes de service (Pds) utilisables en couverture vivante pour contrôler les adventices en bananeraie. Nous avons d’abord quantifié les effets de compétition réciproque entre le bananier et une couverture contrôlée par fauchage pour Brachiaria decumbens et Cynodon dactylon. Ces couverts ont eu des effets dépressifs sur la nutrition azotée du bananier et la productivité en premier cycle, le second cycle n’étant pas affecté. Dans un deuxième temps nous avons caractérisé au champ, en plantes isolées, la croissance en biomasse de huit légumineuses candidates sous différentes intensités lumineuses. En conditions lumineuses non limitantes, chaque espèce répondait à une dynamique exponentielle, définie par la biomasse 14 jours après semis et le taux de croissance relative (RGR). En conditions d’ombrage limitant, le RGR est réduit et le rapport surface foliaire sur biomasse aérienne croît. Ces réponses permettent de définir quatre stratégies d’adaptation à l’ombrage et d’identifier les Pds adaptées sous bananeraie. Pour trois de ces espèces, sur la base de la réponse de l’efficience photosynthétique, nous proposons un modèle de croissance en fonction de la ressource lumineuse. En peuplement, en présence d’adventices, aucune espèce évaluée n’a pu contrôler les grandes graminées, Stylosanthes guianensis et Centrosema pascuorum ont cependant réduit la biomasse des autres adventices de 60%. En bananeraie, les deux espèces évaluées ont exercé un contrôle sur les adventices mais ont réduit la productivité du premier cycle. Pour autant, ces résultats sont encourageants pour l’utilisation de Pds en bananeraie à des fins de contrôle des adventices. / The objective of this PhD thesis was to provide an approach to identify suitable cover crops (Pds) for weed control use in banana plantations. Firstly, we quantified the reciprocal effects between the banana crop and a grass cover controlled by mowing, for Brachiaria decumbens or Cynodon dactylon. These cover crops have had similar depressive effects on the nitrogen nutrition and on the productivity of the first cycle, but not afterward during the second cycle. Second step, we carried out a field characterization of eight legume cover crops, on isolated plants, under a range of light intensity. In non-limited light growth conditions, the biomass growth corresponded to an exponential dynamic, mathematically defined for each species by the biomass 14 days after sowing, and the relative growth rate (RGR). When affected by the shade, the RGR was reduced and the ratio between Leaf area and aerial plant biomass increased. We defined four adaptive strategies of the cover crops to the shade, what constitute criteria guidelines for cover crop use in banana cropping systems. For three of these species, on the basis of the response of the radiation use efficiency, we are proposing a plant growth model without any limiting factor other than light resource. In stands with the presence of weeds, neither of this cover crops was able to control the tall gramineous, but Stylosanthes guianensis and Centrosema pascuorum reduced the biomass of other weeds by 60%. Finally, in banana plantations, the two evaluated species provided a control of the weeds but reduced the productivity of the first cycle. Our results are comforting for the use of cover crops in banana plantation as a mean for weed control.

Integrating crop and livestock is being considered to improve soil health by carbon sequestration. A two-year study (2019-2021) at CPBES in Newton, MS was aimed to evaluate soil microbial diversity in the warm, humid regions, specifically southeastern USA. Amplicons targeting bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS2 regions were sequenced. Taxonomic assignment and microbial diversity characterization were performed using QIIME2®. Soil fungal diversity showed significant differences (alpha diversity, p = 0.031 in yr. 2020 and beta diversity, p = 0.037 in yr. 2021). Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) and Mantel test showed significant influence on fungal diversity due to carbon (rm = 0.2581, p = 0.022), nitrogen (rm = 0.2921, p = 0.0165) in yr. 2021, and on bacterial diversity due to EE-GRSP (rm = 0.22, p = 0.02) in yr. 2020. Long term study of ICLS can help us better understand the shift in microbiome to improve crop production sustainably.

Reducing groundwater withdrawals from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer is imperative to sustain future irrigated cropping systems in the mid-southern USA. This research was conducted to determine the impacts of cover crops and irrigation sensor thresholds on corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) production, water productivity, irrigation water use efficiency, and soil physical properties in the Mississippi Delta. The cover crop treatments included cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa R.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-radish (Raphanus sativus L.)-turnip (Brassica rapa L.) mix, and no cover crop. The irrigation thresholds included -40 kPa, -90 kPa, and no irrigation. In 2020, cover crops and irrigation thresholds showed minimal impacts on most of the measured parameters but showed improvements as the study progressed. After two years, it was determined that long-term evaluations are needed to make a recommendation to producers in the mid-southern USA.

Department of Ecology and Resource Management / PhDENV / The main aim of the research was to contribute means for converting conventional, high-input production systems to more sustainable ecological systems, thereby improving the sustainability of macadamia production and ultimately contributing to food security. This was achieved by a) investigating the potential use of cover crops and compost to enhance soil quality in macadamia orchards and b) investigating the potential use of use of cover crops and orchard heterogeneity to control stinkbug pests that target macadamia crops. Field experiments were conducted in three phases: phase one tested the potential of six cover crops for crop protection (as trap crops) and simultaneously for soil restoration or fertility enhancement purposes in macadamia orchards. Phase two repeated the trials of phase one (both soil restoration and trap crops) but with modifications to both categories. Soil restoration treatments were conducted with trees which were growing in what appeared to be healthy soils, and then repeated with trees in the same orchard where the topsoil had been degraded (totally removed) by agricultural operations. The third phase repeated the trap crop trials only, but this time on three different study areas (all commercial farms) with the single cover crop which performed the best as a trap crop during phase two. Trials were modified from the first to the last phase to overcome practical implementation problems encountered along the way and to adapt to local conditions experienced in the commercial macadamia farming systems which served as research sites. Diversity of natural orchard vegetation was enhanced in phase three to improve conditions for natural predators as part of the trap crop treatments in the last phase and cover crops were finally first composted and then returned to the root zones of the macadamia trees as part of the soil quality enhancement treatments in the second phase. The results from the trap crop trials shows a significant effect of trap crops combined with increased orchard diversity in reducing unsound kernel percentages caused by stinkbug pests and demonstrate that trap crops combined with an increase in orchard diversity could be utilized in macadamia orchards as a more sustainable alternative to inorganic pesticides against the stinkbug complex. The most notable changes in the soil that took place with soil quality enhancement treatments were the significant increases in soil phosphorous content and pH which resulted not in an improvement in soil quality in terms of these two indicators but revealed an important issue about the use of compost containing animal manure originating from dairies or feedlots. In summary however, it was clear that although not all the soil quality indicators that were employed to assess changes in the soil with compost treatments improved significantly, a holistic consideration of all indicators portrays an overall improvement which was particularly significant in the degraded soil plots where the topsoil had been removed by prior agricultural activities. / NRF

MENVSC / Department of Ecology and Resource Management / The study investigated the impact of cover crops (Medicago sativa, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Melilotus alba and Phacelia tanacetifolia), bare soil and natural ground cover on pest and beneficial arthropods, soil health, crop yield, pest damage and weed suppression in avocado orchards. The trial plots were sited within established commercial avocado orchards with trees of similar cultivar (‘Hass’), soil-type and age, located in Levubu, Limpopo, South Africa. Mixtures of cover crops were planted in the alleys of avocado orchards and the effects were compared to that of a control (other half of the orchard). Mechanical clearing of vegetation in half of the alleys of different avocado orchards were compared to the other half that was left undisturbed. Data were collected during the flowering and fruit set stages of the avocado trees in the months of September - November 2019. Results revealed that there was higher abundance and diversity of flowering plants in the orchard alleys of the cover crop treatment compared to the control comprising of natural vegetation. Cover crops had a significantly positive effect on the soil health of the orchard but little or no effect on beneficial arthropods within the orchard nor any positive effect on the pests of avocados. However, the number of thrips scouted on the fruit were significantly less where cover crops were established. Avocado scale infection rates were also significantly lower where cover crops were established. There were significantly less arthropods, and specifically pests, pollinators and herbivores where the topsoil was removed mechanically. The yield resulting from the orchard half where cover crops were established were significantly higher. More research still needs to be done about the use, management and impact of cover cropping on not only commercial avocado orchards but on other fruit crops. This study shows good evidence for the benefits for using cover crops and the negative effects in having no vegetation cover in the orchards. / NRF

O Greening ou Huanglongbing (HLB) é a doença mais devastadora dos citros na atualidade. Levantamentos mostram que a enfermidade está presente em cerca de 60% dos talhões do parque citrícola paulista, demostrando sua grande capacidade de disseminação. O psilídeo-asiático-dos-citros, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psylidae) é um importante vetor dos agentes causais associados ao HLB. Sua capacidade de dispersão está intimamente relacionada ao progresso da doença no campo. Não se tem conhecimento dos principais fatores que possam interferir no deslocamento do inseto até plantas cítricas. Sendo assim, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar a influência de alguns fatores ambientais sobre a dispersão do psilídeo D. citri, discutindo-os em relação à epidemiologia do HLB dos citros. Inicialmente foram realizados testes em laboratório para adaptação da metodologia de marcação, liberação e recaptura usando pó fluorescente. Grupos de psilídeos adultos foram marcados e sua sobrevivência avaliada, verificando a influência de quatro cores distintas de pó fluorescente (amarelo, azul, rosa e verde). Posteriormente realizaram-se estudos de campo com quatro liberações de psilídeos, com marcadores distintos, em quatro áreas experimentais circulares e adjacentes, sendo formadas por círculos concêntricos localizados a 18, 24 e 30 m de cada centro de liberação. Os insetos foram monitorados visualmente e por armadilhas adesivas amarelas. Nas 1ª e 2ª liberações, foi verificado o efeito das coberturas vegetais milho (Zea mays L.) e capim-braquiária (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) na dispersão de D. citri. Já nas 3ª e 4ª liberações, foi estudado o efeito de brotações no deslocamento do inseto. A influência dos ventos foi avaliada em ambas as situações. A análise de sobrevivência indicou que não houve interferência das quatro cores de pó fluorescente em D. citri, sendo a marcação visível no corpo dos insetos durante os 48 dias de avaliação. De acordo com as análises fatoriais, não foi observada qualquer interferência da cobertura vegetal milho, medindo 2 m de altura, na dispersão do inseto. Na presença de brotações, adultos de D. citri dispersaram menos em busca de novos hospedeiros, acumulando-se nas primeiras linhas de plantas cítricas. Após 6 horas da liberação, a capacidade de dispersão máxima de D. citri foi três vezes maior na condição de ausência de brotações. A dispersão média e a área total abrangida variaram assimptoticamente com o tempo, ou seja, o inseto possui inicialmente grande velocidade de dispersão, porém esta tende a se estabilizar com o incremento do tempo. Esses resultados deixam claro que D. citri realiza movimentos dependendo das condições fenológicas de seus hospedeiros, ressaltando a grande importância de se intensificar métodos de controle regionais em épocas em que o fluxo vegetativo das plantas cítricas não é tão intenso. / Greening or Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most devastating disease of citrus today. Surveys show that the disease is present in about 60% of the park stands citrus Sao Paulo, demonstrating its great ability to spread. The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psylidae) is an important vector of the causative agents associated with HLB. Its ability to spread is closely related to disease progression in the field. There is no knowledge of the main factors that can affect the movement of the insect to citrus plants. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the influence of some environmental factors on the dispersal of psyllid D. citri, discussing them in relation to the epidemiology of HLB of citrus. Initially tests were performed in the laboratory to adapt the methodology of marking, release and recapture using fluorescent powder. Groups of adult psyllids were marked and their survival assessed by checking the influence of four different colors of fluorescent powder (yellow, blue, pink and green). Subsequent studies were conducted with four field releases psyllids, with distinct markers on four experimental areas adjacent circular and being formed by concentric circles located at 18, 24 and 30 m for each center release. The insects were monitored visually and by yellow sticky traps. In the 1st and 2nd releases, was to determine the effect of cover crops maize (Zea mays L.) and grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) in the dispersal of D. citri. In the 3rd and 4th releases, were studied the effect of shootings in insect movement. The influence of the wind has been evaluated in both situations. Survival analysis indicated that there was no interference of the four colors of fluorescent powder on D. citri, and marking was visible on the body of insects during the 48 days of evaluation. According to the factor analysis, no interference of vegetation corn (measuring 2 m in height) was observed in the dispersal of the insect. In the presence of shoots, adult D. citri less dispersed looking for new hosts and it accumulate in the first lines of citrus plants. After 6 hours of release, the D. citri maximum dispersal was three times higher in the condition of absence of shoots. The dispersal medium and the total area covered varied asymptotically with time, ie the insect has initially high speed dispersal, but this tends to stabilize with increasing time. These results clearly show that D. citri performs movements depending on the phenology of its hosts, emphasizing the importance of intensifying regional control methods at times when the flow of plant citrus is not intense.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-25T19:29:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JoseAlfredoBSantos.pdf: 575338 bytes, checksum: 6d87ba82656e81978e4b945304868267 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-06-26 / With the objective of evaluating alternatives for oval-leaf false button weed management in black beans crops for familiar farmers of the Southern region of Paraná State, studies were carried out, in Ponta Grossa at Iapar Experimental Station and in Irati at a farmer field. A survey was also carried out to evaluated the management practices of oval-leaf false buttonweed by the farmers. One study in Ponta Grossa had as objective to evaluate the period of emergence of oval-leaf false buttonweed during one year, in area with and without vegetal covering, and also with and without mobilization of the soil. In another study also in Ponta Grossa an experiment was installed to evaluate the influence of cover crops in the reduction of the infestation of buttonweed in no-till with three winter cover crops: black oat, radish, black oat with common vetch and a fallow treatment. The experiment in the region of Irati had as objective to evaluate, besides the influences of cover crops, also the liming in the reduction of the population of buttonweed in black beans crop. The cover crops were the same as the experiment in Ponta Grossa. The management practices was evaluated through a questionnaire applied to seventeen farmers separated in two groups: 1) those who still regarded false buttonweed as a problem in the farm, and 2) those farmers who had false buttonweed as a problem but were able to solve it. In the study of period of emergence of false buttonweed the main peaks of flush were in October, November and December. The experiments to evaluate the effect of winter cover crops in Ponta Grossa and Irati have shown no effect on false buttonweed populations overall. There was also not diference in the liming treatments in Irati. The survey with the farmers of the region has shown that successfull farmers in the management of false buttonweed were those who use integrated weed management strategies. / Com objetivo de avaliar alternativas de manejo da erva-quente (Spermacoce latifolia Aubl) em cultivo de feijão, foram realizados estudos na região Centro-Sul do Paraná, por meio da instalação de experimentos em Ponta Grossa e em Irati; também foi feito um diagnóstico para verificar os procedimentos adotados pelos agricultores da região no manejo dessa espécie. Em Ponta Grossa, um estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o fluxo de emergência de erva-quente durante um ano, em área com e sem cobertura vegetal, e com e sem mobilização do solo. Num segundo estudo, em Ponta Grossa, avaliou-se a influência de plantas de cobertura na redução da infestação de erva-quente em plantio direto, utilizando-se três espécies de cobertura vegetal de inverno: aveia-preta, nabo-forrageiro, aveia-preta com ervilhaca-comum e pousio. O experimento de Irati teve como objetivo avaliar a influência de plantas de cobertura e também a correção do solo na redução da população de erva-quente em cultivo sucessivo de feijão. As coberturas de inverno foram as mesmas usadas no experimento de Ponta Grossa. No levantamento das práticas de controle na região foi elaborado um questionário, que foi utilizado junto a dezessete agricultores nos municípios de Mallet, Rio Azul, Irati e Prudentópolis, separados em dois grupos: 1) os que ainda consideravam a erva-quente um problema na propriedade e 2) aqueles que já tiveram a erva-quente como problema e conseguiram solucioná-lo. No estudo do fluxo de emergência verificou-se que os principais meses de pico de emergência de erva-quente foram em outubro, novembro e dezembro. No conjunto dos experimentos para estudo da influência de plantas de cobertura em Ponta Grossa e Irati não se verificou efeito das coberturas testadas na população da erva-quente. Também não houve diferença quando se avaliou a influência do calcário na infestação de erva-quente. No levantamento das práticas de manejo da erva-quente se verificou que o grupo de agricultores com sucesso no controle da erva-quente é o que utiliza um sistema de rotação de culturas e manejo integrado de plantas daninhas.

Orientador: Maria Helena Moraes / Banca: Sérgio Lázaro de Lima / Banca: Leandro Borges Lemos / Banca: Isabella Clerici de Maria / Banca: Antonio Costa / Resumo: O experimento, conduzido em Nitossolo Vermelho distroférrico, na Fazenda Experimental Lageado-FCA-UNESP-Botucatu, , teve por objetivo estudar no sistema de semeadura direta as prováveis alterações das propriedades físicas e químicas e das frações húmicas do solo, através da utilização da cultura do milheto em pré-safra a cultura da soja, em três épocas de semeadura e sob cinco manejos da fitomassa. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados, com esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram representadas por três épocas de semeadura da cultura do milheto (E1, E2 e E3). As subparcelas foram representadas por manejos da ceifa da fitomassa, sendo: Manejo 1 (M1) - ceifa a cada florescimento e retirada da fitomassa; manejo 2 (M2) - ceifa a cada florescimento e permanência da fitomassa; manejo 3 (M3) - ceifa no florescimento e retirada da fitomassa; manejo 4 (M4) - ceifa no florescimento e permanência da fitomassa e manejo 5 (M5) - livre crescimento. Foram coletadas amostras de solo com estrutura deformada e indeformada para a realização das análises físicas e químicas. Tanto para a análise física quanto para a química, as mesmas profundidades foram amostradas: 0-0,05, 0,05-0,10, 0,10-0,20 e 0,20-0,40 m. Para o fracionamento químico da matéria orgânica, amostrou-se de 0-0,05 e 0,05-0,10 m. Em relação 2 as culturas avaliou-se a altura de plantas e a produtividade da soja e para o milheto, o seu sistema radicular, a quantidade de massa seca produzida pela parte aérea e a porcentagem de fitomassa em cobertura deixada sobre o solo. A produtividade de massa de matéria seca foi maior na primeira época de semeadura, excetuando-se o M3 para a segunda época e do M2 para a terceira época de semeadura. A segunda época de semeadura proporcionou maior fitomassa em cobertura... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This work was carried out at Lageado Experimental Station' FCA' Unesp' Botucatu, from October 2001 until April 2004, consisting in a millet' soybean succession, in a no-tillage system, at three sowing, and the aim was evaluate the physicals and chemicals and humics fractions of a "Nitossolo Vermelho Distroférrico". The experimental design used was randomized blocks, in a split-plot schedule with four replications, having the sowing (S1, S2, S3) as parcel and harvest handling as subparcel. Where the harvest handling were 1 (H1)' harvest each blooming and covering withdrawal; 2 (H2)' harvest each blooming and covering permanency; 3 (H3)' only in the first harvest on blooming and covering withdrawal; H4 - only in the first harvest on blooming and covering permanency, and H5 'free growing, with no harvest. Disturbed and undisturbed samples were collected from four soil layers (0-0,05, 0,05-0,10 and 0,10-0,20 m) to evaluate the physical and chemical properties. The physical parameters measured were: bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, total clay, disperse clay, floculation degree, aggregation stability (dry sieving) and penetration resistance (Compact Test); the chemicals was: pH, organic mater, exchangele basis (Ca, Mg, K), cationic exchangeable capacity (CEC) and the quantification of the humic fractions (C-AH, C-AF and C-HU) All the parameters were performed on Department of Natural Research's (Soil Science-FCA), in different depths 0-0,05, 0,05-0,10, 0,10-0,20 e 0,20-0,40 m. About the humic fractions were analyseds only 0-0,05 e 0,05-0,10 m. The pearl millet matter drought mass productivity decreased in the order S1 > S2 >S3. The soil cover provided by fitomassa of milheto was larger in the S2 > S2 and S3 and in the H4 (with only fitomassa cut and permanence)... (Complete abstract, click eletronic address below) / Doutor