Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Minimum tillage'

Thesis (M.Sc. (Agriculture)) --University of Limpopo, 2008<br>Maize is a dominant crop in smallholder farming systems in the Limpopo province of South Africa, generally cultivated as intercrop with grain legumes. The major constraint in this cropping system is inadequate soil moisture during the growing season, which also limits nutrient availability to the component crops. The minimum tillage system has been reported to improve soil moisture availability on farmers’ fields but this has not yet been verified in an intercropping system in the province. The objective of this study was to quantify grain yield and chlorophyll production of intercropped maize, and to assess seasonal moisture availability under minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems. Dryland field experiments were conducted at two locations in the province namely, farmer’s field at Dalmada in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 growing seasons and at the University of Limpopo Experimental farm at Syferkuil during the 2003/2004. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in split plot arrangement at all locations and seasons. Tillage systems consisting of conventional tillage and minimum tillage were the main plot treatments, whereas five different cropping systems namely, sole maize, and maize intercrop with cowpea (variety, Bechuana White), cowpea (variety, Agripers), Lablab bean (variety, Rongai) and Velvet bean were assigned as sub-plot treatments. Maize grain yield in 2002/2003 at Dalmada was significantly lower (357 kg/ha) under CT relative to 755kg/ha under MT. In 2003/2004 at Dalmada, grain yields under the two systems were similar, where as at Syferkuil, 15% higher grain yield results was obtained under MT. Minimum tillage systems resulted in higher number of maize cobs per plant at Dalmada in both growing seasons and weight per cob was higher under MT at both locations and seasons. At Dalmada, significantly higher soil moisture was recorded under the MT relative to the CT depending on depth and sampling dates. Chlorophyll content of the youngest fully expanded leaves of maize was generally higher under MT than CT, but this was observed only at the later stages of plant growth. The results also showed that the rate of senescence (reduced chlorophyll content in older leaves) was higher in maize plants grown under CT relative to those under MT. The minimum tillage system has shown the potential of being a superior system for dryland maize production, but further research involving additional locations is required to ascertain this fact.

Orientador: Ana Maria Rodrigues Cassiolato<br>Banca: Arnaldo Colozzi Filho<br>Banca: Luiz Malcolm Mano de Mello<br>Resumo: Vem sendo adotado no cerrado, cada vez mais, sistemas de manejos conservacionistas, como o plantio direto ou cultivo mínimo, que auxiliam na recuperação e na busca da sustentabilidade do agrossistema. Estes sistemas favorecem numerosos processos bioquímicos que ocorrem no solo devido à atividade microbiana, com efeitos sobre as propriedades físicas e químicas do solo e reflexos sobre o desenvolvimento das plantas, a produtividade agrícola e a qualidade do ambiente. Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar o carbono da biomassa microbiana (CBM), o carbono do CO2 (C-CO2) liberado e a micorrização em função da calagem e do manejo do solo, em uma área de 20 anos de plantio direto, nas culturas de feijão (cultura de inverno) e milho (cultura de verão). O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda de Ensino e Pesquisa da Faculdade de Engenharia, UNESP, Campus de Ilha Solteira, localizada no município de Selvíria-MS. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas, constituídas de 2 tratamentos (principais), 2 doses de calcário e 4 repetições cada. Os tratamentos foram: T1 - Plantio direto - calcário na superfície, sem incorporação; e T2 - Cultivo Mínimo - incorporação de calcário com o escarificador; e as doses de calcários foram: D1 - Testemunha (sem calcário) e D2 - 2000 kg ha-1 de calcário. O solo foi reclassificado como LATOSSOLO VERMELHO distrófico. Após amostragem (de 0 - 0,10 m de profundidade), o solo foi seco, peneirado (2 mm) e enviado para análise das características químicas. O CBM foi avaliado pelo método de fumigação-extração e a atividade respiratória foi verificada pela quantificação do C-CO2 liberado. Para as avaliações da porcentagem de segmentos de raízes colonizadas por fungos micorrízicos arbusculares as raízes foram clareadas, acidificadas, coloridas com azul de... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo).<br>Abstract: There is a steady increase in the employment of conservation management systems such as no-tillage or minimum-tillage in the Brazilian 'cerrado', which help in the recovery and maintenance of the agrosystem sustainability. These systems benefits several biochemical processes that take place in the soil due to microbial activity, which impact its physical and chemical properties and reflect on the development of plants, agricultural yield and the environment quality. The objective of this research was to quantify the microbial biomas-C, the C-CO2 evaluated and the mycorrhization in relation to limestone application and soil management, in a site under no-tillage for 20 years. The experiment was deployed at the Teaching and Research Farm (Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil) of the College of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, UNESP. The experimental design was a split plot, with two managements (main) and two levels of limestone, with four replications each. Treatments were T1 - No-tillage: surface limestone application, with no incorporation and T2 - Minimum-tillage: limestone incorporation with chisel plowing, while limestone levels were D1 - control (no limestone) and D2 - 2,000 kg ha-1 limestone. The soil was reclassified as a red 'latossol' (oxisol). After sampling the soil was dried, sieved (2 mm mesh) and analyzed for its chemical properties. The microbial biomass-C was estimated by the fumigation-extraction method and respiratory activity was estimated by the quantification of the C-CO2 evaluated. Roots were clarified, acidified, stained with 0.05 trypan blue and preserved in lactoglycerol in order to estimate the percentage of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The assessment of mycorrhizal colonization was performed in 40 segments (one cm long), for each replication and treatment, under a... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below).<br>Mestre

Submitted by PAULO ROBERTO DE SOUSA JÚNIOR null (paulo_pexe@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-09-05T00:01:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese mestrado-Paulo Roberto de Sousa Junior (Produção Vegetal) v18.pdf: 1339589 bytes, checksum: 6577d94ec4da539c53ad11caabc30271 (MD5)<br>Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-09-06T20:00:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 sousajunior_pr_me_jabo.pdf: 1339589 bytes, checksum: 6577d94ec4da539c53ad11caabc30271 (MD5)<br>Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-06T20:00:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 sousajunior_pr_me_jabo.pdf: 1339589 bytes, checksum: 6577d94ec4da539c53ad11caabc30271 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-08<br>Levando em consideração que há uma grande polêmica quanto à forma mais eficiente de aplicação do fósforo nos solos tropicais brasileiros, o presente trabalho sugere a forma mais eficiente de aplicação e fornecimento desse elemento para a produção de cana-de-açúcar em um ambiente de médio potencial produtivo, enfatizando modos de aplicação e doses adequadas à maior disponibilização deste nutriente na solução do solo. Para avaliar os efeitos de incorporação do fósforo e dos outros corretivos, utilizaram-se dois manejos de solo: o preparo convencional e o cultivo mínimo. A pesquisa foi fundamentada em duas hipóteses: I) A aplicação de parte do fósforo em área total e a outra parte no fundo do sulco, em solos de textura média, proporcionam maior aproveitamento do fósforo e outros nutrientes a curto e longo prazo. II) A incorporação do fósforo e dos outros corretivos de solo proporcionam uma melhor condição para o desenvolvimento do sistema radicular. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos inteiramente casualizados com parcelas subdivididas em: tratamento principal, manejo do solo, preparo convencional e cultivo mínimo, tratamento secundário, dose área total 0; 100; 200 kg.ha-1 P2O5, tratamento terciário, dose no sulco 0; 90; 180 kg.ha-¹ P2O5. Foram avaliados os parâmetros químicos do solo, produtividade de colmos e açúcar, tecnológicos e exportação de nutrientes. O programa estatístico utilizado foi o AgroEstat – Sistema para Análises Estatísticas de ensaios agronômicos. Os resultados mostraram que o cultivo mínimo proporcionou uma maior concentração do fósforo na camada superficial em relação ao preparo convencional e o excesso de fósforo causou uma diminuição na qualidade tecnológica e na produção de açúcar.<br>Taking into consideration the polemics involved on which is the most efficient phosphorus application method in Brazilian tropical soils, the present research suggests an efficient phosphorus application method in sugarcane production in an environment of medium potential, emphasizing phosphorus application methods and rates, aiming the best availability of this element in the soil solution. In order to evaluate the phosphorus incorporation effects and other soil correction chemicals, two soil managements were adopted; the conventional and the minimum tillage. Therefore, this research were based on two hypothesis: I) the application of part of the phosphorus over the soil and other part in the sugarcane furrow, in sandy soils, allowed higher phosphorus and other nutrients utilization. II) The phosphorus incorporation and incorporation of other element allowed better sugarcane root systems development. The experimental design used was completely randomized block design, with split-split plot, where the main plot was soil management (either conventional or minimum tillage), secondary was phosphorus rate over the soil (0; 100; 200 kg ha-1 P2O5), and tertiary was phosphorus rate on in sugarcane row (0; 90; 180 kg ha-1 P2O5). Soil chemical parameters were evaluated, as well as stems and sugar yield, technological aspects and nutrient extraction. AgroEstat was used for the statistical analysis. The results showed that minimum tillage provided higher phosphorus concentration on the soil top layer compared to the conventional tillage and the phosphorus excess caused reduction in the technological quality and yield of sugarcane.

A rápida evolução tecnológica da silvicultura brasileira, verificada na década de 80, culminou com o sistema de cultivo mínimo do solo, implantado em grande escala a partir do início da década de 90. Levantamentos recentes junto a empresas florestadoras de expressão nacional, indicaram que cerca de 77% da área plantada é realizada no sistema de cultivo mínimo do solo. O amplo emprego do subsolador no cultivo mínimo e a falta de estudos científicos no projeto, o empirismo associado à operação e a falta de informações sobre a interação entre o teor de água e o tipo de solo subsolado motivaram a condução do presente estudo, cujos objetivos foram: (i) avaliar o desempenho operacional de um subsolador com haste parabólica em função da estrutura, do teor de argila e de água em três Latossolos, (ii) avaliar o grau de mobilização do solo em função de teores crescentes de argila e de água, (iii) avaliar a duração do efeito desagregador da subsolagem e a relação entre a área mobilizada de solo e o tempo póssubsolagem e, (iv) estabelecer um intervalo ideal de umidade para a subsolagem, em função da mobilização e da densidade máxima do solo. As pesquisas foram desenvolvidas em um Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico textura média (LVd-1), um Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico textura argilosa (LVd-2) e um Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico textura muito argilosa (LVd-3). A avaliação do desempenho operacional do subsolador foi realizada por meio dos parâmetros volume mobilizado de solo (VMS), profundidade efetiva de trabalho (PET), largura efetiva de trabalho (LET), velocidade média de deslocamento (VMD), capacidade teórica de trabalho (CTT) e rendimento (R). O grau de mobilização dos solos e o tempo de duração dos efeitos da subsolagem foram avaliados por meio da área mobilizada de solo (AMS), mensurada em três datas: logo após a subsolagem, 12 e 24 meses pós-subsolagem. O intervalo ideal de umidade para a subsolagem foi baseado na AMS e no teste de Proctor normal. A maioria dos parâmetros usados na avaliação do desempenho operacional indicou que teores de água mais baixos melhoram o desempenho do subsolador. Nos solos com estrutura em blocos, LVd-2, e com alto teor de argila, LVd-3, foram obtidos o maior VMS (com o solo mais seco) e o menor R (com o solo mais úmido); esses atributos também provocaram maior readensamento das partículas de solo no sulco de preparo, diminuindo o efeito desagregador da subsolagem mais rapidamente. Tanto no LVd-2, como no LVd-3, praticamente a metade da área mobilizada inicial foi modificada (56 e 49%, respectivamente). O LVd-1 foi o solo que apresentou a menor resposta aos tratamentos, em função de sua capacidade de suporte ser mais estável que a dos outros Latossolos estudados. O LVd-1 apresentou melhores condições de ser subsolado entre os teores de água de 0,07 a 0,13 cm3 cm-3, o LVd-3, entre 0,14 a 0,27 cm3 cm-3 e, o LVd-2, apresentou a amplitude de subsolagem mais restrita, entre 0,12 a 0,19 cm3 cm-3.<br>The fast technological development of the Brazilian silviculture, during the 80’s decade, culminated with the soil minimum cultivation system, established in large degree from the beginning of the 90’s decade. Recent surveys in expressive Brazilian forest companies, indicated that about 77% of the planted area is accomplish under the soil minimum cultivation system. The large use of the subsoiler in the minimum cultivation, the empiricism associated to the operation and the lack of information about the interaction between the moisture content and the subsoiled soil motivated the present study, which objectives were: (i) evaluate the operational performance of a subsoiler with parabolic tine as a function of the soil structure, clay and moisture content of three Latosols, (ii) evaluate the soil disturbance degree as a function of the increasing on the clay and moisture content, (iii) evaluate the length of the subsoiling effect on the soil and the relationship between the soil disturbed area and the time after the subsoiling and, (iv) settle an ideal water interval to the subsoiling, as a function of the soil disturbance and the maximum bulk density. The researchers were developed in a sandy clay loam dystrophic Red Latosol (LVd-1), a clay dystrophic Red Latosol with kaolinit (LVd-2) and a clay dystrophic Red Latosol (LVd-3). The operational performance evaluation was realized by the parameters soil disturbed volume (SDV), work depth (WD), work width (WW), average speed (AS), theoretical work capacity (TWC) and efficiency (E). The soils disturbance degree and the length of the subsoiling effects were evaluated by the soil disturbed area (SDA), which was measured three times: after the subsoiling, 12 and 24 months after the subsoiling. The ideal water interval of the subsoiling was based upon the SDA and the normal Proctor’s test. Most of the parameters used to the operational performance evaluation indicated that lower moisture contents improve the subsoiler performance. The soils with structure in blocks, LVd-2, and high clay content, LVd-3, presented higher SDV (when the soils were dryer) and lower E (when the soils were damper); these characteristics provoked high age-hardening of the soil particles either, decreasing the subsoiling effect faster. Almost half of the original soil disturbed area was modified in the LVd-2 and in the LVd-3 (56 and 49%, respectively). The LVd-1 was the soil that presented the lower effect to the treatments, as a function of its high stability. The LVd-1 presented better conditions to be subsoiled between the moisture contents of 0,07 and 0,13 cm3 cm-3, the LVd-3, between 0,14 and 0,27 cm3 cm-3 and, the LVd-2, presented the lower subsoiling water range, between 0,12 and 0,19 cm3 cm-3.

The reported requirement for a higher weeding effort due to increased weed infestations under conservation agriculture (CA) relative to conventional mouldboard plough tillage is perceived by both smallholder farmers and extension workers as the main limiting factor to the widespread adoption of CA by smallholder farmers in southern Africa. However, proponents of CA argue that weeds are only a problem under CA in the initial two years and decline afterwards resulting in reduced labour requirements for weeding under CA. They further posit that weeds are only major problem where minimum tillage (MT) is adopted without crop residue mulching and diverse crop rotations. This thesis explores the effect of time under CA on weed population dynamics and crop growth under the recommended CA practices and actual smallholder farmer practice in semi-arid Zimbabwe. Assessment of weed and crop growth on a long-term CA experiment at Matopos Research Station revealed that the MT systems of planting basins and ripper tine were associated with higher early season weed density and biomass than conventional early summer mouldboard tillage (CONV) in both the fifth (cowpea phase) and sixth (sorghum phase) years of CA. This increased weed infestation within the first four weeks after planting in CA necessitated early weeding to provide a clean seedbed and avert significant crop yield loss. Maize mulching only suppressed early season weed growth in sorghum mostly at a mulch rate of 8 t ha-1 which is not a mulching rate that is attainable on most smallholder farms. However, the lower maize residue mulch rate of 4 t ha-1 was consistently associated with increased weed emergence and growth as from the middle of the cropping season in both crop species. The increased weed infestations under the mulch were probably due to the creation of ‘safe sites’ with moist conditions and moderate temperatures. The high weed growth under the mulch contributed to the low sorghum grain yield obtained under mulched plots. In addition, maize mulching was also associated with a less diverse weed community that was dominated by the competitive Setaria spp. and difficult to hoe weed Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn. However, the weed community under CA was similar to that under CONV tillage with no evidence of a shift to the more difficult to control weed species. The increased early season weed growth and high weed pressure under CA meant that it was still necessary to hoe weed four times within the cropping season to reduce weed infestations and improve crop growth even after four years of recommended CA practices. Early and frequent weeding was effective in reducing weed growth of most species including Setaria spp. and E. indica demonstrating that on smallholder farms where labour is available hoe weeding can provide adequate weed control. The wider spacing recommended for use in CA contributed to the low cowpea and sorghum grain yields obtained under CA compared to CONV tillage. On smallholder farms in Masvingo District, the MT system of planting basin (PB) was the only conservation farming (CF) component adopted by farmers. There was no difference in the total seedling density of the soil weed seed bank and density of emerged weeds in the field in PB and conventional mouldboard ploughing done at first effective rains (CONV tillage). However, the first weeding in PB was done at least 15 days earlier (P < 0.05) than in CONV tillage suggesting high early season weed growth in PB relative to CONV tillage. As weed density did not decline with time in PB, weed management did not differ with increase in years under PB. Shortage of inputs such as seed and fertiliser was identified by smallholder farmers as the most limiting factor in PB crop production with the area under PB was equivalent to the seed and fertiliser provided by CARE International for most farmers. On this small area, weeds could be managed by available family labour. Double the maize grain yield was obtained in PB (mean: 2856 kg ha-1) due to improved weed management and soil fertility. However, the use of poorly stored composts was found to introduce weeds into some PB fields. The findings of this study demonstrated that weed pressure was still high and weed management were still a challenge under the practice recommended to smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe even in the sixth year of practice. There is, therefore, a need for research on the economic feasibility of using herbicides, intercropping and optimal crop density to ameliorate the high weed pressure under CA.<br>Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013.<br>Plant Production and Soil Science<br>unrestricted

Aiming (1) evaluate the effects of different systems of soil management on the components for the production of soybean cultivation maiden in consortium with Brachiaria decumbens and (2) evaluate the effects of tillage systems on chemical of a Yellow Latosol (Oxisols) cohesive dystrophic soil, cultivated with soybean in a single and intercropped system with Brachiaria decumbens in the coastal plateau of the State of Alagoas. It was developed an experiment, composed of three management systems soil, on the scheme in randomized blocks with split plot with four replications. To achieve the first objective (Chapter I), was used a variety of Monsoy 9350 soybean in the systems: Conventional tillage of the soil, minimum cultivation and no-tillage. The following variables were evaluated: 1) culture of soybean: determination of phenological stages, analysis of macro- and micronutrients, stand of plants, diameter of the stem, plant height, first pod insertion height, number of pods per plant, number of pods containing one, two or three grains, number of grains per plant, mass of 1000 grains and productivity, 2) B. decumbens: analysis of macro and micronutrients, and accumulation of dry matter drought in five different times of sampling. In the second objective (Chapter II), the chemical attributes of a soil they were used to evaluate the systems of Soil management. The variables examined were as follows: pH, OM, P, K, Ca + Mg, H + Al, CTC, V % e m %. All data were submitted to the analysis of variance, the mean being confronted by Tukey test to 5 % of the mean possibility. In the data relating to the collection of dry B. Decumbens was performed the analysis of variance and application of regression. The results of chapter I indicate that the systems of soil management influence the stand of plants, concentrations of P, Cu, Fe and Zn in soybean Monsoy 9350; S in Brachiaria decumbens, and in the early stages of development of soybean. In chapter II, the systems of soil preparation not exerted influence on: the pH at depths of 0-1 10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. Variables pH, MO, K, Ca+Mg and V% show significant reduction of their average in terms of increased depth of sampling. The consortium soybean X Brachiaria decumbens causes statistically significant increases in levels of potassium in layers of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm.<br>Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior<br>Com o objetivo de (1) avaliar os efeitos de diferentes sistemas de manejo do solo sobre os componentes de produção da soja cultivada solteira e em consórcio com a Brachiaria decumbens e (2) avaliar os efeitos de sistemas de preparo sobre as propriedades químicas de um Latossolo Amarelo coeso distrófico, cultivado com soja em sistema solteiro e consorciado com a Brachiaria decumbens nos Tabuleiros Costeiros do Estado de Alagoas. Foi desenvolvido um experimento, composto por três sistemas de manejo do solo, no esquema em blocos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas com quatro repetições. Para alcançar o primeiro objetivo (Capítulo I), foi utilizada a variedade de soja Monsoy 9350 nos sistemas: preparo convencional do solo, cultivo mínimo e plantio direto. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: 1) cultura da soja: determinação dos estágios fenológicos; análise de macro e micronutrientes; stand de plantas; diâmetro do colmo; altura de plantas; altura de inserção da primeira vagem; número de vagens por planta; número de vagens contendo um, dois ou três grãos; número de grãos por planta, massa de 1000 grãos e produtividade. 2) B. decumbens: análise de macro e micronutrientes, além do acúmulo de matérias seca em cinco épocas de amostragens. No segundo objetivo (Capítulo II), os atributos químicos do solo foram utilizados para avaliar os sistemas de manejo do solo. As variáveis analisadas foram: pH, MO, P, K, Ca + Mg, H + Al, CTC, V % e m %. Todos os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância sendo as médias confrontadas pelo teste Tukey a 5 % de probabilidade. Nos dados referentes às coletas de matéria seca da B. decumbens foi realizada a análise de variância e aplicação da regressão. Os resultados do Capítulo I indicam que os sistemas de manejo do solo influenciam o stand de plantas, concentração de fósforo, cobre, ferro e zinco na soja Monsoy 9350; enxofre na Brachiaria decumbens; e nos primeiros estádios de desenvolvimento da soja. No Capítulo II, Os sistemas de preparo do solo não exerceram influência sobre: o pH nas profundidades de 0-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm. As variáveis pH, MO, K, Ca+Mg e V % apresentam redução significativo de suas médias em função do aumento da profundidade de amostragem. O consórcio soja X Brachiaria decumbens proporciona aumentos estatisticamente significativos nos teores de potássio nas camadas de 0-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior<br>The managedment of the pig manure, in the slurry or solid form (deep bedding), and how it is applied to the soil, in the surface or incorporated, must affect the dynamics of the C and the N in the soil. The objectives of this work were: 1) to evaluate the dynamics of the C and the N in soil and to evaluate the N supply to maize which were applied pig manure in the slurry and solid form, in no-tillage and minimum tillage system; and 2) to use the STICS model (BRISSON et al., 1998) to simulate the dynamics of N and water in the soil-plant system with the use of pig slurry in maize under no-tillage system. To reach the first objective, three experiments were realized. Two of them in the field conditions, during the period of 2002/03 in the Experimental Area of the UFSM/RS Soil Department in a typic Hapludult and one of them in laboratory conditions. The treatments consisted in the application or no application of pig manure in the slurry and solid form (deep bedding) on the crop oats residues with and without incorporation to the soil in the maize. Aiming to reach the second objective, a data set generated in the Experimental Area of the UFSM Soil Department during the period of 1998 to 2002, involving the N dynamics in the soil-plant system, with the use of pig slurry in notillage system was used. The gotten results had indicated that the N losses by NH3 volatilization were higher with the application of pig slurry than with the application of solid manure and that these losses decrease with the incorporation of the manure to the soil. The amounts of mineral N in the soil layer of 0-90 cm did not differ between the treatments with and without incorporation of the manure in spite of the lost N amount by volatilization has been higher in the treatment without incorporation. The incorporation of the manure to the soil did not increase the straw C decomposition and nor the N immobilization. The presence of the oats straw stimulated the immobilization of the ammoniacal N applied with the pig slurry. The solid manure presented low nitrogenous fertilizing otential to the maize when compared to the pig slurry in terms of the low mineralization rate of the organic N, present in the deep bedding. The N-N2O emission increased with the application of the pig slurry on the oats straw in relation to the system with straw and without pig slurry. The pig slurry ammoniacal 15N recovery by the maize in physiological maturation stage was only 14.9%. In the same period, only 49.2% of the ammoniacal 15N applied with the slurry pig slurry were recuperated in the soil and the plant (aerial part + roots), indicating that more than a half of the ammoniacal N applied with the pig slurry was lost through the volatilization, lixiviation and denitrification processes. The STICS model underestimates the amount of N lost by ammonia volatilization after the pig slurry application. The use of a factor in STICS to express the N losses by ammonia volatilization provided an improvement in the simulations of the N dynamics in the soil. The water dynamics in the soil layer of 0 - 60 cm was simulated by STICS with an error lower than 13.5%. These work results showed that the STICS reparametred model presents potential to be used in subtropical weather conditions in the simulation of the N and water dynamics in no-tillage system with the use of pig manure.<br>A forma como os dejetos de suínos são manejados, se na forma líquida ou sólida (cama sobreposta), e o modo de aplicação dos mesmos no solo, se na superfície ou incorporados, devem afetar a dinâmica do C e do N no solo. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: 1) avaliar a dinâmica do C e do N no solo e o fornecimento de N ao milho com uso de dejetos de suínos na forma líquida e sólida, em sistema plantio direto e preparo reduzido do solo; e 2) utilizar o modelo STICS (BRISSON et al., 1998) para simular a dinâmica do N e da água no sistema solo-planta com o uso de dejetos líquidos de suínos em sistema plantio direto de milho. Para atingir o primeiro objetivo, foram realizados três experimentos, sendo dois em condições de campo, no período de 2002/03 na área Experimental do Departamento de Solos da UFSM/RS, em solo Argissolo Vermelho distrófico arênico, e um em condições de laboratório. Os tratamentos consistiram da aplicação ou não de dejetos de suínos na forma líquida e sólida (cama sobreposta), sobre os resíduos culturais de aveia com e sem incorporação ao solo, na cultura do milho. Com vistas ao alcance do segundo objetivo, foi utilizado um conjunto de dados gerados na área Experimental do Departamento de Solos da UFSM no período de 1998 a 2002 envolvendo a dinâmica do N no sistema solo-planta com o uso de dejetos líquidos de suínos em sistema plantio direto. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que as perdas de N por volatilização de NH3 foram maiores com a aplicação de dejetos líquidos de suínos do que com a aplicação de dejetos sólidos e que essas perdas diminuíram com a incorporação dos dejetos ao solo. As quantidades de N mineral na camada de 0-90 cm do solo não diferiram entre os tratamentos com e sem incorporação dos dejetos apesar da quantidade de N perdida por volatilização ter sido maior no tratamento sem incorporação. A incorporação dos dejetos ao solo não aumentou a decomposição do C da palha e nem a imobilização de N. A presença da palha de aveia estimulou a imobilização do N amoniacal aplicado com os dejetos de suínos. Os dejetos sólidos apresentaram baixo potencial fertilizante nitrogenado ao milho, comparado aos dejetos líquidos, em função da baixa taxa de mineralização do N orgânico presente na cama sobreposta. A emissão de N-N2O aumentou com a aplicação dos dejetos líquidos sobre a palha de aveia em relação ao sistema com palha e sem dejetos. A recuperação do 15N amonical dos dejetos líquidos pelo milho no estádio de maturação fisiológica foi de apenas 14,9%. Nesse mesmo período, apenas 49,2% do 15N amoniacal aplicado com os dejetos líquidos de suínos foram recuperados no solo e na planta (parte aérea + raízes), indicando que mais da metade do N amoniacal aplicado com os dejetos foi perdido através dos processos de volatilização, lixiviação e desnitrificação. O modelo STICS subestimou a quantidade de N perdida por volatilização de amônia, após a aplicação dos dejetos de suínos. O uso de um fator em STICS para expressar a perdas de N por volatilização de amônia proporcionou uma melhora nas simulações da dinâmica do N no solo. A dinâmica da água na camada 0 60 cm do solo foi simulada por STICS com um erro inferior a 13,5%. Os resultados desse estudo evidenciaram que o modelo STICS reparametrado apresenta potencial para ser utilizado em condições de clima subtropical na simulação da dinâmica do N e da água em sistema plantio direto com o uso de dejetos de suínos.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico<br>Restos de culturas e outros materiais vegetais tÃm sido usados como cobertura morta no sistema de plantio direto em vÃrias regiÃes do Brasil. No Nordeste essa prÃtica à pouco comum e existe desconhecimento sobre o comportamento dessas coberturas nas condiÃÃes do semiÃrido quanto à degradaÃÃo e seus efeitos sobre a produtividade das culturas e caracterÃsticas fÃsico-quÃmicas do solo. Uma pesquisa foi conduzida na Fazenda Lavoura Seca, QuixadÃ, CearÃ, com o objetivo de avaliar a produtividade de grÃos de milho (Zea mays L) e feijÃo-caupi (Vigna unguiculata L Walp.) e algumas caracterÃsticas de um Argissolo Vermelho Amarelo quando submetido a um sistema de plantio direto em cinco tipos de cobertura morta provenientes de: vegetaÃÃo natural; milheto (Pennisetum americanum sin. tiphoydes); braquiÃria (Brachiaria brizantha); sorgo forrageiro (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench); e do plantio convencional, em dois sistemas de rotaÃÃo de culturas SPD1 (feijÃo-caupi em sucessÃo ao milho) e SPD2 (milho em sucessÃo ao feijÃo-caupi). As coberturas mortas foram avaliadas quanto à duraÃÃo, taxa de decomposiÃÃo e seus efeitos sobre as caracterÃsticas do solo densidade, densidade de partÃculas, porosidade total, micro porosidade, macro porosidade e teor de umidade, na profundidade de zero a 20 cm, nos anos agrÃcolas 2008 e 2009. NÃo foram constatadas diferenÃas significativas entre a biomassa produzida pela vegetaÃÃo natural e a proporcionada pela braquiÃria, milheto e sorgo forrageiro no SPD1 e SPD2. A degradaÃÃo dos resÃduos no perÃodo de avaliaÃÃo foi maior onde o feijÃo-caupi foi sucedido pelo milho. A produtividade do milho nÃo diferiu entre as coberturas e plantio convencional em 2008 e 2009. A produtividade de grÃos do feijÃo-caupi foi maior no plantio convencional do que nos tratamentos com cobertura morta podendo ser atribuÃdo ao melhor controle das plantas daninhas no sistema convencional. As diferentes coberturas mortas proporcionaram aumento na densidade do solo e diminuiÃÃo na porosidade total e macro porosidade<br>Crops and others vegetal residues are used as death cover in minimum tillage in several regions of Brazil. In the Northeast this practice is not yet generalized and there is a poor knowledge about the plant residues degradation under semi-arid conditions and its effects on crop productivity and the physical and chemical soil characteristics. This work was carried out at Dry Farm Experimental Station, Quixada, Ceara, in order to evaluate the corn and cowpea yield growing under minimum tillage with two crop rotation systems, SPD1 (cowpea following corn) and SPD2 (corn following cowpea) and five types of death cover originated from natural vegetation, millet (Pennisetum americanum sin. tiphoydes); brachiaria grass (Brachiaria brizantha); forage sorghum, (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) and conventional tillage. It was also evaluated the effects of these rotation systems and deaths covers over soil density, particle density, micro and macro porosity, percentage of soil humidity at 20cm depth of a Red Yellow Argissol during 2008 and 2009. It was not found significant differences between the biomass yields of brachiaria grass, millet and sorghum in SPD1 and SPD2. The deaths cover degradation during the two years of evaluation was higher where the cowpea was followed by corn. The corn yield was not significantly different between the death covers and conventional tillage. The better cowpea yield under conventional tillage could be caused by a better weed control. The death cover tested increased the soil density and decreases the macro and total soil porosity

Este trabalho objetivou relacionar a produtividade agroindustrial da cana-de-açúcar com o aproveitamento do nitrogênio (N) das adubações sucessivas em cana-planta e soqueiras, em sistema de cultivo mínimo sem o revolvimento do solo ou escarificações das entrelinhas na reforma do canavial ou após os cortes, respectivamente - e quantificar a contribuição da palhada proveniente da colheita mecanizada na nutrição da cultura. O experimento foi instalado em março de 2005, em um Latossolo Vermelho Eutrófico muito argiloso da Fazenda Santa Terezinha, Jaboticabal, SP e foi conduzido durante quatro ciclos agrícolas consecutivos até julho de 2009. O delineamento experimental na cana-planta foi blocos casualizados, com quatro tratamentos (doses de N-uréia 0, 40, 80 e 120 kg ha-1 no sulco de plantio, juntamente com 120 kg ha-1 de P2O5 e K2O) e quatro repetições (parcelas de 48 sulcos x 15 m). Nos ciclos de 1ª a 3ª soqueiras, as parcelas de cana-planta foram subdivididas em outros quatro tratamentos (0, 50, 100 e 150 kg ha-1 de N) e quatro repetições (subparcelas de 12 linhas x 15 m). Na 3ª soqueira a adubação com N foi de 100 kg ha-1 em todas as parcelas, visando detectar efeitos residuais das fertilizações anteriores na produtividade da cana no 4º ciclo. Em todas as parcelas dos ciclos de soqueiras também aplicou-se 150 kg ha-1 de K2O como KCl. Na dose 80 kg ha-1 de N em cana-planta, foram instaladas microparcelas contendo uréia e/ou material vegetal marcado com 15N, simulando os resíduos anteriores à reforma (palhada, PAR ou rizomas, RAR da variedade RB855536) remanescentes no solo após o cultivo mínimo. O objetivo foi avaliar a contribuição do fertilizante-15N e dos resíduos vegetais-15N na nutrição nitrogenada da cultura em ciclos consecutivos. Após o corte da cana-planta, novas microparcelas contendo palhada pós colheita (PPC-15N, variedade SP81-3250) foram dispostas nos tratamentos 800 e 80150 kg ha-1 de N em cana-planta e soqueiras, respectivamente, para avaliar a contribuição do N-PPC na nutrição da cultura e a influência do N aplicado em soqueiras na disponibilização do N-PPC. Um estudo complementar foi desenvolvido em sacos telados contendo PAR-15N em cana-planta (dose 80 kg ha-1 de N) e PPC- 15N em soqueiras (doses 80-0 e 80-150 kg ha-1 de N), visando quantificar a decomposição dos resíduos durante os ciclos agrícolas e possíveis diferenças na intensidade da decomposição devido às aplicações de N em cana-planta e em soqueiras respectivamente. Nos quatro ciclos consecutivos avaliou-se a: i) produtividade agroindustrial (TCH, Mg de cana ha-1 de colmos e TPH, Mg ha-1 de pol) e características tecnológicas da matéria-prima (pol % cana e fibra %) em função dos tratamentos de N em cana-planta e soqueiras; ii) recuperação do 15Nuréia, 15N-PAR, 15N-RAR e 15N-PPC pela parte aérea da cultura (colmos, folhas secas e ponteiro) e o balanço de carbono (C) e N no sistema solo-planta e iii) decomposição da PAR e PPC pela redução da matéria seca (MS), do C, 10 macronutrientes (N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S) e carboidratos estruturais (lignina, celulose e hemicelulose). A TCH e TPH foram influenciadas pelas doses de N no plantio e nas soqueiras subseqüentes. Houve resposta linear na produtividade agroindustrial da cana-planta às doses de N do plantio e na média dos quatro ciclos agrícolas. Porém, não houve interação entre as doses de N em cana-planta e soqueiras. O tratamento 120100 kg ha-1 de N em cana-planta e soqueiras proporcionou a maior TCH acumulada nos quatro ciclos consecutivos, porém o tratamento 12050 kg ha-1 de N foi o mais viável economicamente. A recuperação do N-uréia de plantio foi mais alta no primeiro ciclo (24, 7 kg ha-1 ou 31% da dose aplicada) decrescendo ao longo ciclos agrícolas subsequentes (5%; 4% e 3%, respectivamente). O balanço de N após os quatro ciclos (2006 a 2009) indicou 43% (34,4 kg ha-1) de recuperação do Nuréia pela parte aérea da cultura, 0,2% permaneceu nos rizomas, 20% no solo e 37% foram contabilizados como perdas. Para os resíduos vegetais PAR e RAR as recuperações na parte aérea foram de 28% e 23% da quantidade inicial (14,2 e 7,4 kg ha-1, respectivamente). Em média, 0,2% do N-resíduos vegetais permaneceu nos rizomas, 52% no solo e 22% foram perdas. A soma da recuperação do N-PAR e NRAR de foi de 24,4 kg, ou seja, 39% da contribuição total de N destes resíduos, indicando serem fontes de N a longo prazo para a cana-de-açúcar. Houve correlação entre a recuperação acumulada do N-uréia e N-resíduos vegetais com a evapotranspiração acumulada dos quatro ciclos agrícolas. A recuperação do N-PPC pela parte aérea da cultura praticamente dobrou após três ciclos, devido à aplicação de N em soqueiras, 17% vs. 31% (6,9 e 12,6 kg ha-1 de N, respectivamente). O restante do N-PPC permaneceu nos rizomas (0,3% e 0,4%), no solo (69% e 61%) ou resultaram em perdas (13,4% e 7,6%). Não houve alterações nos estoques de C e N do solo com a adição de N-uréia ou N-resíduos vegetais. A decomposição da PAR e PPC foi influenciada pelas aplicações de N em cana-planta e soqueiras e pela ação biológica ao longo dos ciclos agrícolas avaliados. Essa degradação ocorreu devido à redução da relação C:N, do crescimento de raízes sob a palhada, perdas de MS, C, N, macronutrientes e carboidratos estruturais da palhada ao longo dos ciclos agrícolas. Para a PAR e PPC, a degradação da MS foi de 96% e 73% após quatro e três anos, respectivamente. Os macronutrientes que apresentaram maiores liberações foram o K 98% e 92%; Mg 97% e 70% e o Ca 95% e 55%, da quantidade inicial dos nutrientes (kg ha-1) aplicadas via PAR e PPC, respectivamente. Após quatro ciclos agrícolas os teores (g kg-1) de lignina, celulose e hemicelulose da PAR decresceram 60%, 29% e 70%. Para a PPC a redução foi de 47%, 35% e 70% em três ciclos. A degradação dos carboidratos estruturais foi influenciada pelas condições climáticas ocorridas durante os ciclos agrícolas e pela composição bioquímica inicial dos resíduos (carboidratos e nutrientes totais). Não houve diferença na degradação da MS da PPC devido à aplicação de N em soqueiras, porém houve diferença na degradação do C, na liberação de Ca, na concentração de raízes e na decomposição da lignina quando se realizou a adubação com N sobre a palhada em soqueiras<br>This work aimed to relate the agroindustrial yield of sugarcane with nitrogen (N) fertilization in successive cropping cycles in plant-cane and ratoons under minimum tillage system - without soil plowing or interows scarification in crop renewal and after the harvesting seasons, respectively - and to quantify the contribution of straw from mechanical harvesting on crop N nutrition. The field trial was planted in March 2005 in a very clayey Rhodic Eutrustox at Santa Terezinha Farm, Jaboticabal, Sao Paulo State and was conducted during four consecutive cropping cycles until July 2009. The plant-cane trial was designed as randomized blocks with four treatments (N-urea in increasing rates 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1 at planting added to 120 kg ha-1 P2O5 and K2O) and four replicates (48 furrows of 15 m length). For the ratoon-cane trial, (1st to 3rd ratoons) the plant-cane plots were subdivided into other four treatments (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1 N) and four replicates (12 rows x 15 m). The N fertilization of the 3rd ratoon was leveled to 100 kg ha-1 in all plots in order to detect residual effects of previous N fertilizations on sugarcane yield in this cycle. All ratoon cycles also received 150 kg ha-1 K2O as KCl. It has been installed microplots containing 15N-urea and/or 15N-labeled plant material at the 80 kg ha-1 N dose in plant-cane, simulating the crop residues prior to renewal (trash PAR or rhizomes, RAR of RB855536 variety) and which remained in soil after minimum tillage. The objective was to assess the contribution of N-fertilizer and N-residues in sugarcane N nutrition in consecutive cycles. After the plant-cane harvesting, new microplots containing post harvest trash (PPC-15N, variety SP81-3250) were placed in treatments 80-0 and 80- 150 kg N ha-1 in plant-cane and ratoons, respectively, aiming to assess the contribution of N-PPC in crop nutrition and the influence of N applied to ratoons in the N-PPC availability for sugarcane uptake. An additional study was conducted in litter bags containing PAR-15N in plant-cane (dose 80 kg ha-1 N) and PPC-15N in ratoons (doses 80-0 and 80-150 kg N ha-1) in order quantify the decomposition of trash during the crop cycles and possible differences in the decomposition rates due to N applications in plant-cane (PAR) and ratoons (PPC), respectively. In the four consecutive cycles were evaluated: i) Agroindustrial yields (TCH, Mg cane ha-1 stalks and TPH, Mg ha-1 of sugar) and raw material quality (pol% cane and fiber%) in plantcane and ratoon treatments; ii) Recovery of urea-15N, PAR-15N, 15N- RAR and 15NPPC by crop above ground parts (stalks, dry leaves and tips) and carbon (C) and N balances in the soil-plant system and iii) decomposition of PAR and PPC as reduction of dry matter (DM), C, nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S) and structural carbohydrates (lignin cellulose and hemicellulose). The agroindustrial yields (TCH and TPH) were influenced by N rates at planting and subsequent ratoons. It hás been found linear response in crop yield due to N rates at planting and in the average of four crop cycles. However, no responses were detected in the interaction between 12 N doses in plant or ratoon cane. The highest accumulated yield (TCH) in four consecutive cycles was obtained in treatment 120-100 kg ha-1 N in plant-cane and ratoons, but treatment 120-50 kg ha-1 N has been found as the more economically viable. The recovery of N-urea applied in plant-cane was higher in the first cycle (24, 7 kg ha-1 or 31% of the applied dose) and decreased over subsequent crop cycles (5%, 4% and 3% respectively). The N balance after four cycles (2006-2009) showed 43% (34.4 kg ha-1) of total N-urea recovery by the crop above ground parts, 0.2% was found in the rhizomes, 20% in soil and 37% were counted as losses. Cane trash N-PAR and N-RAR recoveries in the above ground parts were 28% and 23% of the initial amount of N applied as crop residues (14.2 and 7.4 kg ha-1, respectively). On average, 0.2% of N-plant residues remained in the rhizomes, 52% in the soil and 22% were accounted as losses. The total recovery of N-PAR N-and RAR was 24.4 kg, or 39% of the total N of these residues, indicating that they are long term N sources for the sugarcane crop. There had been found a close correlation between the cumulative recovery of N-urea and N-residues with the accumulated evapotranspiration of the four crop cycles. The N-PPC recovery by sugarcane above ground parts almost doubled after three cycles due to N application in ratoons, 17% vs. 31% (6.9 and 12.6 kg ha-1 N, respectively). In other compartments, 0.3% and 0.4% of N-PPC remained in the rhizomes, 69% and 61%) in the soil and 13.4% and 7.6%) resulted in losses. There was detected no major changes in soil C and N stocks C due to the addition of N-urea and N-residues. The decomposition of PAR and PPC was influenced by N fertilizations in plant-cane and ratoons cane and by biological action over the cropping cycles. The major effects detected as trash decomposed over the agricultural cycles were the reduction in residues C:N ratio, sugarcane root growth under the trash blanket, and losses of DM, C, N, macronutrients and structural carbohydrates. The DM degradation of PAR and PPC was 96% and 73% after four and three years respectively. The nutrients that showed higher release rates were K 98% to 92%, Mg 97% to 70% Ca and 95% to 55% of the initial amount of nutrients (kg ha-1) sourced by PAR and PPC residues, respectively. After four agricultural cycles, the levels (g kg-1) of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose from PAR decreased 60%, 29% and 70%, and for PPC the reduction was 47%, 35% and 70% in three cycles. The degradation of structural carbohydrates was influenced by climatic conditions that occurred during the agricultural cycles and the initial biochemical composition those residues (total carbohydrates and nutrients content). There was no difference in DM degradation of PPC due to N application in ratoons, however there were differences in C degradation, in the release of Ca, concentration of roots and in the decomposition of lignin when N- fertilizer has been applied over the trash blanket

O sistema de cultivo mínimo é caracterizado por um conjunto de operações mínimas de preparo de solo em que a maior parte dos resíduos florestais é mantida sobre o solo, a fim de garantir as demandas de produção e a sustentabilidade produtiva do sistema. Diante disto, os objetivos deste estudo foram: i) Avaliar a influência da remoção total ou parcial dos resíduos florestais e da fertilização mineral na fertilidade do solo e na produtividade de madeira; ii) Quantificar a biomassa e o estoque de nutrientes na parte aérea, em uma rotação de cultivo, sob manejo de resíduos florestais e omissões de nutrientes na fertilização mineral; iii) Quantificar a influência do manejo de resíduos florestais e da fertilização mineral na deposição, acúmulo, decomposição e qualidade nutricional da serapilheira; iv) Quantificar a exportação de nutrientes via colheita de madeira e outros componentes florestais; v) Avaliar o potencial de produtividade de madeira, com base no balanço nutricional, sob diferentes cenários de manejo florestal. Foi instalado um experimento com diferentes manejos de resíduos florestais e fertilização. Os tratamentos foram divididos em dois grupos em que o primeiro consistiu em remoção total ou parcial dos resíduos florestais: copa (folhas e galhos), casca e serapilheira. O segundo grupo de tratamentos consistiu na omissão de nutrientes na fertilização mineral: N, P, K ou calagem. Durante a rotação de oito anos foram monitoradas a fertilidade do solo, ciclagem biogeoquímica de nutrientes, crescimento e estado nutricional das árvores. Os diferentes manejos dos resíduos florestais e fertilização mineral apresentaram pouca influência na fertilidade do solo, pois, os níveis de nutrientes no solo estavam adequados, devido à aplicação de fertilizantes minerais no momento da instalação do experimento. A remoção total ou parcial dos resíduos florestais não influenciou a produtividade de madeira. Contudo, no tratamento em que o K foi omitido na fertilização, houve redução de 50% na produtividade de madeira. A omissão de P na fertilização não afetou a produtividade de madeira na rotação de cultivo avaliada, porém este foi o nutriente mais limitante quanto ao número potencial de futuras rotações. A remoção total ou parcial dos resíduos florestais não influenciou na ciclagem biogeoquímica de nutrientes, porém omissão de K via fertilização reduziu em 60% a deposição anual deste nutriente o que afetou sua a ciclagem biogeoquímica. Os resultados deste estudo mostram que embora os resíduos florestais exerçam funções fundamentais na qualidade química do solo e na nutrição mineral das árvores, a inadequada fertilização do solo pode diminuir expressivamente o potencial produtivo do sítio florestal.<br>The minimal tillage system is characterized by practices of reduced soil management which retains most part of forest residues in the production site, aiming to supply the forest demand and the sustainability of the production system. The aims of this study are: i) Access the effect on soil fertility and site production of total and partial removal of harvest residues and mineral fertilization. ii) Quantify the biomass and nutrient rates in trees along one eucalypt rotation, under different residues management and mineral fertilization. iii) Quantify the effects of residues management and mineral fertilization on deposition, accumulation, decomposition and nutritional qualities of litter. iv) Quantify the nutrient exportation due to the harvest, considering steam and other parts. v) Access productivity potential according to the nutritional balance under different forest management cases. For this study an experimental site with different residues management and mineral fertilization was established. The treatments were separated in two groups. The first one included the treatments with total or partial removal of forest residues: canopy (leaves and stems), bark and litter. The second group of treatment included the omission of nutrients in mineral fertilizer: N, P, K or lime. During eight years rotation were monitored soil fertility, biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, growth and tree nutritional status. The different residues management and mineral fertilizations has showed minor effects on soil fertility once the nutrient rates on soil were suitable due to the mineral fertilization applied for site preparation. However, when the fertilization was carried out without K, reduction of 50% in growth was observed. The omission of P in fertilization did not affect the wood productivity during the forest rotation, but P was the most limiting nutrient for the potential number of future rotations. The biochemical nutrient cycling was not affected by total or partial removal of forestry residues. Annual deposition of K was 60% reduced when the nutrient was not applied by fertilization, which affected the nutrient cycling. The results of this study demonstrated that despite the benefits of forest residues retention on chemical proprieties of soils, the inadequate fertilization reduces expressively the productive potential of the site.

O manejo dos resíduos florestais (serapilheira e sobras da colheita) já foi amplamente discutido na década de 90, época em que técnicas de preparo de solo baseadas no cultivo mínimo foram adotadas na formação de povoamentos florestais no Brasil. Atualmente esse tema volta a ser discutido, isso porque pressões quanto à utilização dos resíduos florestais como fonte de energia tem surgido. Devido a esse fato, compreender os efeitos da remoção dos resíduos florestais e da fertilização em sucessivas rotações se torna necessário, isso para que manejos inadequados não comprometam a sustentabilidade da produção florestal. O objetivo geral com essa tese foi compreender os impactos da remoção dos resíduos florestais e da não fertilização, por sucessivas rotações, na qualidade do solo, crescimento, ciclagem de nutrientes e consequentemente na sustentabilidade da produção de florestas de eucalipto. Este estudo foi conduzido na Estação Experimental de Ciências Florestais de Itatinga - SP, ESALQ - USP. O experimento foi instalado em 2004, com diferentes intensidades de remoção dos resíduos florestais e omissão de N, P, K, Ca e Mg. Na primeira rotação de cultivo, o experimento foi conduzido por oito anos. Em 2012, o experimento foi reinstalado, reaplicando todos os tratamentos. Os resultados foram divididos em cinco capítulos. Com o primeiro objetivou-se avaliar o efeito dos tratamentos no crescimento e na relação entre resposta à fertilização e variáveis climáticas. Observou-se que a remoção dos resíduos florestais reduziu em 5% o volume final de madeira (8 anos de idade) da primeira rotação, entretanto essa diferença não foi significativa. Aos 4 anos da segunda rotação, a remoção dos resíduos florestais resultou em redução de 14 % no volume de madeira com casca (p=0,001). Esta redução no volume de madeira com a remoção dos resíduos por duas rotações consecutivas, mesmo com alto invertimento em fertilização, mostra que outros efeitos além da disponibilidade de nutrientes estão impactando a produtividade. Desta forma, procurou-se entender quais seriam esses efeitos. Observou-se (segundo capítulo) que a remoção dos resíduos florestais reduziu em 25 % o teor de C da camada superficial do solo, com isso, reduziu a atividade microbiológica e aumentou a disponibilidade de Al. Além disso, com a remoção dos resíduos florestais observou-se redução nos estoques de C, N, P e S do solo (terceiro capítulo). Com o fracionamento do P do solo (quarto capítulo), observou-se que a remoção dos resíduos florestais resultou na redução de 34 para 30 % a contribuição das frações lábeis e moderadamente lábeis no P total e redução de 40 % (p = 0,014) da fração lábil. No último capítulo avaliou-se o efeito da fertilização na produtividade primária líquida (PPL) e na ciclagem de nutrientes. A não fertilização com P reduziu em 10 % a PPL, entretanto não afetou sua partição. A não fertilização com K reduziu em 63% a PPL e reduziu a partição desta alocada no lenho. A não fertilização com K também aumentou a produção de serapilheira e reduziu a taxa de retranslocação de todos os demais nutrientes. A não fertilização com N e P aumentou a taxa de retranslocação desses nutrientes e reduziu a taxa de decomposição da serapilheira. Estes resultados indicam que a remoção total dos resíduos florestais e/ou a não fertilização comprometem a sustentabilidade da produção florestal, sendo este efeito observado na primeira, ou no máximo na segunda rotação.<br>The forest residue management was highly studied in 90\'s yeas, when the minimal tillage was consolidated as the main technique to forest plantation in Brazil. Currently this issue has been discussed again. This because pressure to use of these forest residues as energy source has emerged. Due this fact is necessary a better comprehension of the effect of the forest residue removal and fertilizer application on the wood production sustainability. The main goal with this thesis was to understand the impact of the forest residue removal and the absence of fertilizer application, over two crop rotation, on the soil quality, tree growth, nutrient cycling and consequently on the wood production sustainability. The study was carried out at the Itatinga Forest Science Experimental Station of the ESALQ-USP. The experimental site was settled in 2004, with different timber harvest residues intensity and absence of fertilizer application with N, P, K, Ca and Mg. This plantation was conducted over 8 years (R1), and then, in 2012, it was reestablished (R2), reapplying all the treatments on the same plots. The results of this experiment were splitted out in 5 chapters. With the first one, our goal was to assess the effect of the treatments on the tree growth and to understand the effect of weather condition on the treatment\'s response. The forest residual removal reduced in 5 % the wood volume at 8 years of the R1. At 4 years old of the R2, the forest residue removal decreased 14 % the wood volume (p=0,001). This reduction in the wood volume even with fertilizer application indicated that another effect beyond the nutrient availability can impact the wood productivity. This way these effects were studied and had been showed in the follow chapters. In the chapter 2 we found that the forest residue removal reduced 25 % the soil organic carbon (SOC) in the top layer, this way reducing the microbial activity and increasing the Al availability. Beyond that, the forest residue removal reduced the soil C, N, P and S stocks over 1 m deep (Chapter 3). With the P fractionation (Chapter 4) a reduction of 40% in the labile P fraction was discovered. In the last chapter we assessed the effect of the fertilizer application on the net primary production (NPP) and on the nutrient cycling. The absence of P fertilizer reduced in 10 % the NPP, however did not affect in this partition. The absence of K fertilizer reduced in 63 % the NPP and reduced the allocation in the wood. The absence of K fertilizer also improved the litterfall production and reduced the nutrient retranslocation rate. The absence of N and P fertilizer application improved the retranslocation rate of these nutrients and reduced the litter layer decomposition rate.

Sustainable intensification of Africa smallholder farming systems is urgently needed to address issues of food insecurity and environmental sustainability. Substantial investment has been provided to catalyse this process, particularly through the promotion of Conservation Agriculture (CA) based farming systems. Over more than five decades of research activities on the African continent such systems have shown strong potential to address constraints with current production systems, yet there has been only limited uptake by smallholder farmers across eastern and southern Africa. While there is a substantial body of literature that explores CA uptake, much of it is focused on technical benefits accrued to farmers during implementation. This research takes an alternative approach focused on understanding the broader status of CA uptake (i.e. the ‘what’ of CA), the determinants for such a status (i.e. the ‘why’ of CA) and the pathways forward for increasing uptake (i.e. the ‘how’ of CA). The need for such research into improving farming systems in Africa is a part of the growing discourse questioning the effectiveness of current investigations on CA uptake and the intensification of African smallholder agriculture more generally. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods are applied to four novel frameworks, with the underlying intention to reach beyond econometric analyses and binary classifications of adoption to create deeper understanding of the uptake of CA and the process of sustainable intensification. In doing this, a broader analytical lens is applied based on the gradual and incremental process of utilisation towards total adoption, as opposed to a focus on total adoption as an outcome. In doing so, this research applies robust frameworks to understand the nuanced uptake of CA and participatory exploration of the reasons for this uptake through local perspectives. The thesis body is composed of ten manuscripts that first quantitatively explore the status of CA and minimum tillage utilisation to understand the ‘what’ of CA utilisation. This is followed by exploration of the perspectives of various farmer typologies (negatively evaluating; positively evaluating; currently evaluating; and those yet to evaluate due to a lack of information) and non-farm stakeholders (extension services; community leaders; and local research services) to understand the ‘why’ of CA utilisation. Finally, the ‘how’ of CA utilisation is explored through a review of global uptake of CA and comparison of the preconditions required to the current smallholder situation in Africa. Through this research, two strong themes emerge for further analysis: 1] the functionality of current informational exchange mechanisms; and 2] a lack of feasibility and relevance of CA leading to constrained intensity of utilisation. These themes exist due to institutionalised issues with the mechanisms used to promote CA to farmers. To enable greater utilisation, it is argued that increased flexibility is required regarding how CA is defined and promoted to farmers, particularly noting trends in CA uptake globally. Such conclusions and the research contained within this thesis are hence relevant to the extension, research and policy communities within Africa and the development community more broadly.<br>Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, 2018

Quantitative and qualitative Soil Organic Matter (SOM) properties were observed in the soil samples of a medium-term field experiment (Cambisol ? Studena, Czech Republic) and an exact field experi?ment (Chernozem ? Gross Enzersdorf, Austria) in the year 2005 considering different soil tillage systems (conventional and minimum tillage). Except the standard parameters, soil organic matter content and quality in particulate water stable aggregates size fractions was additional determinated for Cambisol. Cambisol showed more favourable values of both quantitative and qualitative SOM parameters in minimum tillage system compared to those in conventional tillage system. SOM quality in the water stable aggregates fractions was better in minimum tillage compared to conventional tillage. Cambisol also showed that SOM in aggregates fractions is much more quality compared to SOM in the original soil samples. Chernozem showed higher values of both quantitative and qualitative SOM parameters in conventional tillage compared to those in minimum tillage but the differences are not high. It can be said that Chernozem organic matter reaction to tillage technology changes is slower and of minor rate in comparison with that of Cambisol organic matter. The results of quantitative and qualitative parameters do not conform to the generally recognised values for the Chernozem soil type.

Agriculture is one of the main sources of phosphorous and nitrogen (P and N) contributing to cultural eutrophication of freshwater lakes and estuaries. In cold regions, the effects of agricultural management practices used to mitigate the runoff loss of these nutrients remain uncertain. In particular, the use of forage crops and minimum tillage, have not reduced some forms of P and N in runoff to streams, in part, as a result of freeze-thaw induced losses of mobile P and N from forages and crop residues. The purpose of this research is to improve the current understanding of the controls on P and N loss from Canadian Prairie fields to ultimately aid in the development and evaluation of beneficial agricultural management practices that perform predictably in cold regions. This study aims to provide new insights into the effects of cold regions hydrological processes on runoff quality through the development and application of a novel inductive - deductive modelling approach. Runoff flowpaths resulting from the three infiltration regimes identified for frozen soils (Granger et al., 1984) are hypothesized to impact the chemistry of field scale meltwater runoff by varying meltwater interaction with agricultural soils and vegetation. Hydrochemistry data from six intensively monitored minimum tillage and forage cropped fields in South Tobacco Creek, Manitoba were used to develop a nutrient model to integrate with a physics-based hydrological modelling platform that can represent the frozen soil infiltration regimes, in addition to other important cold region hydrological processes. The inductive development of a nutrient model, integrated with a deductive physics-based hydrological platform, enabled the modelling of meltwater flowpaths and freeze-thaw induced losses from vegetation. Further testing of the developed model and field experimentation are required to test the hypothesis that runoff generated over a basal ice layer eliminates the transfer of soil nutrients to runoff. Comparison of predicted and observed field scale runoff concentrations and masses suggest that this method of inductive-deductive model development has potential to predict the performance of agricultural management practices in cold regions.

This diplom thesis deals with the evaluation of quality machines work for soil cultivation used in minimalization soil cultivation technology and weed control in cereal crops. The machines were evaluated for incorporation of harvest residues, uniformity of depth and size of lumps. It was further performed an economic evaluation of selected cost per operation soil cultivation. In order to monitor the development of weeds was based small-plot experiment, where was monitored representation of individual weed species and the effectiveness of selected herbicide.

The aim of this thesis is to broaden knowledge about the possibilities of using modern stubble plough with minimum tillage in agricultural production. In order to evaluate the work of selected indicators stubble machines was based small ? plot experiments at selected station. The experiment was evaluated lumps, depth of tillage and crop residue incorporation of selected machines. Further economic evaluaiton was carried out operating costs of used machines. The use of machines were evaluated according to the results obtained reccomended in agricultural practice.