Características físico-hídricas de substratos formulados com lodo de esgoto na produção de mudas de acácia-negra

This work evaluated the effect of water retention of plant substrates formulated with different proportions of solarized sewage sludge (SS) in the production of black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) seedlings. The study was conducted in a greenhouse and in the Laboratory of Soil Physics at the Lowland Experimental Station of Embrapa Clima Temperado. The SS was collected in drying beds at an aerobic sewage water treatment plant from Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul state. The treatments consisted of five doses of SS-solarized combined with rice husk ash and vermiculite in different proportions (20:40:40, 30:35:35, 40:30:30, 50:25:25 and 60:20:20) and two commercial substrates (controls) (Beifort® S10 B and Mec Plant®).The experimental design was randomized blocks.The following physico-hydric atributes were determined easily available water, buffer water, remaining water and water retention capacity. The following variables were evaluated: dry mass of aerial parts and the dry mass of roots. The substrate with 20% of SS-solarized, 40% of vermiculite and 40% of rice husk ash presented the best physico-hydric condition for the development of black wattle seedlings.Avaliou-se o efeito da retenção de água de substratos para plantas formulados a partir de diferentes proporções de lodo de esgoto (LETE) solarizado, na produção de mudas de acácia-negra (Acacia mearnsii). O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação e no Laboratório de Física do Solo da Embrapa Clima Temperado. O LETE utilizado foi coletado em leitos de secagem de uma Estação de Tratamento de Esgoto aeróbio de Rio Grande - RS. Os tratamentos consistiram de cinco doses de LETE solarizado, combinadas com cinza de casca de arroz e vermiculita em diferentes proporções (20:40:40, 30:35:35, 40:30:30, 50:25:25 e 60:20:20) e dois substratos comerciais (Beifort® S10 B e Mec Plant®). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados. Foram avaliadas as características físico-hídricas: água facilmente disponível, água tamponante, água remanescente e capacidade de retenção de água. As variáveis de crescimento avaliadas foram: massa fresca da parte aérea e do sistema radicular. O substrato com 20% de LETE solarizado, 40% vermiculita e 40% cinza de casca de arroz apresentou a melhor condição físico-hídrica para o desenvolvimento de mudas de acácia-negra

Condições físico-hídricas de Planossolo cultivado com soja em plantio direto e preparo convencional

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) on the physical and hydric properties of an Albaqualf soil cultivated with soybean, in the lowlands of Southern Brazil. Undisturbed soil samples were collected at the 0.00–0.10, 0.10–0.20, and 0.20–0.40-m soil layers, in order to determine soil physicohydric properties, by monitoring the soil matric potential with sensors, over a cycle of soybean production. Macroporosity values were lower than 0.10 m3 m-3, irrespectively of the soil management system, which restricts the possibility of rainfed soybean cultivation because it affects gas diffusion. In comparison to CT, NT increases microporosity at the 0.00–0.10-m soil layer, which increases soil water content and soil water availability for soybean crop, with positive effects on crop yield.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do sistema plantio direto (PD) e do manejo com preparo convencional (PC) sobre atributos físicos e hídricos de um Planossolo Háplico cultivado com soja, em terras baixas do Sul do Brasil. Amostras indeformadas de solo foram coletadas às camadas de 0,00–0,10, 0,10–0,20 e 0,20–0,40 m, para a determinação dos atributos físico-hídricos, tendo-se monitorado o potencial mátrico do solo com sensores, ao longo de um ciclo de produção da soja. Os valores de macroporosidade foram menores do que 0,10 m3 m-3, independentemente do sistema de manejo do solo, o que restringe a possibilidade de cultivo da soja em sequeiro, pelo comprometimento da difusão de gases. Comparado ao PC, o PD promove a microporosidade na camada de 0,00–0,10 m, o que aumenta o conteúdo de água armazenada no solo e a disponibilidade hídrica para a cultura da soja, com reflexos positivos sobre a produtividade da cultura

Soil physical, hydric and chemical attributes in strawberry production systems in Turuçu-RS.

Plowing during soil preparation and the use of fertigation and plastic mulching affects the management of strawberry production systems, resulting in temporal variations of soil physical, hydric and chemical attributes throughout the strawberry production cycle. This work had the objective of assessing and understanding the temporal variations of physical, hydric and chemical attributes during the strawberry production cycle in Turuçu, RS, Brazil, and to identify soil quality indicators of these soils by factor analysis. Soil samples with undisturbed and disturbed structure were collected in the 0,00-0,20m top layer of 15 strawberry production areas at four different times to determine the following variables: aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD), aggregate size distribution, total porosity (TotPOR), macroporosity (MacPOR), microporosity (MatPOR), soil water retention curve, S parameter, available water capacity (CAD), available water capacity considering soil salinity (CADs) particle density (Dp), bulk density (BulkDENS), particle size distribution, organic carbon (CO), total Nitrogen (N), cation exchangeable capacity (CECefective), base saturation (V) and basal respiration (RB). Soil saturation extract was obtained, from which it was determined: pH, electric conductivity (ECs), potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sodium adsorption rate (SAR) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). Moreover, a factor analysis of 12 soil attributes from strawberry production systems was conducted to reduce the total information in few factors. Physical, hydric and chemical attributes of the soil from strawberry production seedbeds were subjected to temporal variations. Soil preparation that was executed for seedbed s construction affected the solid-pores relations, and soil became structurally unstable. With time, soil structure and pore sizes were subjected to significant modifications in the way that the available water capacity was increased, allowing a reduction on the frequency of irrigation events. Concentration of nutrients in the soil saturation extract was diminished during the productive cycle, but it was not enough to forbid soil salinization. Factor analysis resulted in the synthesis of 12 attributes to only three factors: soil aggregation, soil capacity to store water and air in the pores, and soil chemical fertility. Seven attributes (CO, N, MWD, MacPOR, CAD, V, and pH) that compose the three yielded factors were selected as soil quality indicators in strawberry production areas in the region of Turuçu, RS, Brazil. In general, it can be affirmed that the soils involved on strawberry production in Turuçu, RS, Brazil had improved their physical, chemical and hydric conditions at the end of production cycle.O revolvimento durante o preparo do solo e o uso da fertirrigação e de cobertura plástica afetam o manejo de sistemas de produção de morango, resultando em variações temporais dos atributos físicos, hídricos e químicos do solo ao longo do ciclo produtivo. Este trabalho teve o objetivo de determinar e compreender as alterações dos atributos físicos, hídricos e químicos de solos ao longo de um ciclo produtivo de morango em Turuçu, RS, bem como identificar os principais indicadores de qualidade desses solos utilizando a análise fatorial. Amostras de solo com estrutura preservada e não preservada foram coletadas na camada de 0,00-0,20m, em 15 áreas de produção de morango, em quatro diferentes tempos, destinadas à determinação das variáveis: diâmetro médio ponderado de agregados (DMP) e distribuição de agregados em classes de tamanho, porosidade total (TotPOR), macroporosidade (MacPOR) e microporosidade (MatPOR), curva de retenção de água no solo, parâmetro S , capacidade de água disponível (CAD), capacidade de água disponível considerando a salinidade do solo (CADs), densidade de partículas (Dp), densidade do solo (BulkDENS), granulometria, carbono orgânico (CO), Nitrogênio total (N), capacidade de troca de cátions (CTCefetiva), saturação por bases (V) e Respiração Basal (RB). Obteve-se o extrato de saturação do solo, do qual foram determinados: pH, condutividade elétrica (CEs), K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, razão de adsorção de sódio (RAS) e porcentagem de sódio trocável (PST). Realizou-se ainda a análise fatorial de 12 atributos dos solos utilizados na produção de morango em Turuçu para sintetizar a informação total em poucos fatores. Os atributos físicos, hídricos e químicos dos solos dos canteiros de produção de morango foram sujeitos a variações temporais significativas. O revolvimento do solo executado na construção de canteiros afetou as relações sólidos-poros, tornando o solo estruturalmente instável. Com o tempo, a estrutura do solo e tamanho dos poros sofreram modificações importantes, aumentando a CAD de modo a ser possível a redução da frequência dos eventos de irrigação. A concentração de nutrientes no extrato de saturação decaiu ao longo do ciclo produtivo, mas não o suficiente para impedir a ocorrência de salinização do solo. A análise fatorial possibilitou a síntese de 12 atributos em apenas três fatores: a agregação do solo, a capacidade do solo em armazenar água e ar nos poros, e a fertilidade química do solo. Sete atributos (CO, N, DMP, MacPOR, CAD, V, e pH) que compõem os três fatores obtidos foram selecionados como indicadores da qualidade do solo em áreas de produção de morango em Turuçu, RS, Brasil. De forma geral, pode-se afirmar que os solos utilizados na produção de morango em Turuçu, RS tiveram suas condições físicas, hídricas e químicas melhoradas ao final do ciclo produtivo

Long-term evaluation of the bulk density of an Albaqualf submitted to different cultivation systems with Computerized Tomography.

The agricultural sustainability of the rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation in lowland soils is based on the use of different cultivation systems and cultures, needed for a more efficient red and black rice control. The effects of these systems on the soil attributes, mainly in the long run, deserve deeper studies, particularly compaction. The present work had the objective of evaluating the bulk density of an Albaqualf submitted to different cultivation systems, in 19 years of a long-term experiment, through the use of the Volumetric Ring and the Computerized Tomography Methods, and compared the results obtained with that obtained from Pedrotti (1996) at 10 years of the experiment conduction. The experiment has been conducted since 1985, in the Lowland Experimental Field of the Embrapa Clima Temperado, in a random box plot with 8 treatments and 4 replications. It was concluded that the Computerized Tomography Method allowed the identification of a soil surface sealing (0,005 a 0,02m), mainly in the T1 (one year rice with conventional tillage followed by two years of fallow), T4 (rice x soybeans (Glicine Max L.) rotation under conventional tillage), T5 (soybeans x corn (Zea maiz L.) x rice rotation under conventional tillage), and T7 (soybeans under conventional tillage x rice under no-tillage rotation), and other in the 0,08 to 0,14m layer (plow pan), in the T1, T2 (continuous rice under conventional tillage), T4 and T5 treatments, in comparison to the control treatment (T8), that was not detected by the Volumetric Ring Method. In the 0,04 to 0,08m layer, in the other hand, all treatments presented bulk density values significantly lower or similar to the control treatment, with the opposite situation in the 0,12 to 0,18m layer, except to the T6 treatment (rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum L.) and rice under no-tillage succession). The T5 treatment showed higher bulk density values along the entire studied layer (0- 0,20m), while the T6 treatment showed values closer to the control treatment. The bulk density values obtained after 19 years of the experiment conduction where systematically lower than those obtained by Pedrotti (1996) at 10 years of conduction in the same experiment.A sustentabilidade dos solos de várzea cultivados com arroz (Oryza sativa L.) irrigado está alicerçada na utilização de diferentes sistemas de cultivo e de culturas, fundamentais para um adequado controle do arroz vermelho e preto. Os reflexos desses sistemas nos atributos do solo, principalmente ao longo do tempo merecem maiores estudos, especialmente relacionados à compactação do solo. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a densidade de um Planossolo Háplico Eutrófico solódico submetido a diferentes sistemas de cultivo, obtida aos 19 anos de condução do experimento, através dos Métodos do Anel Volumétrico e da Tomografia Computadorizada, e comparar com os dados obtidos por Pedrotti (1996) aos 10 anos de condução. O experimento vem sendo conduzido desde 1985, na Estação Experimental Terras Baixas da Embrapa Clima Temperado, num experimento de blocos ao acaso com 8 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Concluiu-se que o Método da Tomografia Computadorizada permitiu identificar a presença de uma camada superficial compactada (0,005 a 0,02m) nos tratamentos T1 (um ano com arroz em preparo convencional do solo seguido de dois anos de pousio), T4 (rotação de arroz x soja (Glicine Max L.) com preparo convencional do solo), T5 (rotação de arroz x soja x milho (Zea maiz L.) em preparo convencional do solo) e T7 (rotação de arroz sob plantio direto x soja sob preparo convencional do solo), e outra na camada de 0,08 a 0,14m, nos tratamentos T1, T2 (cultivo contínuo de arroz com preparo convencional do solo), T4 e T5, em relação à testemunha, o que não pôde ser detectado pelo Método do Anel Volumétrico. Na camada de 0,04 a 0,08m, por outro lado, todos os tratamentos apresentaram valores de densidade significativamente menores ou iguais em relação à testemunha, invertendo-se a situação na camada de 0,12 a 0,18m, com exceção do T6 (sucessão de azevém (Lolium multiflorum L.) x arroz sob plantio direto). O T5 apresentou os maiores valores de densidade ao longo de praticamente todo o perfil estudado (0-0,20m), enquanto que o T6 apresentou os valores mais próximos aos da testemunha. Os valores de densidade obtidos aos 19 anos de condução do experimento foram sistematicamente inferiores aos obtidos por Pedrotti (1996) aos 10 anos de condução neste mesmo experimento

Agronomic performance and optimal ranges of attributes of substrates with biochar from anaerobic sewage sludge for black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) seedlings

Purpose The objective was to evaluate the agronomic performance of black wattle seedlings (Acacia mearnsii) grown on substrates with increasing proportions of biochar based on anaerobic sewage sludge (ASS-biochar). In addition, the present study proposed appropriate ranges for the main physical-hydraulic and chemical attributes of these substrates. Method The evaluated substrates included ten substrates with increasing proportions of ASS-biochar, combined with a “standard” mixture (organic compost, carbonized rice husk and vermiculite), in addition to three commercial substrates (references). The experimental design was randomized blocks, with four replications and eight plants per repetition. The physical-hydraulic and chemical attributes evaluated in all substrate formulations were: wet and dry density, total porosity, aeration space, easily available water, buffering water, available water, remaining water, pH and electrical conductivity (EC). The agronomic performance of the black wattle seedlings was evaluated through plant height, length of the root system, neck diameter, dry mass of aerial parts, dry mass of roots and Dickson's quality index. Results Biochar from anaerobic sewage sludge increased the chemical and physical-hydraulic quality of the substrates, particularly within the proportion of 45-50% of the substrate formulations, and thus positively affected the growth parameters of the black wattle plants.  Conclusion The biochar produced from anaerobic sewage sludge is an efficient raw material to compose substrates for the production of seedlings. Transformation of anaerobic sewage sludge into biochar and its combination with other locally available raw materials can be considered a safe way of reusing this residue in agriculture

Developing a Soil Physical Quality Index (SPQi) for lowlands under different deployment times of no-tillage

Soil physical quality in lowlands from the Pampa biome under no-tillage (NT) plays an important role; therefore, this study aimed to establish a soil physical quality index (SPQi) from a minimum data set to detect the effects of different deployment times of NT in an Albaqualf. The comparison of areas with one (NT1), three (NT3), five (NT5) and seven (NT7) years of notillage was established using as reference a non-cultivated field plot (NC) for at least thirty years, nearby the sites under NT. Soil samples with undisturbed and disturbed structure were collected to determine the physical quality indicators and soil organic matter (SOM) fractions. The factor analysis (FA) was used to identify and select a minimum data set. The SPQi was elaborated by using the deviations of the measured indicators at different deployment times of NT in relation to NC. The SPQi showed sensibility to identify and explain soil physical quality changes with different deployment times of NT. In well-drained lands, higher deployment times of no-tillage promote the physical quality of lowlands

Developing a Soil Physical Quality Index (SPQi) for lowlands under different deployment times of no-tillage

ABSTRACT: Soil physical quality in lowlands from the Pampa biome under no-tillage (NT) plays an important role; therefore, this study aimed to establish a soil physical quality index (SPQi) from a minimum data set to detect the effects of different deployment times of NT in an Albaqualf. The comparison of areas with one (NT1), three (NT3), five (NT5) and seven (NT7) years of notillage was established using as reference a non-cultivated field plot (NC) for at least thirty years, nearby the sites under NT. Soil samples with undisturbed and disturbed structure were collected to determine the physical quality indicators and soil organic matter (SOM) fractions. The factor analysis (FA) was used to identify and select a minimum data set. The SPQi was elaborated by using the deviations of the measured indicators at different deployment times of NT in relation to NC. The SPQi showed sensibility to identify and explain soil physical quality changes with different deployment times of NT. In well-drained lands, higher deployment times of no-tillage promote the physical quality of lowlands

Compressibility and water availability in Albaqualf soils under different deployment times in no-tillage

ABSTRACT: The southern Brazilian lowlands have been historically used for flooded rice cultivation. Over time, heavy machinery and intensive tillage practices have resulted in soil structure disruption, soil compaction, higher production costs and lower agricultural profitability. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different deployment times of no-tillage (NT). Soil properties including bulk density (BD), compression index (CI), preconsolidation pressure (σp), bulk density at preconsolidation pressure (BDσp), degree of compactness (DC), soil water retention curve (SWRC), plant available water (PAW) and total organic carbon (TOC) content were evaluated using a 30-yr non-cultivated field (NC), adjacent to the experimental plots as a control. The BD, σp, BDσp and DC decreased in response to NT adoption time while the soil water holding capacity increased, allowing for higher PAW. Results from this study demonstrated the positive effects of NT on the overall quality of soils