Soil loss and sediment yield in a perennial catchment in southwest Piauí, Brazil.

Soil and water are vital natural resources. However, due to their indiscriminate use, these resources are being seriously threatened. Therefore, it is essential to manage them in a sustainable way and leave them for future generations. Population and agricultural areas have expanded, deforesting native landscapes for cultivation and pastures. As a result, soil loss from agricultural areas is increasing the amount of sediment transport in water courses. The objective of this study was to quantify soil loss and sediment yield from the Corrente dos Matões sub-basin (CMSB). These measurements are essential to quantify the environmental impact of advancing agricultural frontiers. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was applied due to its wide use, compatibility with GIS, and data availability. The suspended sediment transport was calculated by collecting samples with DH-48 sampler. From the application of USLE, the average soil erosion contributed very little to sediment delivery in the watercourse, with a magnitude of only 0.37 t ha-1 year-1. The highest soil loss was associated with greater slope and was observed in areas with agriculture or under the absence of vegetation cover. The low transport of suspended sediments in CMSB is due to the existence of preserved sites. About 99% of the sub-basin had a low degree of erosion. The high degree of soil loss was attributed to the cliffs and the development of agricultural activities leaving the soil uncovered. This work will help identify the most susceptible areas to water erosion for optimizing the allocation of financial resources for the preservation of this natural resource.

Microbial responses to doses of cover plant straw in cerrado piauiense oxisol / Respostas microbianas a doses de palhada de plantas de cobertura em latossolo no cerrado piauiense

Carbon and nitrogen from the soil microbial biomass play a significant role in the rotation of C and N, and promote nutrient cycling. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the soil microbial biomass with growing doses of cover plant straw species. The cover plants cultivated in the cerrado biome region were incorporated an Oxisol Ustox. The straw of each cover plant was incorporated at doses of 0; 10; 20 and 30 Mg ha-1. The soil basal respiration was determined by incubating, after 21 days. The microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were determined by the method the microwave irradiation. The microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen contents in extracts were determined by the wet combustion method and Kjeldahl-N. The metabolic quotient was calculated as the ratio between soil basal respiration rate and microbial biomass C, and the microbial quotient as the ratio between soil microbial biomass C and total carbon of soil. The soil microbial population measured by the attributes of quality responds to the addition of the of grass and legume straws incorporated to the soil; The treatments that cause the greatest stress to the microbial population, at 21 days, mediated by the metabolic quotient, are guandu-anão at a dose of 10 Mg ha-1; Guandu-anão and Guandu fava-larga at 20 Mg ha-1 and Brachiária at a dose of 30 Mg ha-1; The best result regarding microbial attributes of soil quality evaluated was observed with the incorporation of all doses of the straw of Crotalaria-ocroleuca

O carbono e nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana do solo desempenham um papel significativo na rotação de C e N, promovendo o ciclo de nutrientes. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar mudanças na biomassa microbiana do solo com doses crescentes de palha de cobertura. As plantas de cobertura cultivadas no bioma cerrado foram incorporadas a um Latossolo Amarelo Eutrófico. A palha de cada planta de cobertura foi incorporada em doses de 0; 10; 20 e 30 Mg ha-1. A respiração basal do solo foi determinada por incubação, após 21 dias. O carbono e nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana foram determinados pelo método da irradiação de micro-ondas, os seus teores de carbono e nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana nos extratos foram determinados pelo método de combustão úmida e Kjeldahl-N. O quociente metabólico foi calculado como a razão entre a taxa de respiração basal do solo e a biomassa microbiana, e o quociente microbiano a razão entre a biomassa microbiana do solo e o carbono total do solo. A população microbiana do solo medida pelos atributos de qualidade responde à adição de palhas de gramíneas e leguminosas incorporadas ao solo; Os tratamentos que causam maior estresse à população microbiana, aos 21 dias, mediados pelo quociente metabólico, são o guandu-anão na dose de 10 Mg ha-1; Guandu-anão e Guandu fava-larga a 20 Mg ha-1 e Brachiária na dose de 30 Mg ha-1; O melhor resultado em relação aos atributos microbianos de qualidade do solo avaliados foi observado com a incorporação de palha de Crotalaria-ocroleuca

Variation and impact of drought-stress patterns across upland rice target population of environments in Brazil.

The upland rice (UR) cropped area in Brazil has decreased in the last decade. Importantly, a portion of this decrease can be attributed to the current UR breeding programme strategy, according to which direct grain yield selection is targeted primarily to the most favourable areas. New strategies for more-efficient crop breeding under non-optimal conditions are needed for Brazil's UR regions. Such strategies should include a classification of spatio-temporal yield variations in environmental groups, as well as a determination of prevalent drought types and their characteristics (duration, intensity, phenological timing, and physiological effects) within those environmental groups. This study used a process-based crop model to support the Brazilian UR breeding programme in their efforts to adopt a new strategy that accounts for the varying range of environments where UR is currently cultivated. Crop simulations based on a commonly grown cultivar (BRS Primavera) and statistical analyses of simulated yield suggested that the target population of environments can be divided into three groups of environments: a highly favorable environment (HFE, 19% of area), a favorable environment (FE, 44%), and least favourable environment (LFE, 37%). Stress-free conditions dominated the HFE group (69% likelihood) and reproductive stress dominated the LFE group (68% likelihood), whereas reproductive and terminal drought stress were found to be almost equally likely to occur in the FE group. For the best and worst environments, we propose specific adaptation focused on the representative stress, while for the FE, wide adaptation to drought is suggested. 'Weighted selection' is also a possible strategy for the FE and LFE environment groups.

Resíduo alcalino da indústria de celulose na correção da acidez de um Cambissolo Húmico alumínico / Alkaline residue of cellulose industry in the acidity correction of a Humic Aluminic Cambisol

A indústria de celulose gera resíduos alcalinos que devem ser caracterizados para avaliar sua viabilidade técnica para uso em solos agrícolas, como alternativa aos corretivos da acidez. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de resíduo alcalino em alguns atributos químicos e físicos de um Cambissolo Húmico alumínico e no desenvolvimento inicial das plantas de trigo. Os tratamentos foram doses de calcário (Cal) correspondentes a 0,5 e 1 SMP e de resíduo alcalino (Res) correspondentes a 0,25, 0,5 e 1 SMP para elevar o pH do solo a 6,0, num delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. O solo foi acondicionado em vasos com volume de 4 L e cultivado com trigo, em casa de vegetação. O uso do resíduo alcalino aumenta o pH, os teores e a saturação por sódio e reduz o grau de fl oculação da argila, porém não afeta a estabilidade dos agregados do solo. Os dois corretivos adicionam cátions básicos ao solo, porém o resíduo aumenta a relação Ca/Mg. O resíduo é uma alternativa para neutralizar a acidez de solos e melhorar as condições químicas do solo para o crescimento da cultura do trigo.(AU)

Cellulose industry generates alkaline residues which must be characterized in order to evaluate the technical viability of their use in agricultural soils as an alternative of soil acidity correction. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of the application of alkaline residue on some chemical and physical properties of a Humic Cambisol and on the initial growth phase of a wheat crop. The treatments consisted in doses of lime corresponding to 0.5 and 1 SMP and doses of residue corresponding to 0.25, 0.5 and 1 SMP in order to increase pH up to 6.0. The wheat was sown in 4 L pots fi lled with soil . The pots were arranged in a greenhouse according to a completely randomized experimental design with four replicates. The addition of Res increased soil pH, the sodium content and soil sodium saturation and reduced the clay fl occulation. However, the stability of soil aggregates was not affected. Both correctives increased the soils basic cations, although the residue increased the Ca/Mg ratio. This alkaline residue is an alternative to correct acid soils and improve the chemical conditions of soils to grow wheat.(AU)

Resíduo alcalino da indústria de celulose na correção da acidez de um Cambissolo Húmico alumínico / Alkaline residue of cellulose industry in the acidity correction of a Humic Aluminic Cambisol

A indústria de celulose gera resíduos alcalinos que devem ser caracterizados para avaliar sua viabilidade técnica para uso em solos agrícolas, como alternativa aos corretivos da acidez. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de resíduo alcalino em alguns atributos químicos e físicos de um Cambissolo Húmico alumínico e no desenvolvimento inicial das plantas de trigo. Os tratamentos foram doses de calcário (Cal) correspondentes a 0,5 e 1 SMP e de resíduo alcalino (Res) correspondentes a 0,25, 0,5 e 1 SMP para elevar o pH do solo a 6,0, num delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. O solo foi acondicionado em vasos com volume de 4 L e cultivado com trigo, em casa de vegetação. O uso do resíduo alcalino aumenta o pH, os teores e a saturação por sódio e reduz o grau de fl oculação da argila, porém não afeta a estabilidade dos agregados do solo. Os dois corretivos adicionam cátions básicos ao solo, porém o resíduo aumenta a relação Ca/Mg. O resíduo é uma alternativa para neutralizar a acidez de solos e melhorar as condições químicas do solo para o crescimento da cultura do trigo.

Cellulose industry generates alkaline residues which must be characterized in order to evaluate the technical viability of their use in agricultural soils as an alternative of soil acidity correction. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of the application of alkaline residue on some chemical and physical properties of a Humic Cambisol and on the initial growth phase of a wheat crop. The treatments consisted in doses of lime corresponding to 0.5 and 1 SMP and doses of residue corresponding to 0.25, 0.5 and 1 SMP in order to increase pH up to 6.0. The wheat was sown in 4 L pots fi lled with soil . The pots were arranged in a greenhouse according to a completely randomized experimental design with four replicates. The addition of Res increased soil pH, the sodium content and soil sodium saturation and reduced the clay fl occulation. However, the stability of soil aggregates was not affected. Both correctives increased the soil’s basic cations, although the residue increased the Ca/Mg ratio. This alkaline residue is an alternative to correct acid soils and improve the chemical conditions of soils to grow wheat.