Time-domain deconvolution procedure for elastoplastic materials: Application to the Treasure Island site during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

When dynamic soil-structure interaction (DSSI) analyses are performed, e.g. using the finite element (FE) method, the input signal is required at the base of the model. Nevertheless, acceleration records are usually available at the surface and, therefore, the desired motion must be deconvolved to the base. The latter is usually performed through the solution of one-dimensional propagation of shear waves in an elastic medium, in the frequency domain. Herein, nonlinear behavior is generally incorporated through the equivalent-linear method, by iteratively reducing the stiffness and increasing the critical damping ratio as a function of the maximum strains attained in each iteration. However, if complex material models are adopted to characterize the soil, the input motion derived with the equivalent linear method will not be compatible due to the simplified approach used to represent the nonlinear behavior. In this article, the use of a procedure to perform a time-domain deconvolution in non-linear elastoplastic materials is demonstrated. The goal is to generate input accelerograms at the base of a FE model to perform DSSI analyses. The procedure is based on the iterative modification of the motion at the base according to the relative differences between the propagated and target surface spectra. To illustrate the use of the methodology, it was applied to a FE model of the Treasure Island site (San Francisco, US), to derive the required motion at the base from a record of the Loma Prieta earthquake.•This article provides a useful guideline to optimize the use of the deconvolution procedure to derive input motions for dynamic FE analyses considering nonlinear elastoplastic materials.

Interactions between land use and soil type drive soil functions, highlighting water recharge potential, in the Cantareira System, Southeast of Brazil.

Most of the soil quality assessment protocols are focused on crop production and conservation management, while studies on vital soil functions, such as water recharge potential, should be incorporated into the monitoring of impacts on environmental quality. Our objective was to evaluate, through the Nexus approach, how dynamic (land use and management) and inherent (soil type) factors impact soil physical properties and processes that drive water recharge potential, biomass production, and water erosion in the Cantareira System, Brazil. The assessment considered three soils (Typic Hapludult, Typic Dystrudept, and Typic Usthortent) and four land uses (native forest, rotational grazing, extensive grazing, and eucalyptus), which constitute the main soils and land uses in the Cantareira System region. Representative soil samples were collected at 0-5 and 30-35 cm depth and analyzed for several soil physical quality indicators, which were used to calculate a Soil Physical Quality Index based on soil functions. Converting the native forest to eucalyptus and pasture reduced the overall soil physical quality and water recharge potential. The groundwater recharge potential function in the topsoil has the highest score of 0.72 for Typic Dystrudept in native forest contrasting with 0.16 for extensive pasture. Typic Dystrudept obtained the highest value of the SPQI value (0-5 cm: 0.85; 30-35 cm: 0.90) for native forests when compared to Typic Hapludult (0-5 cm: 0.76; 30-35 cm: 0.57) and Typic Usthortent (0-5 cm: 0.75; 30-35 cm: 0.72). Our findings sustain that land use effects on soil functions depends on soil type. Inclusion of soil type into the Nexus approach increases the understanding of natural resources and derived benefits of water, energy and food in the Cantareira System.

Modeling and quantification of soil compaction promoted by animal trampling in an integrated crop-livestock system / Modelagem e quantificação da compactação do solo promovida pelo pisoteio animal em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária

At critical levels, animal trampling can physically degrade soil, leading to the loss of sustainability of agricultural production. Therefore, it is becomes necessary to model and quantify the soil compaction potential. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the occurrence of soil compaction promoted by animal trampling in crop-livestock integration system (ICL). The study was conducted in a field at Centro Tecnológico da Comigo in the municipality of Rio Verde, Goias state, Brazil, during the agricultural off-season. The experimental area was composed of 1.97 ha, which was equally divided into eight paddocks. Soil was sampled before the grazing phase and after each of four grazing cycles. The compressive behavior of the soil was evaluated by determining the pre-consolidation and critical pressures. The results showed that only the first cycle of grazing showed additional compaction in 14.59% of samples. No critical compaction was observed in the evaluated area. Animal trampling under the studied conditions is not responsible for the dissemination of structural soil degradation in crop-livestock integration systems and may contribute to physical improvement resulting from biological soil loosening.(AU)

Em níveis críticos, o pisoteio animal podem degradar fisicamente o solo, levando à perda de sustentabilidade da produção agrícola. Portanto, torna-se necessário modelar e quantificar o potencial de compactação do solo. Neste contexto, objetivou-se avaliar a ocorrência da compactação do solo promovida pelo pisoteio animal em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (ILP). O estudo foi conduzido a campo no Centro Tecnológico da Comigo no município de Rio Verde, Goiás, Brasil durante o período da segunda safra da agricultura. A área experimental foi composta de 1,97 hectares, dividida igualmente em oito piquetes. O solo foi amostrado antes da fase de pastejo e após cada um dos quatro ciclos de pastejo. Foi avaliado o comportamento compressivo do solo, a partir da determinação da pressão de pré-consolidação e da pressão crítica. Os resultados mostraram que somente o primeiro ciclo de pastejo apresentou compactação adicional e em 4,59% das amostras. Não houve compactação crítica na área avaliada. O pisoteio animal nas condições estudadas não é responsável pela disseminação da degradação estrutural do solo em sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária, podendo contribuir eventualmente até com a melhoria física decorrente da descompactação biológica do solo.(AU)

Soil Pore Network Complexity Changes Induced by Wetting and Drying Cycles-A Study Using X-ray Microtomography and 3D Multifractal Analyses.

Soils are dynamic and complex systems in their natural state, which are subjected to profound changes due to management. Additionally, agricultural soils are continuously exposed to wetting and drying (W-D) cycles, which can cause modifications in the complexity of their pores. Thus, we explore how successive W-D cycles can affect the pore network of an Oxisol under contrasting managements (conventional tillage-CT, minimum tillage-MT, no tillage-NT, and secondary forest-F). The complexity of the soil pore architecture was evaluated using a 3D multifractal approach combined with lacunarity, Shannon's entropy, and pore geometric parameters. Our results showed that the multifractal approach effectively identified and quantified the changes produced in the soil pore architecture by the W-D cycles. The lacunarity curves revealed important aspects of the modifications generated by these cycles. Samples under F, NT, and MT suffered the most significant changes. Pore connectivity and tortuosity were largely affected by the cycles in F and NT. Our findings demonstrated that the 3D geometric parameters and normalized Shannon's entropy are complementary types of analysis. According to the adopted management, they allowed us to separate the soil into two groups according to their similarities (F and NT; CT and MT).

Microbiomes and glyphosate biodegradation in edaphic and aquatic environments: recent issues and trends.

Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) has emerged as the top-selling herbicide worldwide because of its versatility in controlling annual and perennial weeds and the extensive use of glyphosate-resistant crops. Concerns related to the widespread use of glyphosate and its ubiquitous presence in the environment has led to a large number of studies and reviews, which examined the toxicity and fate of glyphosate and its major metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in the environment. Because the biological breakdown of glyphosate is most likely the main elimination process, the biodegradation of glyphosate has also been the object of abundant experimental work. Importantly, glyphosate biodegradation in aquatic and soil ecosystems is affected not only by the composition and the activity of microbial communities, but also by the physical environment. However, the interplay between microbiomes and glyphosate biodegradation in edaphic and aquatic environments has rarely been considered before. The proposed minireview aims at filling this gap. We summarize the most recent work exploring glyphosate biodegradation in natural aquatic biofilms, the biological, chemical and physical factors and processes playing on the adsorption, transport and biodegradation of glyphosate at different levels of soil organization and under different agricultural managements, and its impact on soil microbial communities.

Physical soil attributes in areas under forest/pasture conversion in northern Rondônia, Brazil.

The main cause of physical degradation in pasture areas is overgrazing, and when combined with poorly productive soils, it causes the loss of millions of hectares of agricultural soils a year. Thus, work is needed to indicate which physical attributes are most sensitive to degradation, generating information so that soil management can be proposed, with a view to economic, social, and environmental aspects. Therefore, the objective of the work was to evaluate the impacts caused on the physical attributes of the soil, in forests converted to pastures in northern Rondônia, Brazil. The study was carried out in three areas within the municipality of Porto Velho, Rondônia, one area with forest and two with pastures (brachiaria and mombaça grass). In the field, deformed soil samples were collected at a depth of 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m in the three study areas. In the laboratory, physical analyses of texture, aggregates and porosity, compaction, and an additional analysis of soil organic carbon were carried out. Then, univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed, as well as geostatistical analysis. The conversion of forest to pasture had a negative impact on aggregates, compaction, porosity, and accumulation of organic carbon in the soil. The studied environments are influenced by the high levels of sand and clay, which interfere in the aggregation, compaction, porosity, and accumulation of organic carbon in the soil. We observed greater spatial variability of physical attributes in the environment with mombaça grass and attributed this to the greater grazing and trampling intensity of the animals.

Soil tillage affects soybean growth and promotes heavy metal accumulation in seeds.

When soybean is grown in soils with high heavy metal concentrations, it may introduce those contaminants into the human food chain, posing risks to human health. This study evaluated the effect of tilling the soil with high Cu, Zn, and Mn levels on soybean physiology and metal accumulation in seeds. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected in two different sites: a vineyard with high heavy metal concentration and a grassland area, containing natural vegetation. Two soybean cultivars were sown and grown in the greenhouse. Photosynthetic parameters and biochemical analysis of oxidative stress were performed. Cu, Zn, and Mn in leaves and seeds, dry mass, and weight of seeds were evaluated. Soil structure had a high influence on plant growth and physiology, while soil site had a high impact on heavy metal accumulation in leaves and seeds. Soybean plants that grown in vineyard soils with high heavy metal concentrations, accumulated 50% more Zn in leaves and seeds, 70% more Cu in leaves, and 90% more Cu in seeds, than those plants grown in grassland soils. Besides, Zn concentration in seeds was higher than the permissible limit. Moreover, the disturbance of both vineyard soil and grassland soil was not good for plant growth and physiology, which have increased TBARS and H2O2 concentration in plants, transpiration rate, metal concentration in leaves and seeds. Soil disturbance may have caused organic matter oxidation and changes in the composition and quantity of soil microorganisms and it affects the availability of other nutrients in the soil.

Soil structure, nutrient status and water holding capacity shape Uruguayan grassland prokaryotic communities.

Soil microbial communities play critical roles in maintaining natural ecosystems such as the Campos biome grasslands of southern South America. These grasslands are characterized by a high diversity of soils, low available phosphorus (P) and limited water holding capacity. This work aimed to describe prokaryotic communities associated with different soil types and to examine the relationship among these soil communities, the parent material and the soil nutrient status. Five Uruguayan soils with different parent material and nutrient status, under natural grasslands, were compared. The structure and diversity of prokaryotic communities were characterized by sequencing 16S rRNA gene amplicons. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes,Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes and Chloroflexi were the predominant phyla. Ordination based on several distance measures was able to discriminate clearly between communities associated with different soil types. Edge-PCA phylogeny-sensitive ordination and differential relative abundance analyses identified Archaea and the bacterial phyla Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Verrucomicrobia as those with significant differences among soil types. Canonical analysis of principal coordinates identified porosity, clay content, available P, soil organic carbon and water holding capacity as the main variables contributing to determine the characteristic prokaryotic communities of each soil type.

X-ray microtomography analysis of soil pore structure dynamics under wetting and drying cycles.

The soil water retention curve is one of the most important properties used to predict the amount of water available to plants, pore size distribution and hydraulic conductivity, as well as knowledge for drainage and irrigation modeling. Depending on the method of measurement adopted, the water retention curve can involve the application of several wetting and drying (W-D) cycles to a soil sample. The method assumes soil pore structure is constant throughout however most of the time soil structure is dynamic and subjected to change when submitted to continuous W-D. Consequently, the pore size distribution, as well as other soil morphological properties can be affected. With this in mind, high resolution X-ray Computed micro-Tomography was utilized to evaluate changes in the soil pore architecture following W-D cycles during the procedure of the water retention curve evaluation. Two different soil sample volumes were analyzed: ROIW (whole sample) and ROIHC (the region close to the bottom of the sample). The second region was selected due to its proximity to the hydraulic contact of the soil with the water retention curve measurement apparatus. Samples were submitted to the following W-D treatments: 0, 6 and 12 W-D. Results indicated the soil changed its porous architecture after W-D cycles. The image-derived porosity did not show differences after W-D cycles for ROIW; while for ROIHC it increased porosity. The porosity was also lower in ROIHC in comparison to ROIW. Pore connectivity improved after W-D cycles for ROIHC, but not for ROIW. W-D cycles induced more aligned pores for both ROIs as observed by the tortuosity results. Pore shape showed changes mainly for ROIW for the equant and triaxial shaped pores; while pore size was significantly influenced by the W-D cycles. Soil water retention curve measurements showed that W-D cycles can affect water retention evaluation and that the changes in the soil morphological properties can play an important role in it.

Least limiting water range, S-index and compressibility of a Udalf under different management systems

Agricultural areas in the region of Turuçu, on the Southeast Hillside in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil present many examples of soil physical degradation. Accordingly, strategies aimed at evaluating and ameliorating the structural quality of soils should be developed to ensure the sustainable use of these areas. This study aimed to evaluate the least limiting water range (LLWR), S-index, compressibility parameters, organic carbon and the organic matter granulometric fractions of a Udalf under different agricultural uses. Soil samples with disturbed and non-disturbed structure from the 0.00 to 0.10 m layer were collected on farms in the Southeast Hillside, Turuçu region, RS, for analyzing soil under: i) conventional system of corn after tobacco crop, (CT); ii) conventional system of corn after native field (CNF), iii) native field (NF) and iv) native area (NA). Both the CT and the CNF systems had a negative influence on the values of bulk density, soil porosity, least limiting water range, compressibility parameters and total organic carbon, coarse fraction carbon and carbon associated with minerals.

Least limiting water range, S-index and compressibility of a Udalf under different management systems

Agricultural areas in the region of Turuçu, on the Southeast Hillside in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil present many examples of soil physical degradation. Accordingly, strategies aimed at evaluating and ameliorating the structural quality of soils should be developed to ensure the sustainable use of these areas. This study aimed to evaluate the least limiting water range (LLWR), S-index, compressibility parameters, organic carbon and the organic matter granulometric fractions of a Udalf under different agricultural uses. Soil samples with disturbed and non-disturbed structure from the 0.00 to 0.10 m layer were collected on farms in the Southeast Hillside, Turuçu region, RS, for analyzing soil under: i) conventional system of corn after tobacco crop, (CT); ii) conventional system of corn after native field (CNF), iii) native field (NF) and iv) native area (NA). Both the CT and the CNF systems had a negative influence on the values of bulk density, soil porosity, least limiting water range, compressibility parameters and total organic carbon, coarse fraction carbon and carbon associated with minerals.(AU)

Microstructural strength of four subtropical soils evaluated by rheometry: properties, difficulties and opportunities

The structural strength of soils has been extensively described by physical and mechanical properties evaluated on the mesoscale for different soils and management conditions. However, changes in the organization of the soil matrix at the microstructural level, which can be obtained by rheometry, are still seldom used in soil mechanics. Our aim was to use the amplitude sweep test, a rheometry technique, to investigate the microstructural strength of four subtropical soils (two Oxisols, an Ultisol and a Vertisol) and to discuss difficulties with respect to the samples, water content, soil density and vertical force. The various rheological properties which reveal the soil microstructural strength were determined: deformation at the end of the linear viscoelastic range, LVE range (LVE), shear stress at the end of the LVE range (LVE), deformation at yield point, YP (YP), storage and loss moduli at YP (GGYP), maximum shear stress (max), and integral z. In general, soil elasticity (LVE and YP) and microstructural strength (LVE and max) were greater in the Oxisols and the Vertisol, which both possess high clay content, while the latter also contains expansive clay minerals. The lowest structural strength was observed in the Ultisol which had a high sand content. As rheological properties are related to soil properties such as particle size distribution and carbon content, they can be applied in the evaluation of the microstructural strength of clayey and sandy soils and allows for inferences regarding inter-particle shear strength. However, the test is not applicable to very dry soil samples and sample preparations can affect the results. We suggest a number of approaches to find solutions for these difficulties/problems.

Microstructural strength of four subtropical soils evaluated by rheometry: properties, difficulties and opportunities

The structural strength of soils has been extensively described by physical and mechanical properties evaluated on the mesoscale for different soils and management conditions. However, changes in the organization of the soil matrix at the microstructural level, which can be obtained by rheometry, are still seldom used in soil mechanics. Our aim was to use the amplitude sweep test, a rheometry technique, to investigate the microstructural strength of four subtropical soils (two Oxisols, an Ultisol and a Vertisol) and to discuss difficulties with respect to the samples, water content, soil density and vertical force. The various rheological properties which reveal the soil microstructural strength were determined: deformation at the end of the linear viscoelastic range, LVE range (LVE), shear stress at the end of the LVE range (LVE), deformation at yield point, YP (YP), storage and loss moduli at YP (GGYP), maximum shear stress (max), and integral z. In general, soil elasticity (LVE and YP) and microstructural strength (LVE and max) were greater in the Oxisols and the Vertisol, which both possess high clay content, while the latter also contains expansive clay minerals. The lowest structural strength was observed in the Ultisol which had a high sand content. As rheological properties are related to soil properties such as particle size distribution and carbon content, they can be applied in the evaluation of the microstructural strength of clayey and sandy soils and allows for inferences regarding inter-particle shear strength. However, the test is not applicable to very dry soil samples and sample preparations can affect the results. We suggest a number of approaches to find solutions for these difficulties/problems.(AU)

Oxisol physical quality with application of landfill leachate / Qualidade física de latossolo com aplicação de lixiviado de aterro sanitário

The organic carbon present in the landfill leachate (LL) can improve the physical quality of the soil when applied in agricultural areas, minimizing the problem of disposal of this waste. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the application of different doses of LL on the physical quality of the Red Latosol (Oxisol) after five years of applications. The treatment consisted of applications of LL in doses of 32, 65, 98 and 130 m3 ha-1 crop-1 and the treatment that receives mineral fertilizer. The physical quality of the soil was evaluated in soil samples collected in the layers 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m, through the analysis of stability and diameter of the aggregates, soil density, total aeration capacity, field capacity and available water content. After five years of application of LL, at doses of 65, 98 and 130 m3 ha-1 crop-1 have promoted a linear increase of the aggregates with diameter greater than 2.00 mm, of the weighted average and geometric diameters and of the soil density, with a consequent reduction of the ratio between macro and micropores and the aeration capacity of the layers 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m. After five years of these applications, the soils that received the dose of 32 m3 ha-1 crop-1 presented the best physical quality in relation to the other doses, since this dose did not promote an increase of the aggregates larger than 2 mm in the superficial layer (0.00-0.10 m) and wasthe dose with lower effect in the reduction of aeration of the soil, in relation to the others (65, 98 and130 m3 ha-1 crop-1) in the layers 0.00-0.10 and 0.10 0.20 m.(AU)

O carbono orgânico presente no lixiviado de aterro sanitário (LAS) pode melhorar a qualidade física do solo quando aplicado em áreas agrícolas, minimizando o problema de descarte desse dejeto. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de diferentes doses de LAS sobre a qualidade física de um LATOSSOLO VERMELHO Distroférrico após cinco anos de aplicações. Os tratamentos consistiram de aplicações de LAS nas doses de 32, 65, 98 e 130 m3 ha-1 safra-1 e um tratamento que recebe fertilizante mineral. A qualidade física do solo foi avaliada em amostras de solo coletadas nas camadas 0,00-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m, por meio da análise da estabilidade e diâmetro dos agregados, densidade do solo, capacidade de aeração total, capacidade de campo e teor de água disponível. Após cinco anos de aplicações de LAS, nas doses de 65, 98 e 130 m3 ha-1 safra-1 promoveram aumento linear dos agregados com diâmetro maior que 2,00 mm, dos diâmetros médio ponderado e geométrico e da densidade do solo, com consequente redução da razão entre macro e microporos e da capacidade de aeração das camadas 0,00-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m. Após cinco anos de aplicações de LAS, os solos que receberam a dose de 32 m3 ha-1 safra-1 apresentaram a melhor qualidade física em relação às demais doses, pois, essa dose não promoveu aumento dos agregados maiores que 2 mm na camada superficial (0,00-0,10 m) e foi a dose com menor influência na redução da aeração do solo, em relação às demais (65, 98 e 130 m3 ha-1 safra-1) nas camadas 0,00-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m.(AU)

Fertilizer shanks to promote soil decompaction in the seeding operation / Haste sulcadora para descompactação do solo na operação de semeadura

Intensification of soil compaction process under no-tillage (NT) is motivating the search for alternatives to mitigate soil compaction state. This study evaluated changes in soil physical and hydraulic properties caused by seeder with fertilizer shanks at different depths compared with the double discs lagged seeder, to investigate the possibility of soil decompaction by sowing under NT in southern Brazil. The study was conducted in a clayed Oxisol, for 27 years under NT. Treatments were three planting mechanisms: S0.10m: cutting disc combined with shank acting to 0.10m depth; S0.15m: cutting disc combined with shank acting to 0.15m depth and, D0.07m: double discs lagged acting to 0.07m depth in an experimental randomized block design with four replications. We evaluated the soil mechanical resistance, water infiltration rate, soil bulk density, pore size distribution and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. Results indicated that the use of seeder with fertilizer shanks acting at 0.15m deep promoted the soil decompaction by the reduction of penetration resistance and increase of porosity and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. To have significant increase in water infiltration rate the fertilizer shanks of the seeder must be deepened to the lower limit of the compacted surface layer.

A intensificação do processo de compactação do solo em sistema plantio direto (SPD) motiva a procura por alternativas para atenuação do estado de compactação do solo. Esse trabalho objetiva avaliar modificações em propriedades físico-hídricas do solo originadas por semeadoras equipadas com hastes sulcadoras que atuam em diferentes profundidades, em comparação à semeadora com discos duplos defasados, para investigar a possibilidade de descompactação do solo na operação de semeadura em áreas sob SPD na região Sul do Brasil. O estudo foi realizado em Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico típico, de textura argilosa, há 27 anos sob SPD. Os tratamentos foram três mecanismos de semeadura: H0,10m: disco de corte combinado com haste sulcadora atuando a 0,10m de profundidade; H0,15m: disco de corte combinado com haste sulcadora atuando a 0,15m de profundidade; e D0,07m: discos duplos defasados atuando a 0,07m de profundidade, em delineamento experimental blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Avaliou-se a resistência mecânica à penetração, taxa de infiltração de água no solo, densidade do solo, distribuição do tamanho de poros e condutividade hidráulica do solo não saturado. Os resultados indicaram que a utilização de semeadora com haste sulcadora atuando a 0,15m promove a descompactação do solo através da redução da resistência mecânica do solo à penetração, aumento da porosidade e da condutividade hidráulica. Para que haja aumento significativo da infiltração de água no solo, a haste sulcadora da semeadora deve ser aprofundada até o limite inferior da camada superficial compactada.

Fertilizer shanks to promote soil decompaction in the seeding operation / Haste sulcadora para descompactação do solo na operação de semeadura

Intensification of soil compaction process under no-tillage (NT) is motivating the search for alternatives to mitigate soil compaction state. This study evaluated changes in soil physical and hydraulic properties caused by seeder with fertilizer shanks at different depths compared with the double discs lagged seeder, to investigate the possibility of soil decompaction by sowing under NT in southern Brazil. The study was conducted in a clayed Oxisol, for 27 years under NT. Treatments were three planting mechanisms: S0.10m: cutting disc combined with shank acting to 0.10m depth; S0.15m: cutting disc combined with shank acting to 0.15m depth and, D0.07m: double discs lagged acting to 0.07m depth in an experimental randomized block design with four replications. We evaluated the soil mechanical resistance, water infiltration rate, soil bulk density, pore size distribution and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. Results indicated that the use of seeder with fertilizer shanks acting at 0.15m deep promoted the soil decompaction by the reduction of penetration resistance and increase of porosity and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. To have significant increase in water infiltration rate the fertilizer shanks of the seeder must be deepened to the lower limit of the compacted surface layer. (AU)

A intensificação do processo de compactação do solo em sistema plantio direto (SPD) motiva a procura por alternativas para atenuação do estado de compactação do solo. Esse trabalho objetiva avaliar modificações em propriedades físico-hídricas do solo originadas por semeadoras equipadas com hastes sulcadoras que atuam em diferentes profundidades, em comparação à semeadora com discos duplos defasados, para investigar a possibilidade de descompactação do solo na operação de semeadura em áreas sob SPD na região Sul do Brasil. O estudo foi realizado em Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico típico, de textura argilosa, há 27 anos sob SPD. Os tratamentos foram três mecanismos de semeadura: H0,10m: disco de corte combinado com haste sulcadora atuando a 0,10m de profundidade; H0,15m: disco de corte combinado com haste sulcadora atuando a 0,15m de profundidade; e D0,07m: discos duplos defasados atuando a 0,07m de profundidade, em delineamento experimental blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Avaliou-se a resistência mecânica à penetração, taxa de infiltração de água no solo, densidade do solo, distribuição do tamanho de poros e condutividade hidráulica do solo não saturado. Os resultados indicaram que a utilização de semeadora com haste sulcadora atuando a 0,15m promove a descompactação do solo através da redução da resistência mecânica do solo à penetração, aumento da porosidade e da condutividade hidráulica. Para que haja aumento significativo da infiltração de água no solo, a haste sulcadora da semeadora deve ser aprofundada até o limite inferior da camada superficial compactada. (AU)

Fertilizer shanks to promote soil decompaction in the seeding operation

ABSTRACT: Intensification of soil compaction process under no-tillage (NT) is motivating the search for alternatives to mitigate soil compaction state. This study evaluated changes in soil physical and hydraulic properties caused by seeder with fertilizer shanks at different depths compared with the double discs lagged seeder, to investigate the possibility of soil decompaction by sowing under NT in southern Brazil. The study was conducted in a clayed Oxisol, for 27 years under NT. Treatments were three planting mechanisms: S0.10m: cutting disc combined with shank acting to 0.10m depth; S0.15m: cutting disc combined with shank acting to 0.15m depth and, D0.07m: double discs lagged acting to 0.07m depth in an experimental randomized block design with four replications. We evaluated the soil mechanical resistance, water infiltration rate, soil bulk density, pore size distribution and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. Results indicated that the use of seeder with fertilizer shanks acting at 0.15m deep promoted the soil decompaction by the reduction of penetration resistance and increase of porosity and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. To have significant increase in water infiltration rate the fertilizer shanks of the seeder must be deepened to the lower limit of the compacted surface layer.

RESUMO: A intensificação do processo de compactação do solo em sistema plantio direto (SPD) motiva a procura por alternativas para atenuação do estado de compactação do solo. Esse trabalho objetiva avaliar modificações em propriedades físico-hídricas do solo originadas por semeadoras equipadas com hastes sulcadoras que atuam em diferentes profundidades, em comparação à semeadora com discos duplos defasados, para investigar a possibilidade de descompactação do solo na operação de semeadura em áreas sob SPD na região Sul do Brasil. O estudo foi realizado em Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico típico, de textura argilosa, há 27 anos sob SPD. Os tratamentos foram três mecanismos de semeadura: H0,10m: disco de corte combinado com haste sulcadora atuando a 0,10m de profundidade; H0,15m: disco de corte combinado com haste sulcadora atuando a 0,15m de profundidade; e D0,07m: discos duplos defasados atuando a 0,07m de profundidade, em delineamento experimental blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Avaliou-se a resistência mecânica à penetração, taxa de infiltração de água no solo, densidade do solo, distribuição do tamanho de poros e condutividade hidráulica do solo não saturado. Os resultados indicaram que a utilização de semeadora com haste sulcadora atuando a 0,15m promove a descompactação do solo através da redução da resistência mecânica do solo à penetração, aumento da porosidade e da condutividade hidráulica. Para que haja aumento significativo da infiltração de água no solo, a haste sulcadora da semeadora deve ser aprofundada até o limite inferior da camada superficial compactada.

Oxisol physical quality with application of landfill leachate / Qualidade física de latossolo com aplicação de lixiviado de aterro sanitário

The organic carbon present in the landfill leachate (LL) can improve the physical quality of the soil when applied in agricultural areas, minimizing the problem of disposal of this waste. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the application of different doses of LL on the physical quality of the Red Latosol (Oxisol) after five years of applications. The treatment consisted of applications of LL in doses of 32, 65, 98 and 130 m3 ha-1 crop-1 and the treatment that receives mineral fertilizer. The physical quality of the soil was evaluated in soil samples collected in the layers 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m, through the analysis of stability and diameter of the aggregates, soil density, total aeration capacity, field capacity and available water content. After five years of application of LL, at doses of 65, 98 and 130 m3 ha-1 crop-1 have promoted a linear increase of the aggregates with diameter greater than 2.00 mm, of the weighted average and geometric diameters and of the soil density, with a consequent reduction of the ratio between macro and micropores and the aeration capacity of the layers 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m. After five years of these applications, the soils that received the dose of 32 m3 ha-1 crop-1 presented the best physical quality in relation to the other doses, since this dose did not promote an increase of the aggregates larger than 2 mm in the superficial layer (0.00-0.10 m) and wasthe dose with lower effect in the reduction of aeration of the soil, in relation to the others (65, 98 and130 m3 ha-1 crop-1) in the layers 0.00-0.10 and 0.10 – 0.20 m.

O carbono orgânico presente no lixiviado de aterro sanitário (LAS) pode melhorar a qualidade física do solo quando aplicado em áreas agrícolas, minimizando o problema de descarte desse dejeto. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de diferentes doses de LAS sobre a qualidade física de um LATOSSOLO VERMELHO Distroférrico após cinco anos de aplicações. Os tratamentos consistiram de aplicações de LAS nas doses de 32, 65, 98 e 130 m3 ha-1 safra-1 e um tratamento que recebe fertilizante mineral. A qualidade física do solo foi avaliada em amostras de solo coletadas nas camadas 0,00-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m, por meio da análise da estabilidade e diâmetro dos agregados, densidade do solo, capacidade de aeração total, capacidade de campo e teor de água disponível. Após cinco anos de aplicações de LAS, nas doses de 65, 98 e 130 m3 ha-1 safra-1 promoveram aumento linear dos agregados com diâmetro maior que 2,00 mm, dos diâmetros médio ponderado e geométrico e da densidade do solo, com consequente redução da razão entre macro e microporos e da capacidade de aeração das camadas 0,00-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m. Após cinco anos de aplicações de LAS, os solos que receberam a dose de 32 m3 ha-1 safra-1 apresentaram a melhor qualidade física em relação às demais doses, pois, essa dose não promoveu aumento dos agregados maiores que 2 mm na camada superficial (0,00-0,10 m) e foi a dose com menor influência na redução da aeração do solo, em relação às demais (65, 98 e 130 m3 ha-1 safra-1) nas camadas 0,00-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m.

Software for micromorphometric characterization of soil pores obtained from 2-D image analysis

Studies of soil porosity through image analysis are important to an understanding of how the soil functions. However, the lack of a simplified methodology for the quantification of the shape, number, and size of soil pores has limited the use of information extracted from images. The present work proposes a software program for the quantification and characterization of soil porosity from data derived from 2-D images. The user-friendly software was developed in C++ and allows for the classification of pores in terms of size, shape, and combinations of size and shape. Using raw data generated by image analysis systems, the software calculates the following parameters for the characterization of soil porosity: total area of pore (Tap), number of pores, pore shape, pore shape and pore area, and pore shape and equivalent pore diameter (EqDiam). In this paper, the input file with the raw soil porosity data was generated using the Noesis Visilog 5.4 image analysis system; however other image analysis programs can be used, in which case, the input file requires a standard format to permit processing by this software. The software also shows the descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, variance, and the coefficient of variation) of the parameters considering the total number of images evaluated. The results show that the software is a complementary tool to any analysis of soil porosity, allowing for a precise and quick analysis.

Software for micromorphometric characterization of soil pores obtained from 2-D image analysis

Studies of soil porosity through image analysis are important to an understanding of how the soil functions. However, the lack of a simplified methodology for the quantification of the shape, number, and size of soil pores has limited the use of information extracted from images. The present work proposes a software program for the quantification and characterization of soil porosity from data derived from 2-D images. The user-friendly software was developed in C++ and allows for the classification of pores in terms of size, shape, and combinations of size and shape. Using raw data generated by image analysis systems, the software calculates the following parameters for the characterization of soil porosity: total area of pore (Tap), number of pores, pore shape, pore shape and pore area, and pore shape and equivalent pore diameter (EqDiam). In this paper, the input file with the raw soil porosity data was generated using the Noesis Visilog 5.4 image analysis system; however other image analysis programs can be used, in which case, the input file requires a standard format to permit processing by this software. The software also shows the descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, variance, and the coefficient of variation) of the parameters considering the total number of images evaluated. The results show that the software is a complementary tool to any analysis of soil porosity, allowing for a precise and quick analysis.(AU)