ABSTRACT: A reliable quantification of nitrogen (N) losses by ammonia (NH3) volatilization can contribute to identifying optimized strategies of fertilizer management. The objective of this study was to quantify ammonia volatilization from several organic N sources incorporated into or applied onto the soil surface. Two cultivation areas, under snap bean and corn, were evaluated at Embrapa Agrobiology, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro (RJ). Both experiments used a randomized complete block design in split-plots, with four replications. The main plots consisted of four organic fertilizers (castor bean cake, bokashi, legume fertilizers, cattle manure), at rates of 200 kg ha-1 N, and a control treatment (without fertilization), and the subplots corresponded to the management forms (incorporated or surface-applied) of the fertilizers. In the first experiment, snap bean cv. Novirex was grown in winter/spring and in the second, corn cv. Catingueiro in summer/autumn. In each subplot, static semi-open NH3 collectors were installed. We conclude that surface-applied castor cake was the organic fertilizer with highest N loss by NH3 volatilization. A comparison of the management systems (incorporated or surface-applied) showed that volatilization from organic fertilizers incorporated into the soil was significantly lower, with a reduction of 80 % for castor cake, of 78 % for bokashi and 67 % for legume fertilizer. Nitrogen loss through ammonia volatilization varied, from rates of 3 to 25 % in winter/spring and from 2 to 38 % in summer/autumn, according to the organic fertilizer applied. The period required to recover 95 % of the N lost by NH3-N volatilization was between 13 to 18 days for castor cake; 14 to 43 days for bokashi; 17 to 49 days for legume fertilizer and more than 43 days for cattle manure.

ABSTRACT The identification of areas with greater erosive potential is important for planning soil and water conservation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical characteristics of rainfall events in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and their interactions with rainfall patterns through multivariate statistical analysis. Rainfall depth, kinetic energy, 30-min intensity (I30), duration of rainfall events, and the erosivity indices KE >10, KE >25, and EI30 in 36 locations (stations) were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). Based on evaluation of the respective historical series of hyetographs, it was found that the advanced pattern occurs with highest frequency (51.8 %), followed by the delayed pattern (26.1 %), and by the intermediate pattern (22.1 %). All the evaluated rainfall characteristics have high response capacity in describing localities and rainfall patterns through PCA and CDA. In CDA, the Tukey test (p<0.05) applied to the scores of the first canonical discriminant function (CDF1) allowed differentiation of the stations with respect to the rainfall and erosivity characteristics for the advanced and delayed patterns. In the delayed pattern, the localities of Angra dos Reis, Campos, Eletrobrás, Manuel Duarte, Santa Isabel do Rio Preto, Tanguá, Teresópolis, Vila Mambucaba, and Xerém had the highest CDF1 scores, indicating that they have rainfalls with higher depth, I30, and duration because the standardized canonical coefficient (SCC) and the correlation coefficient (“r”) of these characteristics were positive. The rainfall events in the state of Rio de Janeiro differ from one locality to another in relation to the advanced and delayed rainfall patterns, mainly due to the physical characteristics of rainfall depth, I30, and duration, indicating a higher risk of soil loss and runoff in the localities where rainfall events with the delayed pattern prevail.

A fixação biológica de nitrogênio que ocorre em leguminosas é realizada por um grupo de bactérias conhecidas como rizóbios. A sobrevivência destas bactérias no solo é influenciada por diversos fatores como a temperatura, umidade e fertilidade do solo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a dinâmica da população de rizóbios em solo após o cultivo de soja, durante o período de estiagem no cerrado de Roraima. Foram amostradas três áreas: i) cerrado nativo como referência; ii) área cultivada uma vez com soja inoculada com rizóbio; iii) e área cultivada duas vezes com soja inoculada com rizóbio em anos consecutivos. O solo foi coletado na profundidade de 0-10 cm em cinco períodos a partir do inicio da estiagem no mês de setembro de 2006 coincidindo com a época de colheita da soja e prolongando-se até março de 2007 (0, 45, 90, 135 e 180 dias). A população de rizóbios no solo foi avaliada pela técnica do número mais provável (NMP) utilizando plantas de soja e de feijão-caupi como espécies isca. Foi observado que na área nativa praticamente não existiam bactérias nodulantes de soja, mas havia uma população capaz de nodular o feijão-caupi de até algumas centenas de rizóbios por gramas de solo. O cultivo da soja utilizando sementes inoculadas elevou a população de rizóbios no solo que foi constatada por ambas às espécies de plantas isca. Nas áreas cultivadas, constatou-se uma intensa redução da população de rizóbios no solo, em especial logo após a colheita da soja, continuando o decréscimo até o último período de avaliação. Conclui-se que o cultivo da soja inoculada com rizóbio eleva a densidade de rizóbios em solo do cerrado, mas durante a estiagem ocorre uma drástica redução dessa população, que pode chegar a mais de 99% considerando o início e final do período.

The biological nitrogen fixation in legumes is performed by a group of bacteria known as rhizobia. The survival of these bacteria in soils is affected by several factors, such as temperature, drought and soil fertility. This study was performed to evaluate the dynamics of rhizobia in the soil after soybean cultivation and during a dry season in the cerrado of Roraima. Three areas were sampled: i) native cerrado as reference; ii) an area previously cultivated with soybean for one season; and iii) another one cultivated for two seasons also with soybean. The soil was sampled at a depth of 0-10 cm in five times (0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 days) during the dry season (September 2006 to March 2007). The rhizobial density in the soil was evaluated by the most probable number method with infection of soybean and cowpea plants. It was observed very low number of soybean nodulating bacteria in the reference area, but a high density, of up to several hundred rhizobia capable to nodulate cowpea was measured in this same area. Cropping of soybean with inoculated seeds increased rhizobial density evaluated by both trapping hosts. In cropped areas, an intense reduction of rhizobium density was observed just after soybean harvest, and this reduction continued until the end of the period of evaluation. It was concluded that soybean cultivation increases the density of rhizobial in the cerrado soil; however, this density is drastically reduced, during the dry season, by 99% at the end of the dry period.

O conhecimento da erosividade das chuvas associada à probabilidade de ocorrência e ao período de retorno pode contribuir para o planejamento conservacionista de uma região, em médio e longo prazo. A fim de gerar informações para melhor utilizar modelos e controle da erosão, dados de chuvas de 30 séries pluviográficas e pluviométricas, abrangendo 25 municípios, entre 1933 e 2006, foram estudados quanto à adequação das séries e do cálculo da probabilidade de ocorrência teórica (P) e período de retorno (T) da erosividade das chuvas (EI30 e KE>25), para o Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Foi feita a espacialização do potencial erosivo associado aos períodos de retorno de 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 e 100 anos para todo o Estado. A erosividade anual média (EI30) ou fator R da USLE para qualquer localidade no Estado do Rio de Janeiro pode ser igualada ou superada pelo menos uma vez, em média, em um período de 1,8 a 2,1 anos, com faixa de 48,5 a 54,9 % de probabilidade de ocorrência teórica. As localidades que apresentam maior erosividade associada aos períodos de retorno estão situadas nas mesorregiões Metropolitanas e em partes das mesorregiões Sul e Centro Fluminense. Foi possível identificar de oito a 12 regiões homogêneas, quanto à distribuição espacial da erosividade associada aos períodos de retorno de dois para 100 anos no Estado. De modo geral, a maior variação da distribuição espacial da erosividade apresenta-se na faixa de período de retorno de dois a cinco anos.

Knowledge on rainfall erosivity associated to occurrence probability and return periods can contribute to conservation planning in the medium and long term. With the objective of generating information for a better use of medium and long-term erosion models and erosion control, rainfall data of 30 pluviometric and pluviographic data sets from 25 cities ranging from 1933 to 2006 were studied in terms of adjustment of data sets, calculation of the probability of theoretical occurrence (P) and return period (T) of rainfall erosivity (EI30 and KE>25) for the State of Rio de Janeiro, as well as the spatialization of erosivity associated to return periods of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 years for the whole state. Average annual erosivity (EI30), or "R" factor of USLE, for any location in the state of Rio de Janeiro, can on average be equaled or surpassed at least once in a 1.8-2.1 year period, at a theoretical occurrence probability of 48.5 to 54.9 %. The locations with highest erosivity rates associated to return periods are located in the Metropolitan mesoregions as well as in parts of the South and Center Mesoregions. It was possible to identify 8-12 homogeneous regions of spatial distribution of erosivity associated to the return periods of 2-100 years in the state of Rio de Janeiro. In general, the variation of spatial distribution of erosivity was highest in a return period ranging from two to five years.

Although Coffea arabica species has its origin in the African understories, there is great resistance on the part of the Brazilian producers for growing this species under agroforestry systems as they fear that shading reduces production. This study aimed at evaluating some vegetative traits and the productivity of organically grown coffee (Coffea arabica L.) cultivars under shaded and unshaded systems. Twelve treatments consisting of two cultivation systems (shaded and unshaded) and six coffee cultivars were arranged in randomized blocks with four replicates, in a split-plot scheme. Shading was provided by banana (Musa sp.) and coral bean plants (Erythrinaverna). Shading delayed fruit maturation. Late maturation cultivars, such as the Icatu and the Obatã, matured early in both cultivation systems, while medium and early maturation cultivars presented late maturation. Cultivation in the shaded system increased the leaf area and the number of lower branches, decreased the number of productive nodes per branch, and increased the distance between the nodes and the number of leaves present in the branches. Cultivation in the unshaded system presented greater number of plants with branch blight in relation to plants grown in the shade. The productivity of the cultivars was not different, at 30.0 processed bags per hectare in the shaded system, and 25.8 processed bags per hectare in the unshaded system. The most productive cultivars in the shaded system were the Tupi, the Obatã, and the Catuaí, while no differences between cultivars were obtained in the unshaded system.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes sistemas de cultivo orgânico do cafeeiro sobre as características químicas e biológicas do solo, em diferentes estações do ano. Foram avaliados os sistemas: consórcio do cafeeiro com uma (CJ1), duas (CJ2) ou três (CJ3) linhas de guandu (Cajanus cajan); plantio do café a pleno sol (CS); área de plantio convencional de pimentão e feijão-vagem (AC); e área de floresta secundária (AFS). O espaçamento entre linhas em CJ1, CJ2, CJ3 e CS foi de 2,0x1,0, 2,8x1,0, 3,6x1,0, e 2,8x1,0 m, respectivamente. O solo foi amostrado na profundidade de 10 cm, nas quatro estações do ano. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância, à análise de componentes principais e à análise de redundância. Houve aumento na macrofauna edáfica, na respiração basal do solo e no quociente microbiano, no verão. A densidade total da macrofauna foi maior em CJ2 seguidos por CJ3, CS, CJ1, AC e FFR; Coleoptera, Formicidae e Isoptera foram os grupos mais abundantes. Não há diferenças significativas entre as áreas quanto a respiração basal do solo, e o quociente metabólico é maior em CJ1, CJ3 e AFS. O carbono da biomassa microbiana e os teores de K, pH, Ca+Mg e P são maiores em AC.

The objective of this work was to assess the effect of different coffee organic cultivation systems on chemical and biological soil characteristics, in different seasons of the year. The following systems were evaluated: coffee intercropped with one (CJ1), two (CJ2) or three (CJ3) pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) alleys; coffee planted under full sun (CS); area planted with sweet pepper and snap bean in a conventional tillage system (AC); and secondary forest area (FFR). Row spacing in CJ1, CJ2, CJ3 and CS was 2.0x1.0, 2.8x1.0, 3.6x1.0, and 2.8x1.0 m, respectively. Soil samples were collected at 10-cm depth, during the four seasons of the year. The results were subjected to analysis of variance, principal component analysis, and redundancy analysis. There was an increase in edaphic macrofauna, soil basal respiration, and microbial quotient in the summer. Total macrofauna density was greater in CJ2 followed by CJ3, CS, CJ1, AC and FFR; Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Isoptera were the most abundant groups. There are no significant differences among the areas for soil basal respiration, and the metabolic quotient is higher in CJ1, CJ3, and FFR. Microbial biomass carbon and the contents of K, pH, Ca+Mg, and P show greater values in AC.

A fixação biológica de N é indispensável à soja no Brasil, dispensando o uso de N mineral e reduzindo o custo de produção. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a inoculação da soja com Bradyrhizobium no sulco de semeadura com a inoculação tradicional nas sementes, em solo com baixo teor de matéria orgânica e desprovido de bactérias nodulantes dessa cultura. Foi conduzido um experimento de campo no cerrado de Roraima no ano de 2006 e repetido nas mesmas condições em 2007, sendo avaliados os tratamentos: controle sem inoculação e sem N mineral, 200 kg ha-1 de N na forma de ureia e os métodos de inoculação no sulco de semeadura e inoculação nas sementes, sendo cada método avaliado em sementes sem tratamentos com fungicidas e com a aplicação de carboxin+tiram e carbendazim+tiram. A inoculação da soja no sulco proporcionou desempenho da fixação biológica do N igual ao da inoculação realizada nas sementes, não havendo diferenças na produção de matéria seca, rendimento de grãos e acúmulo de N na parte aérea e nos grãos. Por sua vez, quando as sementes foram tratadas com fungicidas, especialmente carbendazim+tiram, houve menor nodulação das plantas, desenvolvimento da parte aérea e rendimento de grãos com a inoculação nas sementes, enquanto para a inoculação no sulco não houve interferência. Assim, a inoculação no sulco de semeadura mostrou-se uma alternativa viável para a soja quando as sementes foram tratadas com fungicidas.

Biological N fixation in soybean is indispensable in Brazil, sparing the use of mineral N and reducing crop production costs. The objective of this study was to compare in-furrow inoculation of soybean with Bradyrhizobium to the traditional practice of seed inoculation, in an experiment performed in a soil with low organic matter content and without soybean-nodulating rhizobia. A field experiment was carried out in the Cerrado of Roraima in 2006 and repeated in 2007, with the treatments: (1) control (no inoculation and no mineral nitrogen application), (2) application of 200 kg ha-1 N as urea, (3) in-furrow inoculation, and, (4) seed- inoculation. The two inoculation methods were evaluated in seeds treated or not with fungicides (carboxin + thiram and carbendazim + thiram). Soybean performance in the treatment with in-furrow inoculation resulted in nitrogen fixation contribution similar to seed inoculation, with no differences in plant dry matter weight, grain yield, and N accumulated in shoots and grains. On the other hand, when the seeds were treated with fungicides, especially carbendazim + thiram, there was a decrease in nodulation, shoot development, and grain yield in the seed inoculation treatment, while no effects were observed in the in-furrow treatment. Consequently, was demonstrated that in-furrow inoculation is useful alternative for soybean inoculation when the seeds are fungicide-treated.

Uma contribuição fundamental para o estudo da ciclagem de nutrientes no sistema solo/planta/ animal é a avaliação do consumo pelo gado de forragem e dos nutrientes nela contidos. Testaram-se, sob condições controladas, técnicas para avaliar a produção fecal, digestibilidade in vitro, consumo de forragem e a proporção de leguminosa ingerida na dieta. Cinco novilhos de Zebu foram confinados e alimentados com quantidades conhecidas de cinco rações com diferentes proporções de Brachiaria dictyoneura e Desmodium ovalifolium. Todas as fezes bovinas foram recolhidas e pesadas e estes valores foram comparáveis com as estimativas da produção fecal derivadas do uso da técnica de óxido de cromo. A digestibilidade in vitro variou de 7 a 10% acima da digestibilidade in vivo atual. Amostras de fezes de novilhos alimentados com dietas com 25% ou mais de capim na mistura apresentaram abundância de 13C por entre 1,7 e 2,1‰, mas este empobrecimento isotópico não foi observado quando a dieta era com 100% D. ovalifolium. Houve correlação positiva linear (r² = 0,97***) entre δ13C da dieta com o δ13C das fezes, mas o conteúdo de leguminosa foi subestimado em mais de 10% quando a dieta ingerida foi de 100% de leguminosa. Nenhum dos indicadores internos, como o conteúdo de lignina ou cinzas, foram úteis para prever o consumo de forragem, mas os resultados da técnica utilizando óxido crômico como indicador externo foram satisfatórios. A abundância de 13C das fezes foi indicador adequado da proporção da leguminosa na dieta.

A key contribution to study the cycling of nutrients in soil/plant/animal systems is the evaluation of the consumption of forage and their nutrients by cattle. The objective of this study was to test techniques to evaluate faecal production, in vitro digestibility, forage consumption and the proportion of legume in the acquired diet. Five Zebu steer calves were confined and fed five diets of different combinations of Brachiaria dictyoneura and Desmodium ovalifolium. All quantities of faeces were collected per animal and these values were found to compare favourably with those derived from using the chromium oxide technique. In vitro digestibility ranged from 7 to 10% higher than the actual in vivo digestibility. Faecal samples from steers fed with diets with 25% or more of grass in the mixture were found to be depleted in δ13C between 1.7 and 2.1‰, but no depletion was observed when the diet was 100% D. ovalifolium. There was a positive linear regression (r² = 0.97***) of the δ13C of the diet with the δ13C of faeces, but if the acquired diet contained a very high proportion of legume, the legume content could be underestimated by as much as 10%. None of the internal indicators, such as lignin or ash content of the diets, were useful to predict feed intake, but the chromium oxide external indicator performed satisfactorily. The 13C analysis of the faeces was an effective predictor of the proportion of the legume in the consumed diet.