Manoel da Silva Cravo

Nitrate sorption in the profile of an acid soil

Sorption of NOinf3sup−by different horizons of a highly weathered, acid tropical soil was measured in laboratory batch experiments. Sorption was found to increase with depth, ranging from small amounts in the 0–15 cm layer to amounts that would be roughly equivalent to 25 to 50% of the NOinf3sup−in the 90–120 cm layer at water and NOinf3sup−contents commonly found under field conditions. Calculations, based on sorption isotherms, demonstrated how sorption may be important for managing N in a tropical acid soil. Sorption of Cl− was also found in the range of 0.1 and 2.0 mol m−3. In this range of concentrations sorption of NOinf3sup−and chloride were found to be independent, suggesting that anion exchange sites were far from saturated.

Organic matter stabilization in a Xanthic Ferralsol of the central Amazon as affected by single trees: chemical characterization of density, aggregate, and particle size fractions

Abstract Not only the amount of organic carbon in soil is important for soil organic matter (SOM) stability, but also its physical and chemical properties. The appropriate technique for the assessment of SOM dynamics can vary between soil types, and information about this is lacking for Ferralsols of the central Amazon basin. First, this work identified SOM pools which are sensitive to land-use changes on the terra firme in the central Amazon. In a second step, the effects of single trees on SOM properties were evaluated in a mixed tree crop plantation in comparison to secondary and primary forest sites. Thus, the processes of organic matter stabilization could be studied in the highly aggregated soils. A combination of aggregate and density fractionation was found to be most suitable for physical SOM characterization. The particulate organic matter (POM, density less than 1.6 Mg m −3 ) varied by one order of magnitude between sites and could be used as a sensitive indicator of land-use changes. Aggregate stability was not related to SOM contents or bulk SOM properties. The incorporation of plant material into stable SOM, however, was enhanced by aggregation. Among aggregate separates, the fraction, 0.25–0.5 mm, showed single-tree effects the most. SOM replenishment was higher under tree species with low quality litter, i.e. high C-to-N and polyphenol-to-N ratios. High quality litter from a leguminous ground cover, however, showed low soil nitrogen and carbon replenishment but increased nitrogen concentrations in light fractions. Litter with a high quality may improve soil nitrogen availability but not amounts of total SOM, which could only be shown for low quality litter. The results indicate the importance of aggregation and POM dynamics for SOM stabilization in the studied Xanthic Ferralsols of the central Amazon basin.

Soil microbial activities in tree-based cropping systems and natural forests of the Central Amazon, Brazil

Little information is available about the factors controlling soil C and N transformations in natural tropical forests and tree-based cropping systems. The aim of this work was to study the effects of single trees on soil microbiological activities from plantations of timber and non-timber species as well as species of primary and secondary forests in the Central Amazon. Soil samples were taken in the primary forest under Oenocarpus bacaba and Eschweilera spp., in secondary regrowth with Vismia spp., under two non-timber tree species (Bixa orellana L. and Theobroma grandiflorum Willd.), and two species planted for wood production (Carapa guianensis Aubl. and Ceiba pentandra). In these soils, net N mineralization, net nitrification, denitrification potential, basal and substrate-induced respiration rates were studied under standardized soil moisture and temperature conditions. Individual tree species more strongly affected N transformations, particularly net nitrification, than C respiration. Our results suggest that soil C respiration can be affected by tree species if inorganic N becomes a limiting factor. We found a strong correlation among almost all microbiological processes suggesting close inter-relationship between C and N transformations in the studied soils. Correlation analysis between soil chemical properties and microbiological activities suggest that such strong inter-relationships are likely due to competition between the denitrifying and C-mineralizing communities for NO3−, which might be an important N source for the microbial population in the studied soils.

Phosphorus management for perennial crops in central Amazonian upland soils

The present contribution discusses the soil P status of central Amazonian upland soils, the effects of tree crops on soil P availability and the factors controlling soil P cycling in land use systems with tree crops. Soil fertility management has to target the prevalent P deficiency by adequate P fertilization, especially in southern and northern municipalities of central Amazônia where the largest areas with severe P deficiency are found. P fixation to clay minerals is not a major obstacle for P management in the highly weathered upland soils of the central Amazon due to their low Al- and Fe-oxide contents. Low total soil P amounts are mainly responsible for low P availability. Tree crops are found to be especially suitable for land use under low-P-input conditions. Their large P return to soil by litterfall and pruning improves soil P availability. Additionally, litter quality affects P release and soil P availability. Both aspects, quantity and quality effects, are strongly dependent on tree species. Phosphorus sorption does not seem to be reduced by different litter types confirming earlier results that P fixation is not a major problem in central Amazonian upland soils. In conclusion, biological approaches are more important than physical approaches to improve soil P availability in central Amazonian Oxisols. With large P cycling through soil microbial biomass and between plant and soil, a higher availability of added P can be maintained and P applications only need to replenish P exports by harvest. Low P additions will improve productivity also for long-term uptake by trees. This is of high importance in regions with poor infrastructure and the lack of financial resources.

Divergência genética entre clones de guaranazeiro

As tecnicas multivariadas, para estimar a diversidade genetica de um grupo de progenitores, tem sido utilizadas com frequencia pelos melhoristas de plantas. Os progenitores sao utilizados em cruzamentos biparentais ou multiplos, para formacao de populacoes segregantes que tenham maior probabilidade de recuperacao de genotipos superiores. Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de identificar clones de guaranazeiro produtivos e divergentes que possam ser utilizados em um programa de cruzamentos para obter hibridos com alto valor heterotico e materiais para propagacao vegetativa. Foram avaliados 148 clones de guaranazeiro atualmente em uso no programa de melhoramento genetico da Embrapa-Centro de Pesquisa Agroflorestal da Amazonia Ocidental. Utilizou-se, para estimativa da divergencia genetica, a analise de agrupamento, em que a medida de dissimilaridade utilizada foi a distância euclidiana media padronizada e os metodos de agrupamento de otimizacao de Tocher e do vizinho mais proximo para construcao do dendrograma entre grupos de clones. Houve a formacao de sete grupos divergentes de clones. Concluiu-se que a divergencia genetica entre os clones nao e grande, pois dois grupos foram formados com dois clones e tres grupos foram formados somente com um unico clone. Os clones CMU384 e CMU801 foram os mais proximos geneticamente e podem ser utilizados na formacao de uma populacao com desenvolvimento vegetativo uniforme para uso em plantios comerciais.

Amelioration of subsoil acidity in an Oxisol of the humid tropics

SummaryThis work investigated the effectsof amendments of fertilizer N and lime on subsoil acidity and maize rooting depth in an acid soil of the central Amazon basin. A split-plot designed field experiment was conducted on a clayey Oxisol (Typic Acrudox) during a 16-month period. Main plots received 0 or 4 Mt ha-1 of lime. Subplots were four crop sequences: (1) Maize-green manure (Canavalia ensiformes); (2) maize-green manure (Mucuna aterrima); (3) maize-bare fallow, with the maize receiving 300 kg ha-1 of urea-N; and (4) bare fallow, with an application of 300 kg ha-1 of urea-N at the same time as sequence 3. Plots were periodically sampled to 1.2 m. The experimental site received 4265 mm of precipitation during 16 months; approximately 60%–90% of this rain percolated through the profile. Substantial amounts of Ca were leached from the 0–30 cm horizon during the experimental period, but only limited amounts accumulated in the subsoil. Base saturation below 45 cm was less than 50% at the end of the experiment regardless of lime treatment. Roots of maize were concentrated in the 0–30 cm layers in limed plots and the 0–20 cm layers in unlimed plots. In all treatments less than 5% of the roots was found below 50 cm. An acidity balance indicated that considerable acidity was leached below the plow layer and out of the profile.

Fertilization and cover crop effects on soil nitrogen and plant nutrition in a young guarana plantation

Fruit tree production is gaining an increasing importance in the central Amazon and elsewhere in the humid tropics, but very little is known about the nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant system. The present study quantified the effects of fertilization and cover cropping with a legume (Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.) on soil nitrogen (N) dynamics and plant nutrition in a young guarana plantation (Paullinia cupana Kunth. (H.B. and K.) var. sorbilis (Mart.) Ducke) on a highly weathered Xanthic Ferralsol. Large subsoil nitrate (NO3-) accumulation at 0.3-3 m below the guarana plantation indicated N leaching from the topsoil. The NO3- contents to a depth of 2 m were 2.4 times greater between the trees than underneath unfertilized trees (P 0.05). Even without a legume intercrop, large amounts of NO3- were found in the subsoil between unfertilized trees. Subsoil NO3- between the trees could be utilized, however, by fertilized guarana. This can be explained by a more vigorous growth of fertilized trees which had a larger nutrient demand and exploited a larger soil volume. With a legume cover crop, however, more mineral N was available at the topsoil which was leached into the subsoil and consequently accumulated at 0.3-3 m depth. Fertilizer additions of P and K were needed to increase subsoil NO3- use between trees.