Slaughterhouses generate large amounts of rumen content and its use as a fertilizer may offer an environmentally friendly strategy for its management. The effect of an organic fertilizer produced from slaughterhouse waste on the fertility of sandy and clayey soils as well as soybean yield (Glycine max L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) crops was evaluated. Field experiments were set up and five rates up to 16 t ha−1 of organic fertilizer (293 kg ha−1 N, 334 kg ha−1 P and 27 kg ha−1 K) were applied annually, before sowing in spring/summer, as well as a mineral fertilization of 300 kg ha−1 in the formulation 2-20-20 for soybean and 300 kg ha−1 of 12-15-15 for corn. The organic fertilizer changed soil fertility in the field experiments by increasing pH, Ca, Mg, K, P-Mehlich and P-resin. Such effects were more evident in the sandy than in the clayey soil, and the most superficial layer was affected more. The organic fertilizer rate needed to achieve maximum yield decreased for corn in both soils and for soybean in the sandy soil, although the amounts required may still be regarded as high.

Estudou-se o efeito de diferentes sistemas de preparos do solo onde foram analisadas a viabilidade econômica na produção e atributos técnológicos da cana-de-açúcar em áreas cultivadas anteriormente com soja no município de Rio Brilhante-MS, Brasil, considerando os atributos físicos de um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico. Os sistemas de preparo utilizados foram: preparos convencionais (PCI, PCII e PCIII), subsolagem (S) e plantio direto (PD), formando um delineamento experimental em blocos inteiramente casualizados, com cinco repetições, que foram analisadas pelo teste F (p < 0,05), seguido pelo teste de Tukey (p < 0,05). Foram identificadas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos para variável densidade do solo e porosidade total nas camadas 0,21-0,40 m de profundidade. A produtividade e o número de perfilhos não apresentaram diferenças significativas, porém observando o custo de implantação de cada tratamento, constatou-se maior viabilidade econômica no sistema de plantio direto (PD).

We studied the effect of different tillage systems where soil analyzed the economic feasibility of manufacturing and technological attributes of sugar cane cultivated in an area formely with soybean in Rio Brilhante-MS, Brazil, considering the physical attributes of an Acrustox. The tillage systems were: conventional tillage (CTI, CTII and CTIII), subsoiling (S) and no-tillage (NT), forming a randomized complete block design, with five replicates, which were analyzed by F test (p < 0.05), followed by Tukey test (p < 0.05). Significant differences were found between treatments for variable bulk density and total porosity in layers 0.21 to 0.40 m depth. The yield and tiller number showed no significant differences, but looking at the implementation cost of each treatment, there was greater economic viability in the no-tillage (NT).

Na região de Janaúba, norte de Minas Gerais, não obstante as altas produtividades alcançadas pela bananicultura da região no contexto de uma agricultura altamente tecnificada, com uso intenso de fertilizantes e controle sistemático de doenças e pragas, são comuns os relatos de produtores expressando preocupação com a queda de produtividade, particularmente quando se irriga com água de poços tubulares. Em razão disso, estudou-se o efeito de águas de irrigação provenientes de poços e do rio Gorutuba sobre propriedades químicas de solos sob bananais, onde foram coletadas amostras até 100 cm de profundidade em áreas adjacentes de sequeiro e irrigadas. Observou-se que o uso de águas de poços, de qualidade marginal, causou elevação do pH e dos teores de Ca2+ e Na+ dos solos, elevando as relações Ca/Mg e Ca/K, que se distanciaram da faixa ideal para a cultura da banana. Nos solos irrigados com água de poços houve aumento dos teores de P extraído com H2SO4, resultante da precipitação do P com o Ca veiculado com a água. Os valores de pH do extrato de saturação do solo foram mais elevados que aqueles registrados na análise de rotina, e a concentração de sais solúveis na solução do solo ocorreu em camadas intermediárias do perfil devido à lixiviação, com destaque para a camada de 30-40 cm dos solos irrigados com água de poços.

In the region of Janaúba, northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, banana yields are high due to the highly technical agriculture of the region, with intensive use of fertilizers and systematic plant disease and pest control. However, farmers frequently report a decline in banana yields, particularly when water from deep wells is used for irrigation. We therefore studied the effect of irrigation water from wells and from the Gorutuba River on soil chemical characteristics of areas with banana cultivation. Soil samples were collected to a depth of 100 cm in adjacent areas with and without irrigation. It was observed that the irrigation water from deep wells is of low quality and resulted in increased pH, Ca2+ and Mg+ levels in the soil. This resulted in high Ca/Mg and Ca/K ratios, which are far above from the optimal range for banana plants. For soils irrigated with water from wells there was an increase of H2SO4 - extractable P as a result of P precipitation with Ca dissolved in water. The pH values of soil saturation extract were higher than the ones obtained during routine analysis. The concentration of soluble salts in soil solution observed within the soil profile at intermediate depths was due to leaching, especially in the 30-40 cm layer of soils irrigated with water deep wells.