ABSTRACT Decomposition processes and mineralization are essential to determine the time to deploy and manage species in consortia or rotations. The aim of this article was study the dynamics of biomass decomposition and release of macronutrients of plant residues of Fabacea. The species used were: jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), dwarf mucuna (Mucuna deeringiana) and sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea). The experiment was conducted in the field in a randomized block design, 4 x 5 factorial, four species of green manure and five times (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days). In the results, sunn hemp and pigeon pea had lower decomposition and release of C, N, K, and Mg. All species, K and P showed similar half-lives (t1/2). For N, sunn hemp presented the lowest coefficient of mineralization (k), 0.0040 g g-1 dia-1, associated with highest t1/2 (173.3 days), already, jack bean showed the highest k (0.0122 g g-1 dia-1) associated with the lowest t1/2 (56.8 days). In edaphoclimatic conditions, use of the jack bean and the dwarf mucuna is recommended for supply of nutrients in shorter periods of time for subsequent crops. However, sunn hemp and pigeon pea are recommended for greater persistence of mulch on the soil.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of increasing rates of biochar produced with coffee straw, at two pyrolysis temperatures, on the chemical attributes of an Oxisol cultivated with conilon coffee (Coffea canephora) and on the nutrient content of coffee tree leaves. Treatments consisted of pyrolysis at two temperatures (350 and 600 °C) and of five biochar rates (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Mg ha-1). The following soil chemical attributes were evaluated: pH in water; P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, H+Al, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn contents; effective and potential cation exchange capacity (CEC); sum of bases (SB); base (V) and aluminium (m) saturation; and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn contents in the leaves. The biochar produced at 600°C, at rates of 10 and 15 Mg ha-1, promoted a greater K release into the soil. Regardless of temperature, coffee straw biochar increased K and P availability, sum of bases, base saturation, and CEC in the soil, but did not influence macro- and micronutrient contents in the leaves. The addition of increasing rates of coffee straw biochar in the soil increases P, K, Mg, SB, CEC, and V, regardless of pyrolysis temperature.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de doses crescentes de biocarvão produzido com palhada de café, em duas temperaturas de pirólise, nos atributos químicos de um Latossolo cultivado com cafeeiro conilon (Coffea canephora), e no conteúdo de nutrientes das folhas do cafeeiro. Os tratamentos consistiram de duas temperaturas de pirólise (350 e 600°C) e cinco doses de biocarvão (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20 Mg ha-1). Avaliaram-se os seguintes atributos químicos do solo: pH em água; teores de P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, H+Al, Zn, Cu, Fe e Mn; capacidade de troca catiônica efetiva e potencial (CTC); soma de bases (SB); saturação por bases (V) e por alumínio (m); e teores de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe e Mn nas folhas. O biocarvão produzido a 600°C, nas doses de 10 e 15 Mg ha-1, promoveu maior liberação de K ao solo. Independentemente da temperatura, o biocarvão promoveu o aumento de P e K disponíveis, SB, V e CTC no solo, mas não influenciou os conteúdos dos macro e micronutrientes das folhas. A adição de doses crescentes de biocarvão da palha de café conilon no solo promove aumento de P, K, Mg, SB, CTC e V, independentemente da temperatura de pirólise.

ABSTRACT. Soil use and management systems modify phosphorus (P) dynamics by changing the different P compartments. However, the interaction between land-use change and altitude is not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of land use on P forms in different soil aggregate classes of Ultisols located at two altitudes. Soil samples were collected in four land-use systems (agroforestry system, secondary forest, pasture, and eucalyptus) located at two altitudes in the Atlantic Forest biome, Brazil. Phosphorus fractions were assessed using sequential fractionation. In general, recalcitrant forms represented about 70% in the agroforestry system, 66% in the eucalyptus, 65% in the pasture, and 57% in the secondary forest relative to the total P content of all land uses at both altitudes. The soil aggregate classes of smaller diameter presented higher P contents in all fractions. The smallest soil aggregate classes showed up to 65% more P than the classes with smaller diameters in the different land-use systems and altitudes.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the organic carbon (OC) distribution and inorganic phosphorus (P) fractions on different soil aggregates classes under forestry fragment of Atlantic Forest, pasture and agroforestry managed for a long period. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0.00-0.10, 0.10-0.20 and 0.20-0.60 m, and the aggregate stability analysis was performed at each depth. The OC and the inorganic P fractions (Pbic readily available, NaHCO3 0.5 mol L-1; PNa1 moderately available, NaOH 0.1 mol L-1; and PNa2 restricted availability, NaOH 0.5 mol L-1) were determined in the respective classes of soil aggregates 4-2, 2-1, 1-0.5, 0.5-0.25 mm. Soil under forestry fragment showed higher OC contents and regardless the land use, highest values of inorganic P were found in the aggregates > 1 mm. Forestry showed highest levels of Pbic, while agroforestry showed the highest levels of PNa1, and pasture had highest values of PNa2.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effect of soil management on water, sediment and P losses in slope plots in east-central Illinois, USA. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted. The soil management studied were: tillage in contour (CT), tillage in downhill (DT), no-tillage (NT) and bare soil (BS). After collecting the field data, WEPP model was used to model the erosion process. The NT and BS management resulted in low (152.35 mm field; 28.51 mm laboratory) and high (315.25 mm field; 63.67 mm laboratory) water loss respectively. For soil losses, similar behavior was observed for NT (0.45 t ha-1 field; 0 t ha-1 laboratory) and BS (87.27 t ha-1 field; 0.86 t ha-1 laboratory) managements. In case of P losses, CT management resulted in the lowest loss (216.26 g ha-1) while high values were found in the BS management (1806.06 g ha-1). The modeled results obtained from WEPP model did not show a good agreement with the data collected at field overestimated and underestimated the soil and water losses. The enrichment rate of runoff with sediment was influenced by soil management practices and the DT (34.48 g L-1 min-1) management showed the high peak. The adoption of NT management in agriculture areas with high slope (32%) can be beneficial to reduce erosion process. The total removal of vegetation cover leaving the soil exposed, similar to the BS management and soil preparation along the slope (DT management) should be avoided.

BACKGROUND The human filarial worm Mansonella ozzardi is highly endemic in the large tributaries of the Amazon River. This infection is still highly neglected and can be falsely negative when microfilariae levels are low. OBJECTIVES This study investigated the frequency of individuals with M. ozzardi in riverine communities in Coari municipality, Brazilian Amazon. METHODS Different diagnostic methods including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), blood polycarbonate membrane filtration (PCMF), Knott's method (Knott), digital thick blood smears (DTBS) and venous thick blood smears (VTBS) were used to compare sensitivity and specificity among the methods. Data were analysed using PCMF and Bayesian latent class models (BLCM) as the gold standard. We used BLCM to calculate the prevalence of mansonelliasis based on the results of five diagnostic methods. FINDINGS The prevalence of mansonelliasis was 35.4% by PCMF and 30.1% by BLCM. PCR and Knott methods both possessed high sensitivity. Sensitivity relative to PCMF was 98.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 92.0 - 99.7] for PCR and 83.5% (95% CI: 72.9 - 90.5) for Knott. Sensitivity derived by BLCM was 100% (95% CI 93.7 - 100) for PCMF, 100% (95% CI: 93.7 - 100) for PCR and 98.3% (95% CI: 90.6 - 99.9) for Knott. The odds ratio of being diagnosed as microfilaremic increased with age but did not differ between genders. Microfilariae loads were higher in subjects aged 30 - 45 and 45 - 60 years. MAIN CONCLUSIONS PCMF and PCR were the best methods to assess the prevalence of mansonelliasis in our samples. As such, using these methods could lead to higher prevalence of mansonelliasis in this region than the most commonly used method (i.e., thick blood smears).

ABSTRACT Although the physical environment of the Atlantic Forest realm is well known, studies on the soil-landform relationships are fundamental to improve the management of soil resources to facilitate sustainable development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a representative topossequence on the “Mares de Morros” landscape of deeply weathered regolith on leucocratic granite rocks and demi-orange convex slopes. The soils varied along the topossequence according to drainage and were classified as Acrudox, Pseudogleysol, and Epiaquent. The clay fraction was composed by kaolinite, in association with gibbsite, goethite, hematite, and traces of vermiculite and hydroxy-Al interlayered vermiculite (HIV). The kaolinite crystallinity index obtained by different methods showed high structural disorder throughout the sequence, indicating that long-term pre-weathering has produced a homogenous regolith with little differences in terms of mineralogy, despite the changes in drainage. On the other hand, micromorphological features showed a complete change from the typical, well-developed microaggregate structure of upland, well-drained soils, to a massive, poorly developed structure downslope, consistent with the morphological description. Changes in microstructure development and micropedological features occurred both vertically and laterally along the topossequence and indicate that mineralogy alone cannot account for the microaggregate structure of kaolinitic Latossolos (Oxisols) well-drained with low Fe contents. Soils from the “Mares de Morros” landscape of the Alegre river basin on leucocratic granitic rocks highlight an inheritance of a deep pre-weathered regolith, showing subtle chemical and mineralogical changes, but marked morphological and physical differences along the topossequence, basically controlled by soil drainage in the past or present.

RESUMO O processo de decomposição de serapilheira deve ser amplamente estudado por se tratar de um fator-chave na manutenção e ciclagem de nutrientes nos ecossistemas. Este estudo teve como objetivos: avaliar a decomposição, a liberação de nutrientes e a atividade microbiana da serapilheira em coberturas florestais de floresta secundária, Acacia mangium, Sapindus saponaria e Hevea brasiliensis, no sul do Espírito Santo. A decomposição da serapilheira e a liberação de nutrientes foi quantificada por meio de litter bags. Para a avaliação da atividade microbiana procedeu-se à quantificação do carbono mineralizável por meio da evolução de CO2. Os resultados mostraram que as coberturas florestais se comportaram de forma diferenciada quanto à decomposição e atividade microbiana, destacando-se a Sapindus saponaria, que apresentou maior velocidade de decomposição de serapilheira. A cobertura de Sapindus saponaria apresentou quantidades acumuladas de CO2 superiores às demais. A cobertura de Acacia mangium apresentou os menores valores de CO2 acumulado.

ABSTRACT The decomposition process of litter should be widely studied, as it is a key factor for nutrient maintenance and cycling in ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate the decomposition, release of nutrients, and microbial activity of the forest floor litter of secondary forest, Acacia mangium, Sapindus saponaria, and Hevea brasiliensis in the south of Espirito Santo. The litter decomposition and nutrients release was measured by means of litter bags added to each forest cover. For the assessment of microbial activity, we quantified mineralizable carbon by CO2 evolution. The results showed that the forest covers behaved differently in terms of decomposition and microbial activity; particular emphasis is given to Sapindus saponaria, which presented a faster decomposition of litter. The cover of Sapindus saponaria also presented higher amounts of accumulated CO2 compared to other forest covers; whereas the cover of Acacia mangium presented the lowest values of accumulated CO2.

ABSTRACT Green manures are an alternative for substituting or supplementing mineral nitrogen fertilizers. The aim of this study was to quantify biological N fixation (BNF) and the N contribution derived from BNF (N-BNF) to N levels in leaves of coffee intercropped with legumes grown on four family farms located in the mountainous region of the Atlantic Forest Biome in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The following green manures were evaluated: pinto peanuts (Arachis pintoi), calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides), crotalaria (Crotalaria spectabilis), Brazilian stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), lablab beans (Dolichos lablab), and velvet beans (Stizolobium deeringianum), and spontaneous plants. The experimental design was randomized blocks with a 4 × 8 factorial arrangement (four agricultural properties and eight green manures), and four replications. One hundred grams of fresh matter of each green manure plant were dried in an oven to obtain the dry matter. We then performed chemical and biochemical characterizations and determined the levels of 15N and 14N, which were used to quantify BNF through the 15N (δ15N) natural abundance technique. The legumes C. mucunoides, S. guianensis, C. cajan, and D. lablab had the highest rates of BNF, at 46.1, 45.9, 44.4, and 42.9 %, respectively. C. cajan was the legume that contributed the largest amount of N (44.42 kg ha-1) via BNF.C. cajan, C. spectabilis, and C. mucunoides transferred 55.8, 48.8, and 48.1 %, respectively, of the N from biological fixation to the coffee plants. The use of legumes intercropped with coffee plants is important in supplying N, as well as in transferring N derived from BNF to nutrition of the coffee plants.

The present study aims to determine the effects of soil management practices on soil surface roughness and the consequences of these phenomena on water and sediment losses. Laboratory experiment was conducted on a Chernozems clayey soil subjected to a sequence of two 30 min simulated rainfall of 50.8 mm h-1 and 114.3 mm h-1and four soil management practices: contourtillage (CT), downhill tillage (DT), no-tillage simulated (NTs) and bare soil (BS). Soil surface roughness was evaluated using a laser distance meter. Results showed that the soil tillage in downhill or contour increased soil roughness by 2.90 and 2.76, respectively, reducing the water losses under low rain intensity by 12.8% and 6.4%. Soil surface roughness quickly changed after the onset of rain, and higher values of changes in soil roughness were observed for contour (22.73%) and downhill tillage (21.05%) managements. Soil coverage factor and the direction of tillage were the most important characteristics in contrast with soil surface roughness to reduce the sediment losses. No-tillage simulated (0.59 tha-1) and contourtillage (1.30 t ha-1) were the soil management practices with lower sediment losses compared to other managements studied. The principal theoretical implication of this study is that land use planning with agriculture, livestock must be designed to prevent the soil from being exposed, or if exposed, tillage in contour should be adopted. The input of litter on soil surface had an important role in reducing the sediment and water losses.

RESUMO Neste trabalho propôs-se avaliar os atributos químicos e físicos de diferentes coberturas vegetais num Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo no bioma Mata Atlântica, onde foram selecionadas três microbacias de cabeceira, ocupada por pastagem (microbacia P), mata (microbacia M) e cafeeiro (microbacia C). Foram coletadas amostras de solo em três profundidades para caracterização física e química. As características químicas nas diferentes microbacias estudadas apresentaram baixos níveis de fertilidade. Foram observadas a elevação no pH do solo e nos teores de Ca2+ e Mg2+ nas microbacias P e C em relação a microbacia M. Com a retirada da mata e o estabelecimento da agricultura e pecuária houve uma redução dos teores de matéria orgânica do solo nas microbacias P e C, não alterando as características físicas do solo na microbacia P. A implantação da lavoura de café está ocasionando a redução da qualidade do solo na microbacia C em comparação as microbacias P eM, indicando a necessidade de adequação do manejo do solo nesta área.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical and physical attributes of different soil cover in a Oxisol with a strong wavy relief in the Atlantic Forest Biome, in which were selected three watersheds, employed with grazing (watershed P), forest (watershed M) and coffee (watershed C). Deformed and not deformed samples were collected in three depths for physical and chemical characterization. The chemical characteristics of soil in different watershed studies presented low levels of fertility. It was observed an elevation of pH in the soil and contents of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the watersheds P and C in relation to the watershed M. Due to deforestation and the establishment of agriculture and livestock, there was a decrease in the contents of soil organic matter in the watershed P and C, not altering the physical characteristics of the soil in the watershed P. The implementation of coffee plantation is causing a reduction in the soil quality of watershed C in comparison to the watershed P and M, therefore indicating a need to adequate soil management in this area.

ABSTRACT Organic acids present in organic matter and, or, exudates by microorganisms and plants can increase the liberation of potassium present in minerals. The objective of this study was to characterize the residue from ornamental rocks and evaluate the release of K from these residues after the application of organic acids. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions and followed a 2 × 3 × 5 factorial design with three replicates. The studied factors were: two organic acids (citric acid and malic acid), three ornamental rock residues (R1, R2 and R3) and five organic acid rates (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mmol L-1). After agitation, K concentrations were determined in the equilibrium solution. Successive extractions were performed (1, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 days after the start of the experiment). The organic acids used (citric and malic) promoted the release of up to 4.86 and 4.34 % of the total K contained in the residue, respectively, reinforcing the role of organic acids in the weathering of minerals and in providing K to the soil. The K quantities were, on average, 6.1 % higher when extracted with citric acid compared to malic acid.

A adubação verde é reconhecida como alternativa viável para melhorar a ciclagem de nutrientes em solos agrícolas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção de fitomassa e o acúmulo de nutrientes na parte aérea de adubos verdes de verão: feijão-de-porco [Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC.], guandu-anão (Cajanus cajanvar var. Flavus DC.), mucuna-anã [Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merr] e crotalária (Crotalaria juncea L.), sob efeito da adubação nitrogenada e, ou, da inoculação com bactérias fixadoras de N. Utilizou-se o arranjo de parcelas subdivididas, sendo as parcelas constituídas pelas quatro fabáceas e, as subparcelas, por um fatorial 2(2,) cujos fatores e níveis foram: adubação nitrogenada (com e sem) e inoculação com bactérias diazotróficas (com e sem). O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Nas condições edafoclimáticas deste ensaio, a crotalária é o adubo verde que apresenta os maiores valores de produção de fitomassa aérea (12,4 Mg ha-1) e acumulação de nutrientes, enquanto a mucuna-anã é a menos eficiente na produção de fitomassa aérea (3,9 Mg ha-1) e acúmulo de nutrientes. Os resultados mostram que não há efeito de adubação nitrogenada, ou de inoculação com bactérias fixadoras de N, na produção de fitomassa aérea ou acúmulo de nutrientes, com exceção da inoculação na ausência de adubação nitrogenada, que resultou (p<0,05) em maior acumulação de P, na crotalária, e maior acumulação de Zn e Mn, na mucuna-anã. Conclui-se que a adubação nitrogenada ou a inoculação com bactérias fixadoras de N2, para o cultivo das fabáceas, são práticas de baixa eficiência nas condições edafoclimáticas estudadas.

Green manuring is recognized as a viable alternative to improve nutrient cycling in soils. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytomass production and nutrient accumulation in shoots of the summer green manures jack bean [Canavalia ensiformis (L.) DC.], dwarf pigeon pea (Cajanus cajanvar var. Flavus DC.), dwarf mucuna [Mucuna deeringiana (Bort) Merr] and sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), under nitrogen fertilization and/or inoculation with N-fixing bacteria. A split plot design was arranged with the four Fabaceae species as main plots and nitrogen fertilization (with and without) and inoculation with diazotrophic bacteria (with and without) as the subplots, in a 2² factorial. The experiment was arranged as a randomized complete block design with four replications. In the conditions of this trial, the sunn hemp had the highest production of shoot phytomass (12.4 Mg ha-1) and nutrient accumulation, while the dwarf mucuna had the lowest production of shoot phytomass (3.9 Mg ha-1) and nutrient accumulation. The results showed no effect of nitrogen fertilization or inoculation with N-fixing bacteria on the production of shoot phytomass and nutrient accumulation, except for inoculation without nitrogen fertilization, resulting in greater P accumulation (p <0.05) in the sunn hemp and greater Zn and Mn accumulation in the dwarf mucuna. These findings indicate that N fertilization or inoculation with N2-fixing bacteria for Fabaceae are low efficiency practices in the edaphoclimatic conditions of this study.

O fornecimento de N tem sido importante meio para aumento da produtividade das gramíneas forrageiras tropicais no Brasil, pois, na maioria das áreas cultivadas, os teores desse nutriente no solo não atendem satisfatoriamente a necessidade das culturas. Avaliou-se o efeito da aplicação de diferentes fontes e doses de N sobre os atributos químicos de um Latossolo Amarelo e a produção do Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo, campus Santa Teresa. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com três repetições, em esquema fatorial 3 × 6, sendo três fertilizantes nitrogenados (ureia, sulfato de amônio e nitrato de cálcio) e seis doses de N (0, 120, 240, 360, 480 e 600 kg ha-1), totalizando 54 unidades experimentais. As doses de N foram aplicadas a cada 28 dias, sempre após o corte da forrageira, totalizando sete aplicações durante o período experimental de 196 dias. Após o término do experimento, foram coletadas, com o auxílio de um trado holandês, amostras de solo na profundidade de 0-20 e 20-40 cm, para avaliar o efeito da aplicação dos tratamentos sobre os atributos químicos do solo nas diferentes profundidades. Os resultados experimentais evidenciaram que o sulfato de amônio apresentou elevado potencial de acidificação do solo. As alterações provocadas no pH do solo resultaram em alterações nos teores de Al trocável, na acidez potencial e na disponibilidade de P no solo. A aplicação de elevadas doses de N na forma de sulfato de amônio e nitrato de cálcio promoveu a lixiviação de bases, especialmente do K para a profundidade de 20-40 cm.

Nitrogen supplementation has been an important means for increasing yield in tropical gramineous forage plants in Brazil because, in most growing areas, the levels of this nutrient in the soil do not adequately meet crop needs. We assessed the effect of different sources and application rates of N on the chemical properties of an Oxisol (Latossolo Amarelo) and the production of Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça. The experiment was carried out at the Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo (State of Espirito Santo, Brazil), Santa Teresa campus. A randomized block experimental design with three replications was used in a 3 × 6 factorial arrangement, with three N fertilizers (urea, ammonium sulfate, and calcium nitrate) and six N doses (0, 120, 240, 360, 480, and 600 kg ha-1), for a total of 54 experimental units. The N was applied every 28 days, always after cutting the forage, for a total of seven applications over the 196-day experimental period. At the end of the experiment, soil samples were collected at the depth of 0-20 and 20-40 cm with the aid of a Dutch auger to evaluate the effect of the application rate on the chemical properties of the soil at the different depths. The experimental results showed high potential for soil acidification from ammonium sulfate. The changes brought about in soil pH resulted in changes in exchangeable Al content, in potential acidity, and in P availability in the soil. The application of high rates of N in the form of ammonium sulfate and calcium nitrate led to leaching of bases, especially K at the depth of 20-40 cm.

Localizado na porção centro-oeste do Estado de Minas Gerais, o Quadrilátero Ferrífero abrange uma área de aproximadamente 7.000 km². Desde o século XVII, a região é conhecida como uma província aurífera e ferrífera, sendo por essa razão uma das regiões mais bem estudadas do Brasil no contexto geológico. A região é de topografia muito acidentada, onde predominam solos pouco evoluídos pedogeneticamente, com destaque para Cambissolos Háplicos, Neossolos Litólicos e Neossolos Regolíticos. Em menor proporção e em rampas de colúvio (relevo suave ondulado), ocorrem Latossolos Vermelhos muito ricos em Fe, anteriormente denominados Latossolos Ferríferos. Neste trabalho, foram realizados estudos para caracterizar física, química e mineralogicamente amostras de nove perfis de Latossolos Vermelhos férricos e perférricos, desenvolvidos de itabirito e rochas afins no Quadrilátero Ferrífero, com os objetivos de melhor entender sua gênese e avaliar critérios taxonômicos que permitam sua diferenciação no SiBCS, em níveis categóricos mais baixos. Os elevados valores de densidade de partículas são peculiares nesses solos e, ao lado da estrutura forte, muito pequena e granular, são fatores que contribuem para subestimar os teores de argila e superestimar os de silte, resultando em relação silte/argila maior do que aquela proposta pelo SiBCS para os Latossolos. A variação dos teores de SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, TiO2, MnO, P2O5 e de alguns elementos-traço aponta para a diversidade na composição química do itabirito ou, ainda, provável mistura com rochas filíticas da região. Os valores das relações Fe2O3/TiO2 (não molecular) e TiO2/Fe2O3 (molecular) revelaram-se diferentes daqueles sugeridos na literatura para separação de Latossolos Vermelhos desenvolvidos de itabirito daqueles de rochas máficas. As frações areia, silte e argila apresentaram grande variação na atração magnética, com as duas primeiras frações evidenciando maior magnetização, em razão da presença de magnetita. Os valores de substituição isomórfica de Fe por Al variaram 0,07 a 0,11 e 0,09 a 0,38 mol mol-1 nas estruturas da hematita e magnetita, respectivamente.

Located in the Midwest of the State of Minas Gerais, a region called Quadrilátero Ferrífero covers an area of approximately 7,000 km². Since the seventeenth century, it is known as gold- and iron-producing province, and the geological context is therefore one of the best-studied of Brazil. The regional topography is very rugged, with mostly poorly developed pedogenesis, especially Cambissolos Háplicos, Neossolos Litólicos and Neossolos Regolíticos. In a smaller proportion and on colluvial ramps (hilly relief), very Fe-rich Latossolos Vermelhos occur, formerly Latossolos Ferríferos. This study characterized the physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of samples from nine ferric and hyperferric Latossolo Vermelho profiles, developed from itabirite and related rocks in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, with the objectives of improving the understanding of their genesis and establish taxonomic criteria for their differentiation in the SiBCS at lower categorical levels. The high particle density values in these soils are peculiar and along with the strong, very small and granular structure, are factors that contribute to underestimate clay and overestimate silt, resulting in a higher silt/clay ratio than proposed by SiBCS for Latossolos. Variations in the levels of SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, TiO2, MnO, P2O5, and of some trace elements indicate the diversity in the chemical composition of itabirite or a probable mixture with phyllitic rocks of the region. The ratios of Fe2O3/TiO2 (non-molecular) and TiO2/Fe2O3 (molecular) reported in the literature for separation of Latossolos Vermelhos differed between soils developed from itabirite and from mafic rocks. The magnetic attraction in sand, silt and clay varied greatly; due to the presence of magnetite, magnetization was higher in the former two fractions. The values of isomorphic Al-for-Fe substitution ranged from 0.07 to 0.11 and from 0.09 to 0.38 mol mol-1 in the structures of hematite and magnetite, respectively.