RESUMOA produção de massa seca, a taxa de decomposição e a liberação de nitrogênio (N) foram avaliadas em um experimento com sete tipos de cobertura vegetal: milheto pérola (Pennisetum americanum sin. tiphoydes), braquiária (Brachiaria brizantha), sorgo forrageiro (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), guandu (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp), crotalária juncea (Crotalarea juncea) e aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Schreb), em pousio e em área de cultivo convencional (testemunha), em solo de cerrado, em Uberaba, região do Triângulo Mineiro. Dentre as coberturas avaliadas, o milheto e a crotalária foram as que apresentaram a maior produção de massa seca, maior acúmulo e a maior liberação de N. A braquiária foi a cobertura que apresentou a maior taxa de decomposição. Todas as coberturas apresentaram a maior taxa de liberação de N até 42 dias após dessecação.

This paper originates from an address at the 8th International Symposium on Nitrogen Fixation with Non-Legumes, Sydney, NSW, December 2000 The use of the 15N natural abundance technique to quantify contribution of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) to any plant is based on the observation that N derived from soil is generally slightly different [usually higher in 15N abundance (δ15N‰)] than that of the air. Plants or micro-organisms growing solely on BNF generally accumulate N with 15N isotopic abundance lower than that of the air (i.e. δ15N‰ is negative), while plants obtaining all N from the soil generally show a positive δ15N‰ signal. The technique is applied by estimating the 15N abundance of the putative ‘N2-fixing’ crop and analysing the 15N abundance of neighbouring non-N2-fixing reference plants. However, often there are such large variations in the N derived from the soil by different non-N2-fixing plants that in natural ecosystems it is often impossible to even distinguish plants that are benefiting form BNF, let alone quantity this contribution. The reasons why soil derived N can vary so widely, especially in natural ecosystems, are briefly discussed and a sampling strategy is described to assess possible BNF inputs to sugar cane plants in commercial plantations in Brazil. The results suggest that in nine of the 11 sites studied, BNF inputs were significant ranging from 25 to 60% of N assimilated.

A matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) é o produto de resíduos da biota, principalmente dos vegetais, parcialmente decompostos e sintetizados, em vários estádios de complexidade e diversidade estrutural. A dinâmica da matéria orgânica influencia os principais processos químicos, físicos e biológicos nos solos, e determina muitas vezes sua fertilidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi quantificar o conteúdo de ácido fúlvico, ácido húmico e humina, e avaliar o estoque destas frações em Latossolo Vermelho, cultivado com soja sobre palhada de braquiária e sorgo no cerrado goiano, município de Montividiu (GO). As amostras foram coletadas em três profundidades nos seguintes sistemas agrícolas: área com cultivo de braquiária na entressafra da soja (SB) e outra com o cultivo de sorgo na entressafra da soja (SS). Foram analisados os teores de carbono orgânico total (COT) e realizado o fracionamento químico da matéria orgânica do solo. A partir dos valores analisados, foram quantificados os estoques de carbono em cada uma das frações. Foram verificadas diferenças significativas para os teores de COT entre sistemas avaliados em todas as profundidades. Quanto às frações químicas da matéria orgânica, observou-se que houve um predomínio da fração humina (C-HU) em relação às frações ácido húmico (C-FAH) e ácido fúlvico (C-FAF) nas duas coletas avaliadas.

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization is one of the main pathways of N loss from agricultural cropping systems. This study evaluated the NH3–N loss from four urea‐based N sources (urea, urea–ammonium nitrate [UAN], SuperU, and ESN [polymer‐coated urea]) surface band applied at a rate of 200 kg N ha−1 to irrigated, strip‐till corn production systems for 2 yr using semi‐static chambers (semi‐open and open) to measure NH3–N loss. The efficiency of the semi‐static chambers in estimating NH3–N loss under field conditions was determined using 15N labeled urea applied at rates of 50, 100, and 200 kg N ha−1. Both chamber types had similar NH3–N recoveries and calibration factors. Immediate irrigation with 16 to 19 mm of water 1 d after N fertilization probably limited NH3–N volatilization from surface‐applied N fertilizers to a range of 0.1 to 4.0% of total N applied. SuperU, which contains a urease inhibitor, had the lowest level of NH3–N loss when compared to the other N sources. Analyzed across years, estimated NH3–N losses for the N sources were in the order: ESN = UAN > urea > SuperU. Both years the results showed that measurement time may need to be increased to evaluate NH3–N volatilization from polymer‐coated urea N sources such as ESN. The open‐chamber method was a viable, low cost method for estimating NH3–N loss from small field plot N studies.

Background and aims The inoculation of cereal crops with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is a potential strategy to improve fertilizer-N acquisition by crops in soils with low capacity to supply N. A study was conducted to assess the impact of three inoculants on grain yield, protein content, and urea-15 N recovery in maize (Zea mays L.) under Cerrado soil and climate conditions. Methods The main treatments included inoculants containing (i) Azospirillum brasilense strain Sp245, (ii) A. brasilense strains AbV5 + AbV6, (iii) Herbaspirillum seropedicae strain ZAE94, and (iv) a non-inoculated control. The subtreatments were (i) urea-N fertilization (100 kg N ha −1) at 30 days after sowing and (ii) no N addition at the stage. To determine fertilizer-N recovery, 15 N-labelled urea was applied in microplots. Results Inoculants carrying A. brasilense improved urea-15 N acquisition efficiency in maize and also improved grain yield compared to the non-inoculated control, while urea-N fertilization enhanced grain quality by providing higher protein content. Conclusion Our results suggest that the inoculation of maize grains with PGPB represents a strategy to improve fertilizer-N recovery and maize yield in Cerrado soil with a low capacity to supply N.