RESUMOO experimento foi realizado em um Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro distrófico textura média, em Ponta Grossa (PR), com o objetivo de avaliar a produção de milho, trigo e soja em função das alterações das características químicas do solo, pela aplicação de calcário e gesso na superfície, em sistema plantio direto. O delineamento experimental empregado foi o de blocos ao acaso em parcela subdividida, com três repetições. Foram utilizadas quatro doses de calcário dolomítico, com 84% de PRNT: 0, 2, 4 e 6 t ha -1 e quatro doses de gesso agrícola: 0, 4, 8 e 12 t ha -1 . A calagem foi realizada em julho, e a aplicação de gesso feita em novembro de 1993. A produção da cultura de milho foi avaliada no ano agrícola de 1994/95, a de trigo no inverno de 1996 e a de soja em 1996/97. A aplicação de calcário na superfície não influenciou a produção de milho, trigo e soja. Houve ação da calagem na correção da acidez de camadas superficiais e do subsolo, porém seu efeito em camadas profundas não foi observado após quarenta meses. O gesso foi eficiente na melhoria do ambiente radicular do subsolo, embora tenha causado lixiviação de magnésio trocável do solo. Das três culturas avaliadas, somente o milho apresentou resposta à aplicação de gesso em decorrência do fornecimento de enxofre, da melhoria do teor de cálcio trocável, da redução da saturação por alumínio e do aumento da relação Ca/Mg do solo.Termos de indexação: calagem, subsolo, acidez, lixiviação de íons.(1) Recebido para publicação em abril e aprovado em outubro de 1998. (2) Professor do

Saline stress is a frequent phenomenon in the arid and semi-arid regions of the globe, affecting the agricultural production of these regions, and it is necessary to use strategies that minimize the impacts of saline stress under agriculture. This requires the incorporation of species, variety and genotypes tolerant to increase agricultural production in those regions. This study aimed to evaluate germination and initial growth of cowpea genotypes under salt stress. The experimental design was completely randomized in 19 x 3 factorial scheme, composed of nineteen cowpea cultivars and three osmotic potentials, with four replicates of 50 seeds each. The germination test lasted for eight days, when the seeds were evaluated for germination percentage, germination speed index, length of shoot and root, accumulation of dry mass of shoot and root. The increase in salinity affected germination and initial growth of the cowpea genotypes. The genotypes 6 -MNCO2-689F-2-8, 10 -MNCO2-675F-4-10, 12 -MNCO3-737F-5-9, 16 -MNCO2-677F-2, 18 -BRS-Pajeú and 19 -Paulistinha exhibited higher tolerance to salt stress in the stage of germination and initial growth. The genotypes 11 -MNCO2-675F-9-5, 13 -BRS-Tumucumaque, 15 -MNCO3-736F-7 and 17 -BR17-Gurgueia were more susceptible to the effects of salt stress in the stage of germination and initial growth.

Biochar is material produced during a process called pyrolysis. This material can be used as fertilizer to increase the agronomic productivity of low fertility soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil chemical amendments and the macronutrients leaching following biochar application, produced from poultry litter, in Yellow Red Latosol in laboratory experiments. Soil columns (height 20 cm) containing 0; 10; 15; 20; 25 and 30 t ha-1 of biochar with four replications totaled 24 experimental units. For 30 days, water was applied daily to each column, and the leachates were collected and chemically characterized. After this period, soil samples were taken from the 0-10 and 10-20 cm layer depth and chemically characterized. Biochar reduced exchangeable acidity values. Biochar improved soil fertility. Leachates contained increasing EC, K, Na, Ca and Mg, however the concentration of these elements were small in relation to the biochar doses.

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Poultry litter biochar has shown to be promising in crop development and production. On this basis, this study was developed to investigate the influence of increasing rates of poultry litter biochar on the growth and production of maize hybrid BRS 2022. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with six biochar rates (0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.1, 8.1 and 10.1 t ha-1) and four replicates. Plots consisted of pots with a volume of 20 dm3, with one plant each. The following variables were evaluated at 83 days after sowing: plant height; first-ear insertion height; stem diameter; number of leaves; leaf area; internode length and number; stem, leaf and total dry weights; ear weight; grain weight per plant; 1000-grain weight; and ear length and diameter. Biochar application influenced plant height; first-ear insertion height; stem diameter; leaf area; internode length; and stem, leaf and total dry weights, having a positive impact in increasing in ear weight, grain weight per plant, 1000-grain weight and ear length and diameter. For the conditions in which the experiment was conducted, the recommended biochar rate to obtain the best results is 6.4 t ha-1.