Soil phosphorus content classes and energy cane yield under controlled environmental conditions Juan Ricardo Rocha, Dalila Lopes da Silva, Robson Campos de Lima, Mariana Lopes de Carvalho, Isadora Fantini Passos, et al. Revista Brasileira De Ciencia do Solo, 2025 Phosphorus (P) plays a crucial role in plant metabolism. However, its specific effect on biomass and stalk production in energy cane in tropical soil regions has not yet been fully clarified. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of P application rates on energy cane yield under two water regimes, determine critical soil P levels, and propose interpretive classifications for agronomic and fertilization recommendations. The experiment was conducted in containers in a controlled environment in a randomized block design with four P application rates (0, 60, 180, and 300 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 applied as triple superphosphate), two water regimes (full irrigation and water deficit irrigation), and two energy cane varieties (Vertix 2 and Vertix 3) in a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with three replications. The following factors were analyzed: biometric evaluations, stalk yield, gross sugar yield, definition of critical soil P levels, and classifications of soil P levels. The application rate of 180 kg ha -1 of P 2 O 5 provided the best crop growth and yield (174 Mg ha -1 for Vertix 3 and 181 Mg ha -1 for Vertix 2). Critical soil P levels under the water deficit irrigation and full irrigation conditions, respectively, were 18 and 29 mg dm -3 P for the linear model, 19 and 29 mg dm -3 P for the quadratic model, and 23 and 31 mg dm -3 for the Inverse Mitscherlich model. Soil P levels for deficit irrigation and full irrigation were classified as very low (up to 16 mg dm -3 , under both irrigation conditions), low (16–23 or 16–31 mg dm -3 , resp.), intermediate (24–29 or 32–60 mg dm -3 , resp.), high (30–58 or 61–120 mg dm -3 , resp.), and very high (>58 or >120 mg dm -3 , resp.). Energy cane has a higher P nutritional requirement compared with conventional sugarcane, highlighting the need to revise the phosphorus fertilization recommendation criteria. Therefore, the definition of specific P critical levels and content classifications for energy cane is essential to optimize fertilizer use efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and promote more sustainable production systems.
Residual Effect of Silicate Agromineral Application on Soil Acidity, Mineral Availability, and Soybean Anatomy Mariana de Carvalho Ribeiro, Antonio Ganga, Isabella Silva Cattanio, Aline Redondo Martins, Rodrigo Silva Alves, et al. Agronomy, 2025 Silicate agrominerals (SA) may be sustainable soil amendments that can minimize dependence on conventional fertilizers (CF). We evaluated the residual effects of SA application as a source of Si and as a soil remineralizer, using soils with contrasting chemical-physical features cultivated with soybean. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions and treatments were arranged in a 5 × 2 + 2 factorial scheme: five rates of SA, two soils in addition to CF. The soil was incubated before cultivation, followed by the sequential sowing of corn and soybean. At the R4 phenological stage, when the pods were fully developed, soybean plants were harvested for anatomical leaf tissue analysis and P, Ca, Mg, and Si accumulation. After harvest, the soil was analyzed. Application of SA rates reduced potential acidity (H + Al) and exchangeable acidity (Al3+) and increased soil pH, sum of bases (SB), cation-exchange capacity (CEC), and base saturation (BS), in addition to promoting the nutrient’s availability and Si. Stomatal density was higher on the adaxial face of plants cultivated in the medium-textured soil. Silicate agrominerals can be used as a soil acidity corrector and remineralizer, improving the root environment and increasing the availability of nutrients and silicon.
Unfolding boron dynamics at the scale of soil-water-fertilizer-crop systems in the tropics: from soil availability to plant requirements Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Juan Ricardo Rocha, Timóteo Herculino da Silva Barros, Gabriele Rossini Moreira, Vinícius Pires Rezende, et al. Scientia Agricola, 2025 Boron (B) is an essential element that limits crop productivity and quality in tropical regions due to its low availability. Rainfall regime influences B dynamics in soil, which, in turn, affects crop responses to B. Tropical soils are considered low in B if concentrations are less than 0.20 and 0.60 mg kg–1 for annual and perennial crops, respectively. The B availability in soil is governed by the soil’s pH, texture, organic matter (OM) content, cation exchange capacity, and source material. Plants’ uptake of B occurs passively, although it varies according to its availability in the soil solution. The presence of low- affinity (BOR1 gene) and high-affinity (NIP5;1 gene) transporters has been characterized. B deficiency can impair crop development due to its role in cell metabolism at the molecular, physiological, anatomical, and morphological levels. Both B deficiency and toxicity affect plant growth, highlighting the importance of monitoring B availability by assessing soil fertility to optimize crop performance and quality. Further study should examine the nutritional management of economically important crops using B sources with different solubility in water, application rates, particle sizes, placement, forms, and timing. The speculation that the range between B deficiency and toxicity is narrow may be misunderstood, especially when foliar diagnosis is still neglected. This review aims to understand B dynamics in tropical soils, its functions in higher plants cultivated in these regions, and how its deficiency and/or toxicity can affect agricultural production.
Soil Dynamics in Carbon, Nitrogen, and Enzyme Activity Under Maize–Green Manure Cropping Sequences Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Wanderley José de Melo, Roberto Alves de Oliveira, Paulo Henrique Silveira Cardoso, Raíssa de Araujo Dantas, et al. Soil Systems, 2024 The diversification of cropping sequences has a positive impact on soil organic carbon, while improving nutrient cycling and crop yields. The objective of this research was to assess amylase, cellulase, C and N dynamics, and maize yield on a low fertility oxisol in the Brazilian Cerrado. The experiment was conducted under field conditions during three maize crop succession cycles. The treatments consisted of cultivating maize during the summer, after sorghum and lablab cropped as green manure and fallow during the winter. Higher maize yields were achieved by sorghum–maize succession compared to monocropping, due to higher N fertilizer and biomass inputs to topsoil. Sorghum–maize succession also provided a higher proportion of stable C and N compared to other successions. Maize yields declined as tropical soil fertility intrinsically decreased along three crops succession cycles. Cellulase activity decreased over time, whereas amylase activity increased as the plant residues were already in advanced stages of decomposition. The sorghum–maize crop succession stood out compared to lablab and fallow as it provided the highest maize yields, while maintaining higher C and N levels, and amylase activity. This better performance was likely due to larger amounts of incorporated biomass and better mineral N fertilizer management.
Treating Tropical Soils with Composted Sewage Sludge Reduces the Mineral Fertilizer Requirements in Sugarcane Production Rafael dos Santos Silva, Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho, Arshad Jalal, Rodrigo Silva Alves, Nathércia Castro Elias, et al. Land, 2024 Conventional mineral fertilization (CMF) is a common practice in infertile sugarcane-cultivated tropical soils, increasing production costs and environmental concerns. Combining CMF with composted sewage sludge (CSS) could be a sustainable strategy. We aim to evaluate changes in soil chemical properties, macro- and micronutrient concentrations in the soil surface (Ap1; 0–25 cm) and subsurface (Ap2; 25–50 cm) horizons, after CSS application with or without CMF in sugarcane cultivation (first and second ratoon cane). Eleven treatments, featured by CSS increase rates and mixed with CMF at different concentrations, were tested in the first ratoon; during the second, the CSS residual effect was evaluated. Applying CSS in sugarcane-cultivated soils, improved the following: (i) soil organic matter, pH, the sum of bases, cation-exchange capacity, and base saturation; (ii) overall nutrient concentrations (P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, and Zn). The treatments showing the best performances were those with 5.0 Mg ha−1 of CSS. Composted sewage sludge has the potential for use as an organic natural fertilizer reducing the need for CMF. When applied in infertile tropical soils, additional positive effects can be achieved, such as decreasing production costs and providing socio-economic benefits.
How can the inflection point of the water retention curve and the soil physical attributes be used to forecast field capacity? Timóteo Herculino da Silva Barros, Matheus Vieira Uliana, Jéfferson de Oliveira Costa, Asdrubal Jesus Farias-Ramírez, Cassio Hamilton Abreu Junior Pesquisa Agropecuaria Tropical, 2024 Agricultural productivity is closely related to soil physical attributes, specifically those that affect the soil-water relationship, as the soil serves as the main water reservoir for plants. This research aimed to determine the field capacity for different soils, using equations based on the water retention curve. The database used included 150 soil profiles from studies published by other authors encompassing information related to textural classification, soil bulk density, particle density and soil water retention. The inflection point for each soil profile and the corresponding matrix potential were generated. Multiple correlations were established between volumetric moisture at field capacity and clay, silt and sand contents. The calculated inflection point can be an estimator of field capacity, what may facilitate and speed up the calculation of water availability.
Irrigation Developments in Brazil Timóteo Herculino da Silva Barros, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Rubens Duarte Coelho, Flávia Rosana Barros da Silva, Jonathan Vasquez Lizcano Handbook of Irrigation Hydrology and Management Irrigation Case Studies, 2023
Silicon Mitigates the Effects of Potentially Toxic Metals Lilian Aparecida de Oliveira, Flávio José Rodrigues Cruz, Dalila Lopes da Silva, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Renato de Mello Prado Benefits of Silicon in the Nutrition of Plants, 2023
10Boron Is Mobile in Cowpea Plants Sylvia Leticia Oliveira Silva, Renato de Mello Prado, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Gilmara Pereira da Silva, Gabriel Barbosa da Silva Júnior, et al. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2021
Soil and fertilizer phosphorus use by tomato Felipe Carlos Alvarez V., Robson Rui Cotrim Duete, Takashi Muraoka, Washington Luiz Cotrim Duete, Cassio Hamilton Abreu Jr. Scientia Agricola, 2002
Long‑term impacts of a composted sewage sludge–based Class B organic fertilizer on soil micronutrients and crop production in the Tropics LC Silva, AR Coscione, RS Alves, PST Silva, AR Prates, LS Dutra, ... European Journal of Agronomy 179, 128156 , 2026 2026
Enhancing soil security in Brazilian Cerrado: composted sewage sludge as a sustainable conservation agriculture strategy REN do Nascimento, NC Elias, PST Silva, RS Alves, AR Coscione, ... Soil Security, 100237 , 2026 2026
Agronomic performance of maize and cover crops using composted sewage sludge to supply phosphorus NC Elias, JHS Luz, REN do Nascimento, PST Silva, RS Alves, FM Fabrino, ... Agronomy Journal 118 (1), e70307 , 2026 2026
Soil phosphorus content classes and energy cane yield under controlled environmental conditions JR Rocha, DL Silva, RC Lima, ML Carvalho, IF Passos, V Capucin, ... Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 49 (spe1), e0240163 , 2025 2025
Twelve-year residual effect of sewage sludge on the biogeochemical cycling of potentially toxic elements in tropical Eucalyptus plantation AL Florentino, AV Ferraz, AC Rodrigues, NS Mateus, PHS Cardoso, ... Forest Ecology and Management 593, 122863 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Basalt rock dust as a soil remineralizer in upland rice grown in tropical soils: residual effects on soil fertility, Si availability, and leaf anatomy M de Carvalho Ribeiro, AR Martins, RS Alves, LGF Lessa, HS Pereira, ... Journal of Cleaner Production 520, 146063 , 2025 2025 Citations: 6
Efeito da adubação nitrogenada na qualidade e produtividade da cana energia em comparação à matéria-prima açucarada FC da SILVA, JTC SANTOS, SS de CARVALHO, LFS MARCHIORI, ... Bioenergia em Revista: Diálogos (ISSN: 2236-9171) 15 (1), 8-35 , 2025 2025
Fertilizantes orgânicos e os seus impactos na saúde do solo e nos estoques de carbono TAR Nogueira, LC Silva, PST Silva, RS Alves, AR Coscione, ... Saúde do solo em ecossistemas tropicais: a base para mitigação e adaptação … , 2025 2025
Unfolding boron dynamics at the scale of soil-water-fertilizer-crop systems in the tropics: from soil availability to plant requirements CH Abreu-Junior, JR Rocha, THS Barros, GR Moreira, VP Rezende, ... Scientia Agricola 82, e20230294 , 2025 2025 Citations: 5
Residual Effect of Silicate Agromineral Application on Soil Acidity, Mineral Availability, and Soybean Anatomy M de Carvalho Ribeiro, A Ganga, IS Cattanio, AR Martins, RS Alves, ... Agronomy 15 (1), 5 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
Soil Dynamics in Carbon, Nitrogen, and Enzyme Activity Under Maize–Green Manure Cropping Sequences CH Abreu-Junior, WJ Melo, RA Oliveira, PHS Cardoso, RA Dantas, ... Soil Systems 8 (4), 115 , 2024 2024
Treating tropical soils with composted sewage sludge reduces the mineral fertilizer requirements in sugarcane production RS Silva, MCM Teixeira Filho, A Jalal, RS Alves, NC Elias, ... Land 13 (11), 1820 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Açai seed biochar improves soil quality and black pepper seedling development in the Amazon region M de Souza Mendonça, WJ de Melo, GMP de Melo, LMA Bertipaglia, ... Journal of Environmental Management 367, 121752 , 2024 2024 Citations: 6
How can the inflection point of the water retention curve and the soil physical attributes be used to forecast field capacity? 1 THS Barros, MV Uliana, JO Costa, AJ Farias-Ramírez, CH Abreu Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical 54, e78125 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Produtividade e variáveis biométricas e tecnológicas da cultura de cana-energia em função da adubação potássica, no terceiro ciclo de cultivo LA Almeida 2024
Gerenciamento, tratamento e disposição de resíduos na cana-de-açúcar. MNA GURGEL, FJ Freire, FC da Silva, CH ABREU JUNIOR, ... 2024 Citations: 1
Early and long-distance uptake by Eucalyptus grandis of N, K and Ca tracers injected down to a depth of 7 m JP Bouillet, B Bordron, JP Laclau, A Robin, JLM Gonçalves, ... Forest Ecology and Management 550, 121507 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
Filming a hidden resource: The soil in the seventh art narrative A Ganga, LR Roder, EA Paganini, AD Jani, CH Abreu-Junior, ... Geoderma 440, 116710 , 2023 2023 Citations: 7
Residual effects of composted sewage sludge on nitrogen cycling and plant metabolism in a no-till common bean-palisade grass-soybean rotation MB Silva, LS Camargos, MCM Teixeira Filho, LA Souza, AR Coscione, ... Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1281670 , 2023 2023 Citations: 13
Potential soil remineralizers from silicate rock powders (SRP) as alternative sources of nutrients for agricultural production (Amazon Region) PRR Benevides Filho, AE Blaskowski, MN Ramos, LGF Lessa, ANZ Filho, ... Minerals 13 (10), 1255 , 2023 2023 Citations: 14
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Relationship between acidity and chemical properties of Brazilian soils CH Abreu junior, T Muraoka, AF Lavorante Scientia Agricola 60 (2), 337-343 , 2003 2003 Citations: 151
Manual de análises químicas de solos, plantas e fertilizantes AD Santos, AR Coscione, AC Vitti, AE Boaretto, AM Coelho, ... Brasília, DF: Embrapa Informação Tecnológica , 2009 2009 Citations: 150
Functional specialization of Eucalyptus fine roots: contrasting potential uptake rates for nitrogen, potassium and calcium tracers at varying soil depths EV Da Silva, JP Bouillet, JL de Moraes Gonçalves, CHA Junior, ... Functional Ecology 25 (5), 996-1006 , 2011 2011 Citations: 132
Uso agrícola de resíduos orgânicos potencialmente poluentes: Propriedades químicas do solo e produção vegetal CHA Junior, AE Boaretto, T Muraoka, JC Kiehl Tópicos em ciência do solo 4, 391-470 , 2005 2005 Citations: 123
Short-term usage of sewage sludge as organic fertilizer to sugarcane in a tropical soil bears little threat of heavy metal contamination TAR Nogueira, A Franco, Z He, VS Braga, LP Firme, CH Abreu-Junior Journal of Environmental Management 114 (15), 168-177 , 2013 2013 Citations: 109
Composting sewage sludge with green waste from tree pruning SML Moretti, EI Bertoncini, CH Abreu-Junior Scientia Agricola 72, 432-439 , 2015 2015 Citations: 108
Background concentrations and quality reference values for some potentially toxic elements in soils of São Paulo State, Brazil TAR Nogueira, CH Abreu-Junior, LRF Alleoni, Z He, MR Soares, ... Journal of environmental management 221, 10-19 , 2018 2018 Citations: 86
Fertilization increases the functional specialization of fine roots in deep soil layers for young Eucalyptus grandis trees B Bordron, A Robin, IR Oliveira, J Guillemot, JP Laclau, C Jourdan, ... Forest Ecology and Management 341 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.03 … , 2019 2019 Citations: 73
Exchangeable aluminum evaluation in acid soils CH Abreu, T Muraoka, AF Lavorante Scientia Agricola 60 (3), 543-548 , 2003 2003 Citations: 72
Uptake and Distribution of Soil Applied Zinc by Citrus Trees—Addressing Fertilizer Use Efficiency with 68 Zn Labeling FWR Hippler, RM Boaretto, JA Quaggio, AE Boaretto, CH Abreu-Junior, ... PloS one 10 (3), e0116903 , 2015 2015 Citations: 66
Use of diffusive gradients in thin films and tangential flow ultrafiltration for fractionation of Al (III) and Cu (II) in organic-rich river waters PS Tonello, AH Rosa, CH Abreu Jr, AA Menegário Analytica Chimica Acta 598 (1), 162-168 , 2007 2007 Citations: 64
Potassium fertilization increases hydraulic redistribution and water use efficiency for stemwood production in Eucalyptus grandis plantations V Asensio, JC Domec, Y Nouvellon, JP Laclau, JP Bouillet, ... Environmental and Experimental Botany 176, 104085 , 2020 2020 Citations: 60
Condutividade elétrica, reação do solo e acidez potencial em solos adubados com composto de lixo CH ABREU JUNIOR, T MURAOKA, AF LAVORANTE, FC ALVAREZ Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 24 (3), 635-647 , 2000 2000 Citations: 59
Fertilization using sewage sludge in unfertile tropical soils increased wood production in Eucalyptus plantations CH Abreu-Junior, LP Firme, CAB Maldonado, SP de Moraes Neto, ... Journal of Environmental Management 203 (1), 51-58 , 2017 2017 Citations: 56
Investigation into the relationship among Cd bioaccumulation, nutrient composition, ultrastructural changes and antioxidative metabolism in lettuce genotypes under Cd stress J Lavres, FHS Rabêlo, FR Capaldi, AR Dos Reis, ML Rosssi, MR Franco, ... Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 170, 578-589 , 2019 2019 Citations: 54
On-line determination of Sb (III) and total Sb using baker's yeast immobilized on polyurethane foam and hydride generation inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry AA Menegário, AJ Silva, E Pozzi, SF Durrant, CH Abreu Spectrochimica Acta Part B: Atomic Spectroscopy 61 (9), 1074-1079 , 2006 2006 Citations: 50
Nepheline syenite and phonolite as alternative potassium sources for maize TAR Nogueira, BG Miranda, A Jalal, LGF Lessa, MCMT Filho, ... Agronomy 11 (7), 1385 , 2021 2021 Citations: 48
Influences of edaphoclimatic conditions on deep rooting and soil water availability in Brazilian Eucalyptus plantations VE Silva, TAR Nogueira, CH Abreu-Junior, Z He, S Buzetti, JP Laclau, ... Forest Ecology and Management 455, 117673 , 2020 2020 Citations: 48
Effects of sewage sludge application on unfertile tropical soils evaluated by multiple approaches: a field experiment in a commercial Eucalyptus plantation CH Abreu-Junior, MJ de Lima Brossi, RT Monteiro, PHS Cardoso, ... Science of the Total Environment 655, 1457-1467 , 2019 2019 Citations: 48
Long-term effects of residual sewage sludge application in tropical soils under Eucalyptus plantations AL Florentino, A de Vicente Ferraz, JL de Moraes Gonçalves, V Asensio, ... Journal of Cleaner Production 220, 177-187 , 2019 2019 Citations: 47