Diego Antonio França de Freitas

Short reaction periods after soil-amendment incorporation may reveal changes in potassium (K) availability and exchange properties before they are evident in crop performance, but such early responses are rarely evaluated for mineral-organic systems in tropical Alfisols. This study tested whether K-bearing rock dust (RD), poultry manure (PM), Tithonia diversifolia biomass (TD), and their combinations altered early soil chemical indicators and whether the indicators were associated with cumulative okra vegetative growth. We hypothesized that RD-organic combinations would increase exchangeable K and operational cation exchange capacity (CEC), moderate acidity, and support greater vegetative vigour than unamended or singly amended soil. A 3 × 3 split-plot field experiment with three replications was conducted at one site during one growing season in southwestern Nigeria. Baseline soil samples were collected before treatment application, and early samples were collected 14 days after RD, PM, and TD incorporation (2 weeks after amendment application; 2 WAA). The 2-WAA sampling preceded okra sowing and conventional NPK fertilizer application; observations from NPK-designated plots therefore represented pre-NPK conditions. Okra height and leaf number measured from 2 to 12 weeks after planting were integrated as the area under the vegetative vigour index curve (AUVVI). RD increased exchangeable K and operational CEC to 1.67 and 8.54 cmol kg⁻¹, respectively, compared with 0.49 and 4.63 cmol kg⁻¹ in plots without an early mineral input. RD × PM recorded the highest early exchangeable K (1.90 cmol kg⁻¹) and operational CEC (9.69 cmol kg⁻¹), whereas RD × TD produced the highest AUVVI (24,949.0 cm·leaves·week). Associations of AUVVI with early exchangeable K (R² = 0.039, p = 0.323) and the baseline-referenced H⁺ ratio (R² = 0.057, p = 0.230) were weak and non-significant. Thus, RD-organic systems modified early K and cation-retention indicators, but these indicators did not predict cumulative vegetative growth. The findings are treatment-associated evidence from one site and season and require validation across seasons, locations, and soil conditions.

Concerns over unsustainable harvesting of shea butter trees and consequent forest degradation in Kwara State, Nigeria, highlight the need to focus on women shea collectors as key actors in conservation and restoration. This study assessed forest conservation practices (FCPs) among women shea collectors in Baruten Local Government Area, examining their socioeconomic profiles, information sources, knowledge, usage, and constraints. A probability‑based, two‑stage stratified cluster sampling with proportional allocation selected 150 women shea collectors. Data were collected via structured interview schedules and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression to identify socioeconomic determinants of FCPs usage. Findings show the most frequently used practices were establishment of protected areas (mean = 4.38), forest fire management (mean = 3.15), and controlled burning (mean = 3.14); the least utilized were sustainable logging practices (mean = 2.17), forest restoration projects (mean = 1.87), and agroforestry (mean = 1.58). Major constraints included fire outbreaks (mean = 3.19), indiscriminate logging (mean = 3.11), and grazing by Fulani herders (mean = 2.34). Multiple regression revealed significant associations between FCP usage and age (p = 0.000), education (p = 0.000), average monthly income (p = 0.007), and household size (p = 0.000). Older and married collectors showed greater adoption of FCPs. The study concludes that women shea collectors are active participants in conservation but face ecological and socio-institutional barriers. It recommends that strengthening awareness and training on underutilized practices like agroforestry and sustainable logging, delivered through trusted community-based channels, could enhance conservation outcomes and resilience among shea nut collectors.

Este estudo investigou os desafios e oportunidades da comercialização da agricultura familiar por meio do PNAE em Florestal-MG. Foi ulizada a abordagem quali-quantitativa, com questionários aplicados a 12 agricultores familiares, análise documental de dados institucionais e a interpretação foi realizada a partir da Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin. Os resultados indicaram que a atuação da EMATER foi fundamental para a obtenção da DAP e organização documental, apesar da ausência de suporte municipal, que dificultou a adesão de novos produtores. Dentre os principais desafios incluem burocracia, incompatibilidade entre cardápios escolares e produção local, dificuldades na comunicação entre agricultores e gestores, além de barreiras na precificação. A análise sociodemográfica revelou que agricultores com maior escolaridade e capacitação conseguem renovar sua participação com mais facilidade. Conclui-se que o fortalecimento da assistência técnica, o incentivo à educação no campo, a flexibilização dos contratos e incentivos financeiros são essenciais para ampliar a inclusão dos agricultores no PNAE, impulsionar a economia local e garantir a segurança alimentar nas escolas.

Global climate change is closely tied to CO₂ emissions, and implementing conservation-agricultural systems can help mitigate emissions in the Amazon. By maintaining forest cover and integrating sustainable agricultural practices in pasture, these systems help mitigate climate change and preserve the carbon stocks in Amazon forest soils. In addition, these systems improve soil health, microclimate regulation, and promote sustainable agricultural practices in the Amazon region. This study aimed to evaluate the CO₂ emission dynamics and its relationship with soil attributes under different uses in the Amazon. The experiment consisted of four treatments (Degraded Pasture—DP; Managed Pasture—MP; Native Forest—NF; and Livestock Forest Integration—LF), with 25 replications. Soil CO₂ emission (FCO₂), soil temperature, and soil moisture were evaluated over a period of 114 days, and the chemical, physical, and biological attributes of the soil were measured at the end of this period. The mean FCO₂ reached values of 4.44, 3.88, 3.80, and 3.14 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in DP, MP, NF, and LF, respectively. In addition to the direct relationship between soil CO₂ emissions and soil temperature for all land uses, soil bulk density indirectly influenced emissions in NF. The amount of humic acid induced the highest emission in DP. Soil organic carbon and carbon stock were higher in MP and LF. These values demonstrate that FCO₂ was influenced by the Amazon land uses and highlight LF as a low CO₂ emission system with a higher potential for carbon stock in the soil.

Given the climate crisis, the search for sustainable production with potential to reduce excess of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere has been the subject of global agreements. Soils are fundamental carbon storage systems, with a relevant role in CO₂ mitigation emissions. Considering coffee as an important commodity for several countries and agroforestry systems (AFSs) as important allies for mitigating greenhouse gases emitted by the agricultural sector, this study aimed to investigate the ability of coffee plantations in AFSs to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, through soil carbon sequestration. For this purpose, we performed a meta-analysis of 45 AFSs, including simple and diversified ones, from a detailed literature search of scientific research investigating soil organic carbon in AFSs including coffee cultivation. Overall, no effect of AFSs on carbon stock change rates was found, but an increment of soil carbon storage was observed when comparing AFSs with conventional coffee cultivation. Generally, climatic variables and soil texture positively affect soil carbon stock. When comparing diversified and simple AFSs, the first had a positive effect on carbon stock change rates. Agroforestry coffee showed capacity to mitigate climate effects through carbon storage in the soil, especially when the system is diversified. This is a climate-smart strategy and should be implemented in preference to conventional coffee cultivation.

The Pantanal has a high diversity of native pastures that provide food for many wild and domestic animals. Pantanal cattle raising is practiced in an extensive grazing-based system that varies according to the flood levels in the area. This study aimed to evaluate the fractions of soil organic matter in areas of native pastures under different uses and to quantify C and N stocks in sandy soils of the Pantanal. Soil samples from three native pastures differentiated by the predominance of Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Axonopus purpusii, and Mesosetum chaseae under different land use systems (continuous grazing and no grazing for five years) were collected and used to quantify the contents of carbon, nitrogen, and humic fractions. The dynamics of SOM are modified in grazed areas of the Pantanal, with influence on C and N, including their stocks. Native pastures of Axonopus purpusii and Hymenachne amplexicaulis showed an increase in organic matter after five years without grazing, while Mesosetum chaseae showed lower soil density and nitrogen levels. The highest C stock was observed in ungrazed areas of H. amplexicaulis (127.41 Mg ha⁻¹ in the 0–40 cm layer). The dynamics of nitrogen in Pantanal pastures are influenced by the type of vegetation and land management, with higher nitrogen content in the surface layer (0–10 cm) and an increasing C/N ratio with soil depth, indicating lower nitrogen availability.

A produção agrícola no Brasil desempenha um papel crucial na segurança alimentar nacional e global, mas as perdas pós-colheita continuam a ser um desafio significativo. Este artigo revisa as perdas qualitativas e quantitativas durante as etapas de pré-processamento. A pesquisa, baseada na metodologia PRISMA, resultou na seleção de 20 artigos. O estudo destaca estratégias recentes para mitigação de perdas pós-colheita, o manejo pós-colheita, inovações tecnológicas, logísticas e práticas sustentáveis. Os procedimentos de armazenamento de grãos são responsáveis por mais de 50% das perdas agrícolas. Para mitigar essas perdas, é enfatizada a importância de estratégias integradas, tecnologias avançadas e práticas sustentáveis durante as etapas pós-colheita. A colaboração entre os setores da logística de produtos agrícolas é vista como essencial para abordar esse desafio complexo e aprimorar a segurança alimentar global.