KIT SOHMA: SOIL FIELD EVALUATION

The SOHMA Soil Health Kit is a tool for farmers and professionals in the agricultural sector, which makes in situ assessment of soil health indicators in a practical and accessible way, covering chemical, physical and biological assessments with easy-to-acquire materials and a detailed explanatory manual.

For more information, visit https://www.kitsohma.com.br/ 

Supervisor: Dr. Maurício Roberto Cherubin (ESALQ/USP)

CHANGES IN SOIL QUALITY INDUCED BY THE USE OF SOIL MICROBIOTA ACTIVATOR IN AREAS CULTIVATED WITH SOYBEAN AND CORN

The objective of this project is to evaluate the effect of applying soil microbiota activators (SOP Cocus Soy or SOP Cocus Maize Grain) on the chemical, physical and biological properties of the soil in different regions of Brazil cultivated with soybeans/corn, comparing experimental areas with and without application of the product.

The project is conducted in research fields and commercial crops in the following states: Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul and Tocantins, totaling 10 areas.

Supervisor: Dr. Maurício Roberto Cherubin (ESALQ/USP)

Funding Agency: BluAgri Brasil

FIELD METHODOLOGIES FOR ASSESSING AND MONITORING SOIL QUALITY IN CONSERVATION SYSTEMS: Prospecting, Development and Applications

The overall objective of this project is to conduct prospecting and develop field methods for assessing chemical, physical and biological indicators of soil quality in conservationist agricultural production systems. We will achieve this objective through four steps:

• Conducting a survey of existing field methods in the literature for assessing soil quality;

• Selecting inexpensive, fast, efficient/precise methods that allow for assessing and monitoring soil quality in conservationist systems in Brazil;

• Improving methods and/or developing new field methods for assessing soil quality in conservationist systems;

• Establishing a minimum set of indicators that can compose a kit for assessing soil quality.

Supervisor: Dr. Maurício Roberto Cherubin (ESALQ/USP)

Associated Researchers: Prof. Dr. Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri (ESALQ/USP), Prof. Dr. Tiago Osório Ferreira (ESALQ/USP), Carlos Augusto Bonini Pires | Doutorando / Kansas State University, Felipe Bonini da Luz | Doutorando (ESALQ/USP), Marcos A. Bonini Pires | Graduando de Agronomia (UFSM)

Funding Agency: Agrisus

CAATINGA MICROBIOME INITIATIVE: DISENTANGLING THE MICROBIOME ACROSS DESERTIFICATION AND RESTORATION PROCESSES

The “Caatinga Microbiome Initiative: disentangling the microbiome across desertification and restoration processes” aims to study the effects of desertification and restoration on soil microbial communities in the Caatinga biome. It includes studies on diversity, functionality of microbial communities, and soil health in natural, degraded, and restored areas of the Caatinga. This Initiative brings together researchers from leading institutions that work with Caatinga soils in Brazil with the aim of standardizing a protocol to assess the soil microbiome in the desertification and restoration processes found in Brazilian drylands.

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Partner institutions:

Federal University of Ceará (UFC), Federal University of Piauí (UFPI), Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA/USP), Federal University of Agreste Pernambucano (UFAPE), Semiarid National Institute (INSA), “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (ESALQ/USP).