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Potential soil acidity can be measured by two methods in the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC): solution SMP or solution TSM (Buffer Santa Maria). Calibration of these methods is done by incubating soils for long periods (180 days) of CaCO3. The hypothesis of this study is that it is possible to reduce the incubation period in soils by using a soluble base such as calcium hydroxide. The study aimed to estimate potential acidity in a group of soils by moist incubation with Ca(OH)2 (short) as an alternative to the typical method with CaCO3 (long) and relate to the values estimated by the equation used by the Soil Chemistry and Fertility Commission of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina (CQFS-RS/SC; 2016). Ten soils with sandy texture and low organic matter content were collected at 0-20cm in the Campanha Gaúcha region of the state of RS and incubated for 180 days with doses of CaCO3 equivalent to 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of the lime requirement estimated by the solution TSM to raise to pH 6.0. Soils were also incubated for 4 days in an oven at 35ºC with 0.22mol L-1 Ca(OH)2 at doses equivalent to CaCO3. Short incubation of the soil with Ca(OH) 2 may substitute long incubation with CaCO3. Also, estimating potential acidity using the equation of the CQFS-RS/SC (2016) overestimated potential acidity in soils with solution TSM pH values lower than 6.0 in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed management in apple orchards (Malus domestica) can affect the leaching of nitrogen (N) in soil. The study aimed to evaluate the potential leaching of N forms in soil of an apple orchard with different weed management treatments. The experiment was conducted in an apple orchard implanted in 2008. In October 2011, 80plants were selected and the following treatments were implemented: no weed management (NM), desiccation of weeds on the tree row with herbicide use (DR) and mechanical mowing of weeds on the tree row (MR). Yield was evaluated in the 2011/2012, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 crop seasons. In May 2012 porous cup lysimeters were installed in the NM, DR and MR treatments. In the solution collected at 0.20m, NH4+-N and NO3--N were analyzed sixteen times and mineral N concentration was calculated. The highest concentrations of NO3--N and mineral N occurred in soil solution with DR, which increases availability of the nutrient to apple trees, but also enhances the potential losses. Weed management and N flow in the solution did not affect apple yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]