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The objective of this work was to evaluate the carbon content of the physical, chemical and oxidizable fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) and to calculate the carbon management index (CMI) in an area managed under an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) in the western region of Paraná - Brazil. The experiment was carried out at the experimental farm, belonging to the Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná. Seventeen areas, which are managed in different ways, fifteen in ICLS and two areas of controls (Forest and Haymaking), using the design divided with two nested controls, with three replications were evaluated. Deformed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from all the areas to determine the total organic carbon (TOC), carbon stock, the physical, chemical and oxidizable fractions of SOM and the CMI in the layers of 0-0.05, 0.05-0.1 and 0.1-0.2 m. Little significant changes in the fractions were found for the management of the ICLS area in relation to the Forest and the area of Haymaking, although the Forest presented the best values for most of the studied fractions. It is recommended to adopt sustainable practices, such as ICLS, even though the average fractions tend to take time to match reference areas.

Foliar fertilizers of soybeans have been widely reported in many field trials. Although Calcium and Boron are essential nutrients for soybean, research results have shown that foliar application of nutrients has been contradictory. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soybean response by applying different foliar fertilizer rates Calcium and Boron on yield components and soybean yield applied at flowering (stadia fenologic R3). Two experiments were carried out during two successive seasons 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, in the Quatro Pontes, Paraná State, Brazil. The area used was managed in no-tillage system consolidated. The experimental was randomized complete blocks design (RCBD), with six replicates. The treatments consisted of applying commercial fertilizer on the basis of Calcium and Boron (10% Ca 2+ and 0.5% of B). Foliar fertilizer containing Ca 2+ and B was applied 30 days after germination, when the plants were at the R3 stage. Also, five rates of commercial product (0, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 4.5 L ha-1) were applied. Analyzing the results, it was concluded that the application of the foliar fertilizer with Calcium and Boron, applied 30 days after germination did not affect yield components and soybean yield during successive seasons 2009

The effects of different species and grazing management of winter forage crops on the physical properties of a clayey Red Latosol of the western region of Parana State under crop-livestock integration systems were investigated in the present study. Treatments consisted of three different winter crops [white oat (Avena sativa), dual-purpose wheat (Triticum aestivum) and triticale (X Tritico secale)] and three grazing management (one and two grazing with 15 cm of residue height, and without grazing), followed by soybean cultivation, in a randomized block design. Undisturbed soil samples were collected at 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m depths, after the winter crops harvest (October/2012) and soybean harvest (March/2013) and was determined the soil bulk density until 0.35 cm depth. The soil macroporosity in the 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m soil layers and the total soil porosity in the 0.10-0.20 m layer, after winter crops harvest, were influenced by the crops and management of winter forage. In the evaluation performed after the soybean harvest, there were changes in the soil macroporosity in the 0.0-0.10 m layer and for microporosity and total soil porosity in the 0.10-0.20 m soil layer. The soil bulk density was not affected by the crops and management of winter forage. The different species and grazing management of winter crops in integrated crop-livestock systems promoted changes in soil penetration resistance in the 0.20-0.30 m soil layer. The cultivation of white oat during winter and management with two grazing resulted in lower soil penetration resistance levels.

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