Use efficiency of controlled release fertilizer on the growth of croton and petunia and N loss by leaching

The market of flowers and ornamentals such as croton (Codiaeum variegatum) and petunia (Petunia×hybrida Vilm.-Andr) have been created new technologies to constantly development, as one of the most promising segments of horticulture. Fertilization providing adequate nutrition and less leaching to the environment is the objective of numerous studies around the world. Therefore, two studies were conducted to evaluate the use of controlled release fertilizer (CRF) on the growth of two ornamental species, and N loss by leaching. The first experiment aim to evaluate sources and rates of CRF and water soluble fertilizer (WSF) on croton growth and nitrogen concentration on drained solution. Results showed that treatments with WSF and low rates of CRF provided higher plants growth, and the amount of N leached was higher for WSF treatments. The second experiment objective to compare plant performance and cost for strategies that potentially provide adequate nutrition during both the production and consumer phases for container-grown Petunia plants. In addition, two experiments were conducted to evaluate nutrient release in sand containers inside of the greenhouse and under controlled temperature conditions without plants. Results showed that during production phase all fertilizer treatments produced high quality plants, and during consumer phase, plants grown with WSF only during the production phase were nutrient-deficient, while plants receiving CRFs were still growing vigorously, especially in a high rate. The release rates of all CRF products were temperature-dependent. In conclusion CRF provided plant growth at the same rate that WSF, with less N leaching and extra cost less than U$0.065 per plant with CRF during production.

Fast pyrolysis and nitrogenolysis of biomass and biogenic residues:production of a sustainable slow release fertiliser

The production of agricultural and horticultural products requires the use of nitrogenous fertiliser that can cause pollution of surface and ground water and has a large carbon footprint as it is mainly produced from fossil fuels. The overall objective of this research project was to investigate fast pyrolysis and in-situ nitrogenolysis of biomass and biogenic residues as an alternative route to produce a sustainable solid slow release fertiliser mitigating the above stated problems. A variety of biomasses and biogenic residues were characterized by proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Pyrolysis – Gas chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy (Py–GC–MS) for their potential use as feedstocks using beech wood as a reference material. Beech wood was virtually nitrogen free and therefore suitable as a reference material as added nitrogen can be identified as such while Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) and rape meal had a nitrogen content between 5.5wt.% and 6.1wt.% qualifying them as high nitrogen feedstocks. Fast pyrolysis and in-situ nitrogenolysis experiments were carried out in a continuously fed 1kg/h bubbling fluidized bed reactor at around 500°C quenching the pyrolysis vapours with isoparaffin. In-situ nitrogenolysis experiments were performed by adding ammonia gas to the fast pyrolysis reactor at nominal nitrogen addition rates between 5wt.%C and 20wt.%C based on the dry feedstock’s carbon content basis. Mass balances were established for the processing experiments. The fast pyrolysis and in-situ nitrogenolysis products were characterized by proximate analysis, ultimate analysis and GC– MS. High liquid yields and good mass balance closures of over 92% were obtained. The most suitable nitrogen addition rate for the in-situ nitrogenolysis experiments was determined to be 12wt.%C on dry feedstock carbon content basis. However, only a few nitrogen compounds that were formed during in-situ nitrogenolysis could be identified by GC–MS. A batch reactor process was developed to thermally solidify the fast pyrolysis and in-situ nitrogenolysis liquids of beech wood and Barley DDGS producing a brittle solid product. This was obtained at 150°C with an addition of 2.5wt% char (as catalyst) after a processing time of 1h. The batch reactor was also used for modifying and solidifying fast pyrolysis liquids derived from beech wood by adding urea or ammonium phosphate as post processing nitrogenolysis. The results showed that this type of combined approach was not suitable to produce a slow release fertiliser, because the solid product contained up to 65wt.% of highly water soluble nitrogen compounds that would be released instantly by rain. To complement the processing experiments a comparative study via Py–GC–MS with inert and reactive gas was performed with cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and beech wood. This revealed that the presence of ammonia gas during analytical pyrolysis did not appear to have any direct impact on the decomposition products of the tested materials. The chromatograms obtained showed almost no differences between inert and ammonia gas experiments indicating that the reaction between ammonia and pyrolysis vapours does not occur instantly. A comparative study via Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy of solidified fast pyrolysis and in-situ nitrogenolysis products showed that there were some alterations in the spectra obtained. A shift in frequencies indicating C=O stretches typically related to the presence of carboxylic acids to C=O stretches related to amides was observed and no double or triple bonded nitrogen was detected. This indicates that organic acids reacted with ammonia and that no potentially harmful or non-biodegradable triple bonded nitrogen compounds were formed. The impact of solid slow release fertiliser (SRF) derived from pyrolysis and in-situ nitrogenolysis products from beech wood and Barley DDGS on microbial life in soils and plant growth was tested in cooperation with Rothamsted Research. The microbial incubation tests indicated that microbes can thrive on the SRFs produced, although some microbial species seem to have a reduced activity at very high concentrations of beech wood and Barley DDGS derived SRF. The plant tests (pot trials) showed that the application of SRF derived from beech wood and barley DDGS had no negative impact on germination or plant growth of rye grass. The fertilizing effect was proven by the dry matter yields in three harvests after 47 days, 89 days and 131 days. The findings of this research indicate that in general a slow release fertiliser can be produced from biomass and biogenic residues by in-situ nitrogenolysis. Nevertheless the findings also show that additional research is necessary to identify which compounds are formed during this process.

Investigation of slow release relays using reed switches

DUE TO COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION AT ASTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

Green nanocomposites as carriers for slow-release of tebuconazole.

2016

Avaliação de condicionadores em solo para uso em telhados verdes com vistas à retenção hídrica.

As inundações são fenômenos naturais que ocorrem devido às chuvas de grande magnitude, agravadas nas áreas urbanas pela impermeabilização do solo e ineficiência dos sistemas de drenagem. Os telhados verdes surgem como uma medida compensatória estrutural que pode reter parte da água precipitada, adiando o pico de escoamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi de desenvolver uma combinação de solo e condicionadores para telhado verde, promovam um aumento relevante na capacidade de retenção hídrica e um maior adiamento do pico de escoamento das águas pluviais. Este estudo foi dividido em duas etapas. Na Etapa 1, foram analisadas, em colunas de percolação, três condicionadores nas seguintes concentrações: Gel retentor Stockosorb (2; 4; 6 g/dm3), Fertilizante de liberação lenta Osmocote (4,7; 7,1; 9,0 g/dm3) e Zeólita (30; 50; 70 g/dm3), em três eventos (regas) consecutivos de chuva simulada na intensidade de 57 mm/h. A avaliação das concentrações mais adequadas dentre as testadas para cada condicionante foi baseada nas análises referentes à retenção hídrica (altura do meio após a rega; tempo de adiamento do escoamento; mm retidos; intensidade da água percolada em mm/min) e à qualidade da água percolada (pH, oxigênio dissolvido, turbidez e sólidos). Na Etapa 2, foi avaliada, em vasos, a influência da presença de três espécies de plantas (Arachis pintoi; Raphanus sativus; Lavandula angustifolia) em dois tipos de meio: solo sem condicionadores; solo com condicionadores nas melhores concentrações indicadas na Etapa 1, sendo simulada apenas um evento de chuva de 57 mm/h. Foram analisados parâmetros biológicos (germinação; plantas sobreviventes; comprimento do caule e da raiz; pesos da biomassa do caule e da raiz); retenção hídrica (altura do meio após a rega; tempo de adiamento do escoamento; mm retidos; intensidade da água percolada em mm/min); qualidade da água percolada (pH; oxigênio dissolvido; turbidez; sólidos; nitrato; amônia; fósforo total). Os resultados da Etapa 1 indicaram que o gel promoveu de forma significativa um aumento na retenção hídrica, e adiou o início da percolação de água, além de promover ligeira elevação do pH na água percolada. A adição de zeólita resultou em um aumento significativo da retenção hídrica, porém tal aumento não é vantajoso visto que este representa um custo adicional que poderia ser reduzido com o aumento da proporção do gel na coluna. A adição de fertilizantes não promoveu mudanças na qualidade da água percolada. Na Etapa 2, somente o efeito da presença de A. pintoi (maior produção de biomassa de raiz e caule) e R. sativus foram avaliadas. A presença dos condicionantes no solo proporcionou um desempenho significativamente superior em relação a retenção hídrica (altura do substrato e adiamento do pico de chuva) e qualidade da água percolada (pH e turbidez) quando comparados aos testes realizados na presença somente de solo. O fertilizante influenciou nas altas concentrações dos nutrientes (nitrogênio e fósforo) na água percolado nos resultados. A presença do gel no substrato, resultou numa capacidade superior de retenção de hídrica, e consequentemente no adiamento do pico de intensidade de chuva. Sendo assim, recomenda-se a aplicação do gel em telhados verdes para futuros estudos em ambientes externos.

不同氮肥管理措施对草坪生长和无机氮淋洗的影响

本研究采用室外盆栽试验，模拟运动场坪床结构，研究不同氮肥种类、不同施氮频率、施氮和降雨时间间隔对草地早熟禾草坪质量、草坪生长和无机氮淋洗的影响，并探讨在北京地区气候条件下，草坪在不同氮肥管理措施下的氮素去向及环境风险。主要结论如下： 1. 氮肥种类对草坪质量和草坪生长有显著影响。试验前期（春季），草坪颜色和密度质量、草坪草生长速度和草屑全氮含量的排序为尿素 > CU3M（自研包膜尿素）> IBDU（进口缓释肥），而试验后期（秋季）则为CU3M = IBDU > 尿素。草坪合格颜色质量持续时间和成坪速度的排序为尿素 > CU3M > IBDU。在新建草坪选择缓释肥进行早春施肥时，应混施一定比例的速效肥。 2. 施氮频率对草坪外观质量评分、草坪生长速度、草屑总生物量、草屑全氮含量和根系分布状况有显著影响。U6处理的草坪合格颜色质量持续时间最长，增加施氮频率没有降低新建草坪生长速度和草屑全氮含量的波动幅度。 3. 夏季（6~8月）渗漏液体积占全年的比例最高，为75.0%~82.4%。新建草坪初期的淋洗风险较大，渗漏液硝态氮浓度在第1次超过10 mg N•L-1，尿素分6次施用可降低这次的渗漏液硝态氮浓度。在合理施氮量内，草坪成熟后的无机氮淋洗量很小，且草坪对雨水中的无机氮有吸收和过滤作用。 4. 春季施用氮肥的吸收利用率为48.0%~72.6%，草屑吸收量最高，占38.5%~48.7%，地上部吸收量占19.6%~22.1%，根系吸收量在7.3%以下。施肥处理的无机氮淋洗损失量仅为0.23~0.42 g N•m-2，与CK无显著差异，草地早熟禾12 g N•m-2的年施氮量对环境的风险很小。 5. 初秋施氮5 g N•m-2，可以保持草地早熟禾秋季的良好颜色和密度质量，草坪草氮素吸收利用率高达87.4%~99.7%，其中草屑带走量占24.3%~34.2%，地上部吸收量占43.3%~59.6%，根系吸收量占14.2%~19.1%。 6. 施氮和模拟降雨的时间间隔对渗漏液硝态氮浓度有显著影响，间隔6 d和9 d模拟降雨后的渗漏液硝态氮浓度最高，显著高于间隔3 d和12 d模拟降雨的结果。初秋合理施氮的渗漏液硝态氮浓度在1.0 mg N•L-1 以下，环境风险较小。

缓效肥料研制及其养分释放特性研究

本文主要是采用亲水性聚合物来研制缓效复合肥。首先对十几种亲水性材料进行筛选，选择出粘性适中、材料成膜质量好并且所研制肥料的氮素的初期溶出率相对较低的材料为控释材料。通过以上方法选择出两种控释材料：聚乙烯醇溶液和聚乙烯醇与聚丙烯酸钠的混合溶液。将聚乙烯醇配制成3个浓度（1％、2％、3％）并在这3个浓度中加入一定量的聚丙烯酸钠（100鲍聚乙烯醇加入4g聚丙烯酸钠）也配制成3个浓度梯度的溶液。然后用所配制的溶液研制出6种肥料：SRF-A1、SRF-A2、SRF-A3、SRF-B1、SRF-B2、SRF-B3（A1、A2、A3分别代表聚乙烯醇1％、2％、3％3个浓度；B1I、B2、B3代表聚乙烯醇与聚丙烯酸钠混合溶液的1％、2％、3％3个浓度）。利用水浸法和土柱淋溶法对所研制的6种肥料进行缓效性的评价，结果表明所研制的肥料与对照相比都有明显的缓释效果。并且通过测定结果发现SRF-A3和SRF-B3具有较好的缓释效果。通过水浸法和土柱淋溶法得知SRF-A3对N、K2O、P2O5的缓释效果要劣于SRF-B3肥料。通过这两种方法测定控释材料对磷的缓释效果最好，其次是氮素和钾素。试验继续通过肥料和上壤培养来检验缓释效果相对较好的SRF-A3和SRF-B3的缓效性，根据测定数据再一次证明了水浸法和土柱淋溶法的结果即SRF-A3和SRF-B3具有较好的缓释效果，SRF-B3的缓释效果好于SRF-A3。论文最后研究了温度和土壤水分对SRF-A3和SRF-B3的养分释放影响。结果表明：土壤水分对各个肥料养分释放影响显著，而温度对肥料养分释放影响不大，在所设置温度梯度内各个养分的释放差别不明显。

Volume do recipiente, adubação e sua forma de mistura ao substrato no crescimento inicial de Peltophorum dubium (sprengel) taubert em viveiro

O ensaio comparou três volumes de recipientes, três tipos de adubação e duas formas de mistura do fertilizante ao substrato, no crescimento inicial de plântulas de Peltophorum dubium (Sprengel) Taubert (canafístula) em viveiro, num esquema fatorial 3 x 3 x 2. Foram utilizados tubetes de 100 e 180 cm³ preenchidos com substrato comercial e sacos plásticos de 10 x 15 cm cheios com mistura de solo e vermiculita em partes iguais, fertilizados com fertilizante de liberação lenta (FLL) nas dosagens de 1,75 e 3,5 kg m-3 e com formulação NPK a 1,0 kg m-3 de substrato. As formas de misturas adotadas foram aquelas com base por metro cúbico de substrato ou individualmente para cada recipiente. Na análise destrutiva realizada 12 semanas após a emergência, avaliaram-se o número de folhas, a altura da planta, o diâmetro do coleto e as massas secas da parte aérea, o sistema radicular e o total. Os resultados indicaram que a redução no volume do recipiente causou diminuição na massa seca, diâmetro e altura. O número de folhas, a massa seca da parte aérea e a massa seca total foram semelhantes nas plântulas sob fertilização com NPK, independentemente do volume do recipiente, o que não ocorreu naquelas sob FLL, onde esse parâmetro diminuiu com o volume do recipiente. O cálculo do índice de Dickson após 12 semanas indicou valores superiores em mudas com a forma de mistura convencional em relação à individual e maior naquelas sob fertilização com NPK, em comparação com as sob FLL.

Influência do substrato e do tipo de fertilizante na aclimatação de mudas de bananeira 'Prata-Anã'

Objetivando-se avaliar a influência do substrato e tipo de fertilizante na aclimatação de mudas de bananeira 'Prata-Anã', provenientes de micropropagação, foi instalado um experimento em blocos casualizados, no esquema fatorial 5 x 3, com quatro repetições. Os substratos utilizados foram: S1 - Terra de subsolo + casca de arroz carbonizada + substrato comercial Rendimax Floreira®; S2 - Terra de subsolo + casca de arroz carbonizada + composto orgânico Organifol®; S3 - Terra de subsolo + casca de arroz carbonizada + composto orgânico Organifol® 9% SiO; S4 - substrato comercial Technes Vivatto®; S5 - Areia grossa + casca de arroz carbonizada + Rendimax Floreira®, todos na proporção 1:1:1 (v/v/v). Os fertilizantes utilizados foram: SF - sem fertilizante; FLL - fertilizante de liberação lenta, 14-14-14 (5,0 kg m-3) misturado ao substrato; e FLN - fertilizante de liberação normal, 14-14-14 (5,0 kg m-3) aplicado em cobertura, 30 dias após o plantio. As mudas foram plantadas em sacos de polietileno quando apresentavam quatro a cinco folhas, sendo mantidas em viveiro com 50% de sombreamento. Foram feitas medidas de altura, diâmetro do colo e número de folhas, e determinada a massa seca das mudas. As diferenças químicas das misturas utilizadas como substrato, juntamente com o tipo de fertilizante utilizado, proporcionaram crescimento diferenciado das mudas. O substrato S4 pode ser utilizado sem fertilização. Os substratos S2 e S3 devem ser utilizados com fertilizante de liberação normal ou lenta de nutrientes, e S1 e S5, sendo pobres em nutrientes, com fertilizante de liberação lenta.

Crescimento de mudas micropropagadas da bananeira cv. Nanicão, em diferentes substratos e fontes de fertilizante

With the objective of evaluating the effect of different substrates combined with fertilizers in the growth of micropropagated seedlings of Cavendish banana (Musa spp. AAA), ail experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, in a 5 x 3 factorial scheme, with four repetitions. The substrates used were: S1 - subsoil land + carbonized rice hull + Rendmax Floreira (R); S2 - subsoil land + carbonized rice hull + Organifol (R); S3 - subsoil land + carbonized rice hull + Organifol (R) 9% SiO; S4 - Technes Vivatto (R); S5 - thick sand + carbonized rice hull + Rendmax Floreira (R). The fertilizer sources were: SA - without fertilizer; LL - slow-release fertilizer - Osmocote (R) 3M 14-14-14 (5.0 kg m(-3)) inixed in the substrate; and LN - normal-release fertilizer, 14-14-14 (7.5 g seedling(-1)) applied in covering. The height, collar diameter, leaf number, leaf area and dry matter were determined. Based on the differences of growth, substrates S 1, S2, S3 and S4 can be used with fertilizer 14-14-14, with slow (5.0 kg m(-3)) or normal (7.5 g seedling(-1)) release of nutrients.

Adubação com KCl revestido na cultura do milho no Cerrado

The use of coated potassium chloride can provide greater absorption of potassium resulting in the alteration of leaf contents, production components and grain yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of potassium doses using potassium chloride conventional or coated by polymer, in the corn crop under conditions of brazilian Savanna with low altitude. The experiment was conducted in Selviria, MS, Brazil, in a clayey Oxisol. The treatments consisted of four doses of K2O (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha(-1)), applied at sowing, and two sources: potassium chloride and potassium chloride coated by polymers. A randomized block design with eight treatments and four replications was used. The coated KCl is not efficient under the soil and climatic conditions studied, because it provided results similar to the conventional KCl for the K foliar content, crop components and grain yield of irrigated corn. The increment of K2O doses influenced positively the K and chlorophyll leaf contents, plant and spike insertion height and the number of rows and grains per spike. The maximum mean yield obtained was with 83.5 kg ha(-1) of K2O.

Ocean acidification outweighs nutrient effects in structuring seagrass epiphyte communities

1. Developing a framework for assessing interactions between multiple anthropogenic stressors remains an important goal in environmental research. In coastal ecosystems, the relative effects of aspects of global climate change (e.g. CO2 concentrations) and localized stressors (e.g. eutrophication), in combination, have received limited attention. 2. Using a long-term (11 month) field experiment, we examine how epiphyte assemblages in a tropical seagrass meadow respond to factorial manipulations of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2(aq)) and nutrient enrichment. In situ CO2(aq) manipulations were conducted using clear, open-top chambers, which replicated carbonate parameter forecasts for the year 2100. Nutrient enrichment consisted of monthly additions of slow-release fertilizer, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), to the sediments at rates equivalent to theoretical maximum rates of anthropogenic loading within the region (1.54 g N/m**2/d and 0.24 g P m**2/d). 3. Epiphyte community structure was assessed on a seasonal basis and revealed declines in the abundance of coralline algae, along with increases in filamentous algae under elevated CO2(aq). Surprisingly, nutrient enrichment had no effect on epiphyte community structure or overall epiphyte loading. Interactions between CO2(aq) and nutrient enrichment were not detected. Furthermore, CO2(aq)-mediated responses in the epiphyte community displayed strong seasonality, suggesting that climate change studies in variable environments should be conducted over extended time-scales. 4. Synthesis. The observed responses indicate that for certain locations, global stressors such as ocean acidification may take precedence over local eutrophication in altering the community structure of seagrass epiphyte assemblages. Given that nutrient-driven algal overgrowth is commonly cited as a widespread cause of seagrass decline, our findings highlight that alternate climate change forces may exert proximate control over epiphyte community structure.