Urea coated with oxidized charcoal reduces ammonia volatilization

Urea is the most consumed nitrogen fertilizer in the world. However, its agronomic and economic efficiency is reduced by the volatilization of NH3, which can reach 78 % of the applied nitrogen. The coating of urea granules with acidic compounds obtained by charcoal oxidation has the potential to reduce the volatilization, due to the acidic character, the high buffering capacity and CEC. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of HNO3-oxidized carbon on the control of NH3 volatilization. These compounds were obtained by oxidation of Eucalyptus grandis charcoal, produced at charring temperatures of 350 and 450 ºC, with 4.5 mol L-1 HNO3. The charcoal was oxidized by solubilization in acidic or alkaline medium, similar to the procedure of soil organic matter fractionation (CHox350 and CHox450). CHox was characterized by C, H, O, N contents and their respective atomic relations, by the ratio E4 (absorbance 465 nm) by E6 (absorbance 665 nm), and by active acidity and total acidity (CEC). The inhibitory effect of CHox on the urease activity of Canavalia ensiformis was assessed in vitro. The NH3 volatilization from urea was evaluated with and without coating of oxidized charcoal (U-CHox350 or U-CHox450) in a closed system with continuous air flow. The pH of both CHox was near 2.0, but the total acidity of CHox350 was higher, 72 % of which was attributed to carboxylic groups. The variation in the ionization constants of CHox350 was also greater. The low E4/E6 ratios characterize the high stability of the compounds in CHox. CHox did not inhibit the urease activity in vitro, although the maximum volatilization peak from U-CHox450 and U-CHox350 occurred 24 h after that observed for uncoated urea. The lowest volatilization rate was observed for U-CHox350 as well as a 43 % lower total amount of NH3 volatilized than from uncoated urea.

Microbiological and biochemical properties of an agricultural Mexican soil amended with sewage sludge

The application of sewage sludge is a concern because it may affect the quality of organic matter and microbiological and biochemical soil properties. The effects of surface application of sewage sludge to an agricultural soil (at 18 and 36 t ha-1 dry basis) were assessed in one maize (Zea mays L.) growing season. The study evaluated microbial biomass, basal respiration and selected enzymatic activities (catalase, urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase, and β-glucosidase) 230 days after sewage sludge application and infrared spectroscopy was used to assess the quality of dissolved organic matter and humic acids. Sewage sludge applications increased the band intensity assigned to polysaccharides, carboxylic acids, amides and lignin groups in the soil. The organic matter from the sewage sludge had a significant influence on the soil microbial biomass; nevertheless, at the end of the experiment the equilibrium of the soil microbial biomass (defined as microbial metabolic quotient, qCO2) was recovered. Soil urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity were strongly influenced by sewage sludge applications.

Atributos bioquímicos e químicos do solo rizosférico e não rizosférico de culturas em rotação no sistema de semeadura direta

Sistemas autossustentáveis favorecem as populações microbianas devido à conservação e ao aumento da matéria orgânica no solo. Além disso, as plantas que fazem parte desses sistemas promovem o efeito rizosférico, por meio da zona de influência das raízes, que resulta no aumento da atividade e na modificação da população microbiana. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da rotação de culturas de inverno sobre sequências de verão, em sistema de semeadura direta, nos atributos bioquímicos (amilase, urease, celulase e protease) e químicos (carbono orgânico total - COT, carboidratos totais e proteínas totais) em solo rizosférico (SR) e não rizosférico (SNR). Este estudo foi constituído de três culturas de inverno: milho (Zea mays L.), girassol (Helianthus anuus L.) e guandu (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp), que estavam em rotação sobre três sequências de verão: soja/soja (Glycine max L.), milho/milho e soja/milho, e duas posições no solo: solo aderido às raízes das plantas (SR) e solo da entrelinha de plantio (SNR). As atividades da amilase, celulase, protease e urease no SR foram 16, 85, 62 e 100 % maiores do que no SNR; para COT e proteínas totais a diferença foi de 21 %. Das culturas de inverno, o milho foi a que mais estimulou as atividades das enzimas amilase, celulase, urease e protease no SR, bem como a atividade das enzimas amilase, urease e protease no SNR. De modo geral, os teores de proteínas totais não foram influenciados pelas culturas de inverno e pelas sequências de verão; os carboidratos totais foram influenciados pelas culturas de inverno milho e girassol. Para o COT houve influência apenas da sequência de verão milho/milho. Os atributos bioquímicos e químicos avaliados neste estudo podem ser utilizados como indicadores das alterações no solo promovidas pelas culturas de inverno e pelas sequências de verão.

Volatilização de amônia oriunda de ureia pastilhada com micronutrientes em ambiente controlado

Novas tecnologias com o intuito de minimizar as perdas de N-NH3 por volatilização devem ser desenvolvidas para aumentar a eficiência de uso do N-ureia. A incorporação de boro e cobre na ureia pode reduzir esses efeitos por meio da inibição da atividade da urease. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, onde foram aplicados diferentes fertilizantes nitrogenados (ureia pastilhada com e sem boro e cobre, sulfato de amônio, ureia com inibidor da urease NBPT, ureia granulada e ureia revestida com boro e cobre) na superfície de um Planossolo Háplico contido em bandejas (0,1 m² de área e 10 cm de profundidade), em dose equivalente a 200 kg ha-1 de N. Foram avaliadas as perdas de N-NH3 por volatilização durante 18 dias, com o auxílio de um coletor semiaberto. A adição de cobre e boro no processo de pastilhamento da ureia reduziu as perdas de amônia por volatilização em até 54 %, quando comparado com a ureia granulada comercial, comprovando ser eficiente contra as perdas de N-NH3 por volatilização.

Nitrogênio, carbono e compactação do solo como fatores limitantes do processo de recuperação de matas ciliares

A recuperação de áreas de floresta, principalmente de matas ciliares, tornou-se fator-chave para a adequação ambiental da agricultura, com o propósito de proteger os recursos hídricos e a biota. Entretanto, o cultivo agrícola tradicional, além de ter alterado a ciclagem de nutrientes com a perda de matéria orgânica, biomassa e atividade microbiana, causou também a compactação do solo, o que influencia a posterior implantação de reflorestamentos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar quais atributos do solo (físicos, químicos e microbiológicos) mais influenciam o teor de C, N, P e umidade da serapilheira em áreas de mata ciliar com diferentes idades de recuperação (20, 10 e cinco anos), em comparação com uma área nativa (NT). A partir da ANOVA e dos testes de médias (Duncan) e correlação (Pearson), foram verificados quais atributos acompanham o tempo de recuperação e qual a relação entre eles. A análise multivariada de partição da inércia a partir da análise de redundância (pRDA) foi feita a fim de identificar quais atributos do solo foram mais importantes para discriminar entre as áreas, com base nos teores de C, N, P e umidade da serapilheira encontrados nessas áreas. Maior relação C/N da serapilheira foi encontrada nas áreas de 20 (26,8) e de cinco (29,9) anos. Entre os atributos microbiológicos avaliados, observou-se que a respiração basal do solo (C-CO2), o carbono da biomassa microbiana (CBM) e a atividade das enzimas desidrogenase e urease foram diretamente proporcionais ao aumento da idade das áreas. O C e N totais do solo, o N-NO3, o nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana (NBM), a atividade das enzimas desidrogenase e urease, bem como a macroporosidade correlacionaram-se positivamente e a microporosidade, negativamente, com o C e N da serapilheira. A partir da pRDA, o NBM e o carbono total do solo foram os atributos mais importantes para explicar o teor de N e C da serapilheira; a explicação compartilhada foi mais da metade de toda a explicação observada ou 28,2 %. A melhoria das condições físicas do solo e a adição de matéria orgânica que resultam na formação de uma serapilheira mais rica em N pode ser uma forma de melhorar as condições microbiológicas e químicas do solo e de acelerar o processo de recuperação.

Evaluation of ammonia volatilization losses by adjusted parameters of a logistic function

The dynamics of N losses in fertilizer by ammonia volatilization is affected by several factors, making investigation of these dynamics more complex. Moreover, some features of the behavior of the variable can lead to deviation from normal distribution, making the main commonly adopted statistical strategies inadequate for data analysis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the patterns of cumulative N losses from urea through ammonia volatilization in order to find a more adequate and detailed way of assessing the behavior of the variable. For that reason, changes in patterns of ammonia volatilization losses as a result of applying different combinations of two soil classes [Planossolo and Chernossolo (Typic Albaqualf and Vertic Argiaquolls)] and different rates of urea (50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1 N), in the presence or absence of a urease inhibitor, were evaluated, adopting a 2 × 3 × 2 factorial design with four replications. Univariate and multivariate analysis of variance were performed using the adjusted parameter values of a logistic function as a response variable. The results obtained from multivariate analysis indicated a prominent effect of the soil class factor on the set of parameters, indicating greater relevance of soil adsorption potential on ammonia volatilization losses. Univariate analysis showed that the parameters related to total N losses and rate of volatilization were more affected by soil class and the rate of urea applied. The urease inhibitor affected only the rate and inflection point parameters, decreasing the rate of losses and delaying the beginning of the process, but had no effect on total ammonia losses. Patterns of ammonia volatilization losses provide details on behavior of the variable, details which can be used to develop and adopt more accurate techniques for more efficient use of urea.

Hygroscopicity and ammonia volatilization losses from nitrogen sources in coated urea

Hygroscopic fertilizers tend to absorb moisture from the air and may have undesirable characteristics such as moistness, clumping and lower fluidity, hampering the application. The increasing use of urea is due to its numerous advantages, although this nitrogen (N) source is highly susceptible to volatilization losses, particularly when applied to the soil surface of management systems with conservation of crop residues. The volatilization losses can be minimized by slow or controlled-release fertilizers, with controlled water solubility of the urea-coating materials; and by stabilized fertilizers, which prolong the period during which N remains in the amide or ammonia forms by urease inhibitors. This study evaluated the hygroscopicity of and ammonia volatilization from urea coated with boric acid and copper sulfate or with sulfur. The hygroscopicity of the sources was evaluated over time after exposure to five levels of relative humidity (RH) and volatilization evaluated after application to the soil surface covered with sugarcane trash. Ammonium nitrate has a low potential for volatilization losses, but is highly hygroscopic. Although coating with boric acid and copper sulfate or elemental sulfur reduced the critical humidity level of urea, the delay in the volatilization process is a potential positive factor.

Ammonia volatilization from nitrogen fertilizers in no-till wheat and maize in southern Brazil

Crop residues on the soil surface of no-till systems can intensify ammonia volatilization from N fertilizers applied to cereal crops. This study assessed the magnitude of N losses through ammonia volatilization from urea applied to no-till winter (wheat) and summer crops (maize) on a Typic Hapludox in the south-central region of Paraná, southern Brazil. In addition, the potential of alternative N sources (urea with urease inhibitor, liquid fertilizer, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate) and different urea managements (fertilizer applied in the morning or afternoon) were evaluated. Two experiments with maize and wheat were carried out for two years, arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. Nitrogen volatilization losses were assessed with a semi-open static collector until 21 days after fertilization. In winter, the losses were low (<5.5 % of applied N) for all N sources, which were not distinguishable, due to the low temperatures. In the summer, volatilization rates from urea were higher than in the winter, but did not exceed 15 % of applied N. The main factor decreasing N losses in the summer was the occurrence of rainfall in the first five days after fertilization. Urea with urease inhibitor, nitrate and ammonium sulfate were efficient to decrease ammonia volatilization in maize, whereas the application time (morning or afternoon) had no influence.

PAR2 Promotes Vaccine-Induced Protection Against Helicobacter Infection in Mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Protective immunization limits Helicobacter infection of mice by undetermined mechanisms. Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) signaling is believed to regulate immune and inflammatory responses. We investigated the role of PAR2 in vaccine-induced immunity against Helicobacter infection. METHODS: Immune responses against Helicobacter infection were compared between vaccinated PAR2(-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice. Bacterial persistence, gastric pathology, and inflammatory and cellular responses were assessed using the rapid urease test (RUT), histologic analyses, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: Following vaccination, PAR2(-/-) mice did not have reductions in Helicobacter felis infection (RUT values were 0.01 ± 0.01 for WT mice and 0.11 ± 0.13 for PAR2(-/-) mice; P < .05). The vaccinated PAR2(-/-) mice had reduced inflammation-induced stomach tissue damage (tissue damage scores were 8.83 ± 1.47 for WT mice and 4.86 ± 1.35 for PAR2(-/-) mice; P < .002) and reduced T-helper (Th)17 responses, based on reduced urease-induced interleukin (IL)-17 secretion by stomach mononuclear cells (5182 ± 1265 pg/mL for WT mice and 350 ± 436 pg/mL for PAR2(-/-) mice; P < .03) and reduced recruitment of CD4(+) IL-17(+) T cells into the gastric mucosa of PAR2(-/-) mice following bacterial challenge (3.7% ± 1.5% for WT mice and 2.6% ± 1.1% for PAR2(-/-) mice; P < .05). In vitro, H felis-stimulated dendritic cells (DCs) from WT mice induced greater secretion of IL-17 by ovalbumin-stimulated OT-II transgenic CD4(+) T cells compared with DCs from PAR2(-/-) mice (4298 ± 347 and 3230 ± 779; P < .04), indicating that PAR2(-/-) DCs are impaired in priming of Th17 cells. Adoptive transfer of PAR2(+/+) DCs into vaccinated PAR2(-/-) mice increased vaccine-induced protection (RUT values were 0.11 ± 0.10 and 0.26 ± 0.15 for injected and noninjected mice, respectively; P < .03). CONCLUSIONS: PAR2 activates DCs to mediate vaccine-induced protection against Helicobacter infection in mice.

FONTES ESTABILIZADAS DE NITROGÊNIO COMO ALTERNATIVA PARA AUMENTAR O RENDIMENTO DE GRÃOS E A EFICIÊNCIA DE USO DO NITROGÊNIO PELO MILHO

A utilização de fontes estabilizadas de N, a partir dos mecanismos de inibição da enzima urease e de inibidores da nitrificação do amônio, pode auxiliar na obtenção de maiores tetos produtivos, contribuindo para a sustentabilidade da atividade agrícola. Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito de diferentes fontes e doses de fertilizantes nitrogenados minerais sobre o rendimento de grãos e a eficiência de uso do N pelo milho. Fez-se o experimento no campo, no município de Lages, SC, onde foi implantado no delineamento de blocos casualizados, dispostos em parcelas subdivididas. Na parcela principal, foram avaliadas quatro doses de N em cobertura: 0, 70, 140 e 280 kg ha-1, equivalentes a 0, 25, 50 e 100 % da dose recomendada para obter 18.000 kg ha-1 de grãos. Para cada dose, foram testadas, nas subparcelas, quatro fontes de N mineral: nitrato de amônio, ureia comum, ureia com inibidor da enzima urease e ureia com inibidor da nitrificação do amônio. O experimento foi implantado nos dias 31/10/2011 e 28/10/2012, no sistema de semeadura direta. O híbrido utilizado foi o P30R50H, semeado na densidade de 90.000 plantas ha-1 e espaçamento entrelinhas de 70 cm. As características agronômicas como teor percentual de N foliar, índice do teor relativo de clorofila e rendimento de grãos aumentaram linearmente com a elevação das doses de N em cobertura; porém, não foram influenciadas pelas fontes de adubação nitrogenada. A eficiência de uso do N diminuiu com o incremento das doses de N em cobertura no primeiro ano de execução do trabalho. Não houve diferenças entre as quatro fontes, quanto à eficiência de uso do N. A utilização da ureia contendo inibidor da enzima urease e da nitrificação de amônio não aumentou o rendimento de grãos do milho e nem melhorou a eficiência de uso do N, em relação aos fertilizantes nitrogenados convencionais (ureia comum e nitrato de amônio).

Indicadores Microbiológicos de Solo em Pastagem com Aplicação Sucessiva de Dejetos De Suínos

RESUMO O uso de dejetos líquidos de suínos como fertilizante do solo é uma prática comum na Região Sul do Brasil. Apesar de ter benefícios na reutilização dos dejetos, essa prática apresenta sérios riscos ambientais. Os indicadores microbiológicos de qualidade do solo são bastante sensíveis e permitem o monitoramento das condições do ambiente edáfico. Objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade microbiológica do solo de pastagens com diferentes históricos de uso sucessivo de dejetos líquidos de suínos. Determinaram-se o teor de C da biomassa microbiana, a respiração microbiana do solo, o quociente metabólico (qCO2) e a atividade das enzimas β-glicosidase, urease e hidrólise do diacetato de fluoresceína (FDA), em áreas de pastagem com uso de dejetos de suínos há dois anos (A2) e 14 anos (A14) e em área com mata nativa (MN). O uso sucessivo de dejetos de suínos em pastagem não influenciou o C da biomassa e a respiração microbiana do solo, que variaram conforme a época de coleta. O qCO2 não foi influenciado pelo uso de dejetos de suínos no solo; a atividade enzimática do solo foi influenciada pelo uso de dejetos de suínos, sendo que a urease e a FDA foram sensíveis na detecção de diferenças na atividade dos solos com uso de dejetos de suínos, enquanto a β-glicosidase não permitiu a diferenciação entre as áreas estudadas.

MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION AND NITROGEN FERTILIZERS TO REDUCE AMMONIA VOLATILIZATION

ABSTRACT Nitrogen losses by ammonia (NH3) volatilization can be reduced by appropriate irrigation management or by alternative N sources, replacing urea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of irrigation management and N source combinations in decreasing NH3 volatilization from an Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico típico cultivated for 28 years with black oat (Avena strigosa) and maize (Zea mays), under no-tillage in the region of Depressão Central, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with split plots with three replications, where the main plots consisted of irrigation systems: no irrigation; irrigation immediately before and irrigation immediately after fertilization. The subplots were treated with different N sources: urea, urea with urease inhibitor and slow-release fertilizer, at an N rate of 180 kg ha-1, broadcast over maize, plus a control treatment without N fertilization. Ammonia volatilization was assessed using semi-open static collectors for 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10 days after N fertilization. In general, more than 90 % of total NH3-N losses occurred until three days after N fertilization, with peaks up to 15.4 kg ha-1 d-1. The irrigation was efficient to reduce NH3 losses only when applied after N fertilization. However, reductions varied according to the N fertilizer, and were higher for urea (67 %) and slightly lower for urea with urease inhibitor (50 %) and slow-release fertilizer (40 %), compared with the mean of the treatments without irrigation and irrigation before fertilization. The use of urea with urease inhibitor instead of urea was only promising under volatilization-favorable conditions (no irrigation or irrigation before N fertilization). Compared to urea, slow-release fertilizer did not reduce ammonia volatilization in any of the rainfed or irrigated treatments.

Interleukin-17 is a critical mediator of vaccine-induced reduction of Helicobacter infection in the mouse model.

BACKGROUND &amp; AIMS: Despite the proven ability of immunization to reduce Helicobacter infection in mouse models, the precise mechanism of protection has remained elusive. This study explores the possibility that interleukin (IL)-17 plays a role in the reduction of Helicobacter infection following vaccination of wild-type animals or in spontaneous reduction of bacterial infection in IL-10-deficient mice. METHODS: In mice, reducing Helicobacter infection, the levels and source of IL-17 were determined and the role of IL-17 in reduction of Helicobacter infection was probed by neutralizing antibodies. RESULTS: Gastric IL-17 levels were strongly increased in mice mucosally immunized with urease plus cholera toxin and challenged with Helicobacter felis as compared with controls (654 +/- 455 and 34 +/- 84 relative units for IL-17 messenger RNA expression [P &lt; .01] and 6.9 +/- 8.4 and 0.02 +/- 0.04 pg for IL-17 protein concentration [P &lt; .01], respectively). Flow cytometry analysis showed that a peak of CD4(+)IL-17(+) T cells infiltrating the gastric mucosa occurred in immunized mice in contrast to control mice (4.7% +/- 0.3% and 1.4% +/- 0.3% [P &lt; .01], respectively). Gastric mucosa-infiltrating CD4(+)IL-17(+) T cells were also observed in IL-10-deficient mice that spontaneously reduced H felis infection (4.3% +/- 2.3% and 2% +/- 0.6% [P &lt; .01], for infected and noninfected IL-10-deficient mice, respectively). In wild-type immunized mice, intraperitoneal injection of anti-IL-17 antibodies significantly inhibited inflammation and the reduction of Helicobacter infection in comparison with control antibodies (1 of 12 mice vs 9 of 12 mice reduced Helicobacter infection [P &lt; .01], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: IL-17 plays a critical role in the immunization-induced reduction of Helicobacter infection from the gastric mucosa.

Lithiases d'infection [Infective lithiasis].

We report the case of a 69-year-old woman, with a BMI of 42.9, suffering from bilateral struvite calculi and who raised end stage renal failure. Urease-synthesizing bacteria, leading to the hydrolysis of urea into ammonium and to an alkaline urine (pH > 7.2), are required for struvite stone formation in humans. Struvite component constitutes the majority of staghom calculi. Patients with struvite stones could lose renal function because of obstructive or pyelonephritic episodes and surgical interventions on the kidney. Therapeutic success needs a follow up by a specialized uro-nephrologist team as soon as possible.

Tn5-directed cloning of pqq genes from Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0: mutational inactivation of the genes results in overproduction of the antibiotic pyoluteorin.

Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0 produces several secondary metabolites, e.g., the antibiotics pyoluteorin (Plt) and 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (Phl), which are important for the suppression of root diseases caused by soil-borne fungal pathogens. A Tn5 insertion mutant of strain CHA0, CHA625, does not produce Phl, shows enhanced Plt production on malt agar, and has lost part of the ability to suppress black root rot in tobacco plants and take-all in wheat. We used a rapid, two-step cloning-out procedure for isolating the wild-type genes corresponding to those inactivated by the Tn5 insertion in strain CHA625. This cloning method should be widely applicable to bacterial genes tagged with Tn5. The region cloned from P. fluorescens contained three complete open reading frames. The deduced gene products, designated PqqFAB, showed extensive similarities to proteins involved in the biosynthesis of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) in Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Methylobacterium extorquens. PQQ-negative mutants of strain CHA0 were constructed by gene replacement. They lacked glucose dehydrogenase activity, could not utilize ethanol as a carbon source, and showed a strongly enhanced production of Plt on malt agar. These effects were all reversed by complementation with pqq+ recombinant plasmids. The growth of a pqqF mutant on ethanol and normal Plt production were restored by the addition of 16 nM PQQ. However, the Phl- phenotype of strain CHA625 was due not to the pqq defect but presumably to a secondary mutation. In conclusion, a lack of PQQ markedly stimulates the production of Plt in P. fluorescens.