Microbial response to restoration of tantalite mine soils in western Rwanda

Artisanal columbite-tantalite (coltan) mining has had negative effects on the rural economy in the great Lakes region of Africa through labor deficits, degradation and loss of farmland, food insecurity, high cost of living, and reduced traditional export crop production alongside secondary impacts that remotely affect the quality of air, water, soil, plants, animals, and human wellbeing. The situation is multifaceted and calls for a holistic approach for short and long-term mitigation of such negative effects. This study focuses on the effects of mine land restoration on soil microbiological quality in the Gatumba Mining District of western Rwanda. Some coltan mine wastelands were afforested with pine and eucalyptus trees while farmers directly cultivated others due to land scarcity. Farmyard manure (FYM) is the sole fertilizer applied on the wastelands although it is insufficient to achieve the desired crop yields. Despite this, several multi-purpose plants such as Tithonia diversifolia, Markhamia lutea, and Canavalia brasiliensis thrive in the area and could supplement FYM. The potential for these “new” amendments to improve soil microbial properties, particularly in the tantalite mine soils was investigated. The specific objectives of the study were to: (a) evaluate the effects of land use on soil microbial indices of the tantalite mine soils; (b) investigate the restorative effects of organic amendments on a Technosol; and (c) estimate the short-term N and P supply potential of the soil amendments in the soils. Fresh soils (0-20 cm) from an unmined native forest, two mine sites afforested with pine and eucalyptus forests (pine and eucalyptus Technosols), an arable land, and two cultivated Technosols (Kavumu and Kirengo Technosols) were analyzed for the physicochemical properties. Afterwards, a 28-day incubation (22oC) experiment was conducted followed by measurements of mineral N, soil microbial biomass C, N, P, and fungal ergosterol contents using standard methods. This was followed by a 12-week incubation study of the arable soil and the Kavumu Technosol amended with FYM, Canavalia and Tithonia biomass, and Markhamia leaf litter after which soil microbial properties were measured at 2, 8, and 12 weeks of incubation. Finally, two 4-week incubation experiments each were conducted in soils of the six sites to estimate (i) potential mineralizable N using a soil-sand mixture (1:1) amended with Canavalia and goat manure and (ii) P mineralization mixtures (1:1) of soil and anion exchange resins in bicarbonate form amended with Tithonia biomass and goat manure. In study one, afforestation increased soil organic carbon and total N contents in the pine and eucalyptus Technosols by 34-40% and 28-30%, respectively of that in the native forest soil. Consequently, the microbial biomass and activity followed a similar trend where the cultivated Technosols were inferior to the afforested ones. The microbial indices of the mine soils were constrained by soil acidity, dithionite-extractable Al, and low P availability. In study two, the amendments substantially increased C and N mineralization, microbial properties compared with non-amended soils. Canavalia biomass increased CO2 efflux by 340%, net N mineralization by 30-140%, and microbial biomass C and N by 240-600% and 240-380% (P < 0.01), respectively after four weeks of incubation compared with the non-amended soils. Tithonia biomass increased ergosterol content by roughly 240%. The Kavumu Technosol showed a high potential for quick restoration of its soil quality due to its major responses to the measured biological parameters. In study three, Canavalia biomass gave the highest mineralizable N (130 µg g-1 soil, P < 0.01) in the Kavumu Technosol and the lowest in the native forest soil (-20 µg g-1 soil). Conversely, the mineralizable N of goat manure was negative in all soils ranging from -2.5 µg N g-1 to -7.7 µg N g-1 soil except the native forest soil. However, the immobilization of goat manure N in the “cultivated soils” was 30-70% lower than in the “forest soils” signifying an imminent recovery of the amended soils from N immobilization. The mineralization of goat manure P was three-fold that of Tithonia, constituting 61-71% of total P applied. Phosphorus mineralization slightly decreased after four weeks of incubation due to sulfate competition as reflected in a negative correlation, which was steeper in the Tithonia treatment. In conclusion, each amendment used in this research played a unique role in C, N, and P mineralization and contributed substantially to microbial properties in the tantalite mine soils. Interestingly, the “N immobilizers” exhibited potentials for P release and soil organic carbon storage. Consequently, the combined use of the amendments in specific ratios, or co-composting prior to application is recommended to optimize nutrient release, microbial biomass dynamics and soil organic matter accrual. Transport of organic inputs seems more feasible for smallholder farmers who typically manage small field sizes. To reduce acidity in the soils, liming with wood ash was recommended to also improve P availability and enhance soil biological quality, even if it may only be possible on small areas. Further, afforestation with mixed-species of fast-growing eucalyptus and legume or indigenous tree species are suggested to restore tantalite mine wastelands. It is emphasized most of this research was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, which exclude interaction with environmental variables. Also fine fractions of the amendments were used compared with the usual practice of applying a mixture of predominantly coarser fractions. Therefore, the biological dynamics reported in the studies here may not entirely reflect those of farmers’ field conditions.

Cropping systems, carbon sequestration and erosion in Brazil, a review

Soils represent a large carbon pool, approximately 1500 Gt, which is equivalent to almost three times the quantity stored in terrestrial biomass and twice the amount stored in the atmosphere. Any modification of land use or land management can induce variations in soil carbon stocks, even in agricultural systems that are perceived to be in a steady state. Tillage practices often induce soil aerobic conditions that are favourable to microbial activity and may lead to a degradation of soil structure. As a result, mineralisation of soil organic matter increases in the long term. The adoption of no-tillage systems and the maintenance of a permanent vegetation cover using Direct seeding Mulch-based Cropping system or DMC, may increase carbon levels in the topsoil. In Brazil, no-tillage practices (mainly DMC), were introduced approximately 30 years ago in the south in the Parana state, primarily as a means of reducing erosion. Subsequently, research has begun to study the management of the crop waste products and their effects on soil fertility, either in terms of phosphorus management, as a means of controlling soil acidity, or determining how manures can be applied in a more localised manner. The spread of no-till in Brazil has involved a large amount of extension work. The area under no-tillage is still increasing in the centre and north of the country and currently occupies ca. 20 million hectares, covering a diversity of environmental conditions, cropping systems and management practices. Most studies of Brazilian soils give rates of carbon storage in the top 40 cm of the soil of 0.4 to 1.7 t C ha(-1) per year, with the highest rates in the Cerrado region. However, caution must be taken when analysing DMC systems in terms of carbon sequestration. Comparisons should include changes in trace gas fluxes and should not be limited to a consideration of carbon storage in the soil alone if the full implications for global warming are to be assessed.

Processes controlling DOC in pore water during simulated drought cycles in six different UK peats

The effect of episodic drought on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) dynamics in peatlands has been the subject of considerable debate, as decomposition and DOC production is thought to increase under aerobic conditions, yet decreased DOC concentrations have been observed during drought periods. Decreased DOC solubility due to drought-induced acidification driven by sulphur (S) redox reactions has been proposed as a causal mechanism; however evidence is based on a limited number of studies carried out at a few sites. To test this hypothesis on a range of different peats, we carried out controlled drought simulation experiments on peat cores collected from six sites across Great Britain. Our data show a concurrent increase in sulphate (SO4) and a decrease in DOC across all sites during simulated water table draw-down, although the magnitude of the relationship between SO4 and DOC differed between sites. Instead, we found a consistent relationship across all sites between DOC decrease and acidification measured by the pore water acid neutralising capacity (ANC). ANC provided a more consistent measure of drought-induced acidification than SO4 alone because it accounts for differences in base cation and acid anions concentrations between sites. Rewetting resulted in rapid DOC increases without a concurrent increase in soil respiration, suggesting DOC changes were primarily controlled by soil acidity not soil biota. These results highlight the need for an integrated analysis of hydrologically driven chemical and biological processes in peatlands to improve our understanding and ability to predict the interaction between atmospheric pollution and changing climatic conditions from plot to regional and global scales.

Heathland restoration on former agricultural land: effects of artificial acidification on the availability and uptake of toxic metal cations

Lowland heath is an internationally important habitat type that has greatly declined in abundance throughout Western Europe. In recent years this has led to a growing interest in the restoration of heathland on agricultural land. This generally requires the use of chemical treatments to return soil chemical conditions to those appropriate for the support of heathland ecosystems. However, the potential for negative impacts on the environment due to the potential of these treatments to increase the availability of trace metals via raised soil acidity requires investigation. A large-scale field study investigated the effect of two chemical treatments used in heathland restoration, elemental sulphur and ferrous sulphate, on soil acidity and whether it is possible to predict the effect of the treatments on availability of two potentially toxic cations (Al and Cd) in the soil along with their subsequent accumulation in the shoots of the grass Agrostis capillaris. Results showed that both treatments decreased soil pH, but that only elemental sulphur produced a pH similar to heathland soil. The availability of Al, measured by extraction with 1 M ammonium nitrate, could not be predicted by soil pH, depth in the soil and total Al concentration in the soil. By contrast, availability of Cd could be predicted from these three variables. Concentrations of both Al and Cd in the shoots of A. capillaris showed no significant relationship with the extractable concentration in the soil. Results are discussed in light of the possible environmental impacts of the chemical restoration techniques.

Influência da disponibilidade hídrica e da acidez do solo no teor de prolina livre de guandu

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência da disponibilidade hídrica e da acidez do solo, no teor de prolina livre da parte aérea das cultivares de guandu, IAPAR 43-Aratã e IAC Fava Larga. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 2x3x4 (cultivar x disponibilidade hídrica x acidez), com quatro repetições. em condições de restrição hídrica severa, a cultivar IAC Fava Larga pode ser considerada tolerante, em virtude do maior acúmulo de prolina livre. A presença de alumínio no solo, associada à restrição hídrica severa, apresentou efeito sinergístico sobre os teores de prolina livre.

Indicadores fisiológicos da interação entre deficit hídrico e acidez do solo em cana-de-açúcar

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os indicadores fisiológicos da interação entre deficit hídrico e acidez do solo em plantas jovens de cana-de-açúcar. As plantas foram submetidas a três tratamentos de disponibilidade hídrica, medidos em percentagem de capacidade de campo (CC) - sem estresse (70% CC), estresse moderado (55% CC) e estresse severo (40% CC); e três tratamentos de acidez no solo, medidos em termos de saturação por bases (V) - baixa acidez (V = 55%), média acidez (V = 33%) e alta acidez (V = 23%). O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação a 29,7±4,3ºC e 75±10% UR. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 3x3, com quatro repetições. Após 60 dias, foram determinados os teores de solutos compatíveis - trealose, glicina betaína e prolina - na folha diagnóstico e o crescimento inicial da parte aérea. Os solutos compatíveis trealose, glicina betaína e prolina são indicadores do efeito da interação dos estresses hídrico e ácido no solo. O acúmulo dos solutos compatíveis nos tecidos foliares das plantas não é capaz de impedir a redução na produção de matéria seca da cana-de-açúcar, resultante do agravamento nas condições de disponibilidade hídrica e de acidez no solo.

Distribuição de fósforo no bulbo molhado, aplicado via fertirrigação por gotejamento com ácido fosfórico

Foram investigados a distribuição do fósforo, o pH e a umidade do solo no bulbo molhado em um Latossolo sem vegetação, após fertirrigação com ácido fosfórico, durante 21 dias. O experimento foi instalado na UNESP/Jaboticabal - SP, em blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. Os tratamentos foram 0; 30; 60; 90 e 120 kg ha-1 de P2O5, dividindo-se as doses em quatro aplicações semanais, via fertirrigação. Após a última aplicação, foram abertas trincheiras nos bulbos molhados e coletadas amostras de solo em quadrículas de 100 cm². O ácido fosfórico provocou aumento da acidez e elevados teores de fósforo no bulbo, principalmente até 30 cm de distância lateral e até 40 cm de profundidade, em relação ao ponto de gotejamento. O aumento da dose de ácido fosfórico (90 e 120 kg ha-1 de P2O5) provocou maiores teores de fósforo e maior acidificação do solo até 30 cm de distância lateral e até 40 cm de profundidade. A distribuição do fósforo e seu efeito no pH no volume de solo molhado não seguiram a distribuição de umidade no mesmo.

Resposta de cultivares de feijoeiro comum à calagem superficial em semeadura direta

Soil acidity in no tillage system, if not in high situations, can be neutralized by lime surface application, improving mineral nutrition and crop yield. Aiming to evaluate the agronomic performance of common bean cultivars, to surface lime application, in no tillage system, an experiment was conducted in Oxisol, Botucatu Municipal District, São Paulo State, Brazil. The experimental design was a complete randomized block in split plot with four replications, where the plots were formed by common bean cultivars (Carioca, IAC Carioca Ete, Perola, IAPAR 81 e Campeao 2) and subplots consisted of surface application of dolomitic limestone (zero, 1.8 t ha(-1), 3.6 t ha(-1) and 5.4 t ha(-1)). The surface lime application on the soil occurred in October 2002 and subsequently the sequence millet (spring) - beans (summer) - oat (autumn-winter) were planted under rainfed conditions. Bean cultivars sowing were done on December 17, 2003. It can be concluded that there is influence of cultivars and limestone surface application under no tillage, where IAPAR 81 showed better grain yield with the increase of lime rates, obtaining values of 2,025 kg ha(-1) without the lime application to 2,655 kg ha(-1) with 5.4 t ha(-1) lime rate, obtaining 31% yield increase.

Influência de silicato e calcário na nutrição, produtividade e qualidade da batata sob deficiência hídrica

A aplicação de silicato de Ca e Mg pode diminuir a acidez do solo e aumentar a disponibilidade de Ca, Mg, P e Si às plantas. O Si, mesmo não sendo essencial do ponto de vista fisiológico, traz inúmeros benefícios para o crescimento e o desenvolvimento vegetal, especialmente sob estresse. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a nutrição, a produtividade e a qualidade de tubérculos e batata cultivada em solo corrigido com calcário ou silicato sob dois níveis de umidade no solo. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pela aplicação de calcário dolomítico ou silicato de Ca e Mg, visando elevar a saturação por bases do solo a 60 %, e por duas tensões de água no solo: 0,020 MPa (sem deficiência hídrica) e 0,050 MPa (com deficiência hídrica). O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em vasos contendo 50 kg dm-3 de Latossolo Vermelho de textura média. O delineamento foi inteiramente ao acaso em fatorial 2 x 2, com oito repetições. A deficiência hídrica teve pouca influência na nutrição da batateira, porém reduziu a produção de tubérculos comercializáveis. O silicato de Ca e Mg proporcionou os mesmos níveis de correção do solo e de fornecimento desses nutrientes que o calcário dolomítico, além de maior disponibilidade de P e Si no solo e maior absorção desses elementos pelas plantas de batata, podendo ser utilizado em substituição ao calcário. O fornecimento de Si à cultura da batata, mediante a aplicação de silicato, proporcionou maior altura de plantas, menor acamamento das hastes e maior produção de tubérculos comercializáveis.

Efeito da calagem superficial em plantio direto na concentração de cátions hidrossolúveis na parte aérea de culturas anuais

A acidez do solo no sistema plantio direto pode ser minimizada com aplicação superficial de calcário. Tal prática é favorecida pela permanência de restos vegetais na superfície do solo, pela liberação de compostos orgânicos hidrossolúveis, que variam de planta para planta. Por isso foi instalado um experimento em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico (V = 41 %) em Botucatu (SP), objetivando avaliar os efeitos da aplicação superficial de calcário dolomítico na concentração de cátions solúveis nos resíduos vegetais das culturas de milheto, feijão e aveia preta em dois anos agrícolas (2002/2003 e 2003/2004). No caso do feijoeiro, o delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram representadas por cultivares de feijão (Carioca, IAC Carioca Eté, Pérola, IAPAR 81 e Campeão 2), enquanto as subparcelas foram formadas por doses de calcário dolomítico (sem aplicação, 1,8; 3,6 e 5,4 t ha-1). Para o milheto e aveia preta foram consideradas apenas as doses como fator. Foram avaliados os teores de Ca, Mg, K e Mn na parte aérea de todas as culturas, bem como a condutividade elétrica no extrato. Os resultados evidenciaram que os teores de Ca, K e Mg solúveis na parte aérea das culturas anuais avaliadas não foram alterados com a aplicação superficial de doses de calcário dolomítico. As culturas do milheto e feijão apresentaram maior teor de cátions solúveis na parte aérea, quando comparado ao da aveia preta.

Produtividade e características tecnológicas de cultivares de feijão em resposta à calagem superficial em plantio direto

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação superficial de calcário em plantio direto, na produtividade e nas características tecnológicas dos grãos de cultivares de feijão. O trabalho foi desenvolvido durante dois anos agrícolas, em Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, em condições de sequeiro. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram representadas por cultivares de feijão (Carioca, IAC Carioca Eté, Pérola, IAPAR 81 e Campeão 2) e as subparcelas formadas pelas doses de calcário dolomítico (sem aplicação de calcário; 1,8; 3,6 e 5,4 t ha-1). As cultivares de feijão tiveram desenvolvimento produtivo distinto em função das doses de calcário aplicadas superficialmente no sistema plantio direto. A cultivar Campeão 2 foi mais produtiva nos dois anos de experimentação e a cultivar IAPAR 81 respondeu linearmente ao aumento das doses de calcário no segundo ano agrícola. Houve efeito da interação dos fatores cultivares x doses de calcário para o tempo de cozimento, nos dois anos de experimentação, com aumento dessa característica na cultivar IAPAR 81, em função do incremento das doses de calcário. Comportamento semelhante foi obtido pela cultivar Pérola, porém apenas no segundo ano agrícola. O teor de proteína bruta variou de 210 a 230 g kg-1 e a relação de hidratação ficou próxima de 2,0 não sendo influenciados pelas doses de calcário e pelas cultivares de feijão.

Alterações em atributos químicos do solo pela aplicação de calcário na superfície ou incorporado

The application of lime oil the soil surface is necessary in son-le agricultural situations. The objective of this work was to verify changes ill chemical attributes of a medium texture soil as a result of lime application with and without amending. The experiment was carried out in a laboratory setting, in PVC columns, in a completely randomized design, with a 2 x 4 factorial design and a control, with four replicates, totaling 36 columns. The treatments were the combination of two little rates (4 and 2 t ha(-1)) and four types of little application (oil surface without amending, and amending in layers of 0 to 5; 0 to 10 and 0 to 20 cm depths), in addition to the control, to which lime was not applied. After 326 days of soil incubation with lime, there was a corrective effect front the lime until 5 cm or 10 cm below the depth in which there was the application or amending. The application of little resulted in increases of soil base saturation until 10 cm of depth, and until 40 cut of depth when the little was amended in the layers of 0 to 5, 0 to 10 or 0 to 20 cm depth.

Viabilidade econômica do uso do calcário na implantação de pomar de goiabeiras

With the objective of studying the relationship between limestone doses and guava production, a field experiment was conducted on Oxisol soil in the town of Bebedouro-SP, from 1999 to 2006. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications. The limestone was used only once in 1999, at doses from zero, 1.85; 3.71; 5.56 and 7.41 t ha(-1). The guava production increased in response to the application of the acidity corrective. The accumulated production of fruits in successive years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 were associated with economical doses of limestone of 1.6; 4.4; 7.2 and 7.2 t ha(-1) respectively.

Macronutrients in Marandu Palisade Grass as Influenced by Lime, Slag, and Nitrogen Fertilization

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeitos da aplicação da escória de siderurgia ferrocromo no solo, no estado nutricional e na produção de matéria seca de mudas de maracujazeiro

A escória de siderurgia ferrocromo pode-se constituir em uma fonte alternativa de Ca e Mg, bem como em corretivo da acidez do solo, melhorando a sua fertilidade e o estado nutricional de culturas. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da escória de siderurgia ferrocromo nas alterações dos atributos químicos do solo, na nutrição e no desenvolvimento de mudas de maracujazeiro. Para tanto, instalou-se um experimento em condições de casa de vegetação, empregando-se as seguintes doses crescentes da escória: zero; metade; uma vez; uma vez e meia e duas vezes a dose para elevar a saturação por bases do solo a 80%, correspondendo às doses de: 0; 0,375; 0,750; 1,125 e 1,500 g dm-3, respectivamente. O substrato utilizado foi um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, ácido (vasos com 2,8 dm³), que foi incubado com a escória de siderurgia, por 30 dias, para posterior semeadura do maracujazeiro, cultivando-as por 85 dias. A aplicação da escória de siderurgia ferrocromo promoveu a neutralização da acidez do solo. Entretanto, mesmo em doses relativamente baixas (360 kg ha-1), houve diminuição no acúmulo de nutrientes e na produção de matéria seca das mudas de maracujazeiro.