(K)over-bar* mesons in dense matter

We study the properties of (K) over bar* mesons in nuclear matter using a unitary approach in coupled channels within the framework of the local hidden gauge formalism and incorporating the (K) over bar pi decay channel in matter. The in-medium (K) over bar *N interaction accounts for Pauli blocking effects and incorporates the (K) over bar* self-energy in a self-consistent manner. We also obtain the (K) over bar* (off-shell) spectral function and analyze its behavior at finite density and momentum. At a normal nuclear matter density, the (K) over bar* meson feels a moderately attractive potential, while the (K) over bar* width becomes five times larger than in free space. We estimate the transparency ratio of the gamma A -> K+K*(-) A` reaction, which we propose as a feasible scenario at the present facilities to detect changes in the properties of the (K) over bar* meson in nuclear medium.

Year-round poultry litter decomposition and N, P, K and Ca release

Poultry litter is an important nutrient source in agriculture, although little information is available regarding its decomposition rate and nutrient release. To evaluate these processes, poultry litter (PL) was applied to the soil to supply 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 N contained in 4,953, 9,907 and 14,860 kg ha-1 PL, respectively. The litter bag technique was used to monitor the process of decomposition and nutrient release from the litter. These bags were left on the soil surface and collected periodically (after 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, and 365 days). The dry matter (DM) loss was highest (35 %) after the first 30 days of field incubation. The highest nutrient release occurred in the first 60 days on the field, when 40, 34, 91, and 39 %, respectively, of N, P, K, and Ca of the initial PL dry matter (4,860 kg ha-1) was already released to the soil. In absolute terms, these percentages represent 40, 23, 134, and 69 kg ha-1 of N, P, K, and Ca and these values doubled and tripled as the PL fertilization rates increased to 9,907 and 14,860 kg ha-1, respectively. After one year of field incubation, the residual contents in the litter were 27, 15, 18 and 30 % of the initial DM , and N, P and Ca, respectively. The release rate of K was the fastest and 91 % of the K had been released from the PL after 30 days of field incubation.

Relationships between microbial activity and soil physical and chemical properties in native and reforested Araucaria angustifolia forests in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze is the main component of the Mixed Ombrophilous forest and, in the State of São Paulo, it is associated with a high diversity of soil organisms, essential for the maintenance of soil quality, making the conservation of this ecosystem a major and pressing challenge. The objective of this study was to identify the physical and chemical properties that are most closely correlated with dehydrogenase enzyme activity, basal respiration and microbial biomass under native (NF) and replanted (RF) Araucaria angustifolia forests in three regions of the state of São Paulo, in winter and summer. The main differentiating factors between the areas were also determined. Each forest was represented by three true replications; at each site, from around the araucaria trees, 15 soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected to evaluate the soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties. At the same points, forest litter was sampled to assess mass and chemical properties. The following microbiological properties were evaluated: microbial biomass carbon (MBC), basal respiration (CO2-C), metabolic quotient (Q: CO2), dehydrogenase enzyme activity (DHA) as well as the physical properties (moisture, bulk density, macroporosity and total porosity), soil chemical properties [pH, organic carbon (org-C), P, Ca, K, Mg, Al, H+Al], litter dry mass, and C, N and S contents. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (TWO-WAY: ANOVA). A Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA) and a Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) were also performed. In the soil under NF, the values of K, P, soil macroporosity, and litter dry mass were higher and Q: CO2 and DHA lower, regardless of the sampling period, and DHA was lower in winter. In the RF areas, the levels of moisture, porosity and Q: CO2 were higher in both sampling periods, and DHA was higher in winter. The MBC was only higher under NF in the summer, while the litter contents of C, N and S were greater in winter. In winter, CCA showed a high correlation of DHA with CO2-C, pH and H+Al, while in the summer org-C, moisture, Mg, pH and litter C were more associated with DHA and CO2-C. The CDA indicated H+Al, available P, total porosity, litter S content, and soil moisture as the most discriminating variables between NF and RF, but moisture was the most relevant, in both seasons and CO2-C only in winter. The combined analysis of CCA and CDA showed that the contribution of the microbiological variables to a differentiation of the areas was small at both samplings, which may indicate that the period after reforestation was long enough to allow an almost complete recovery of the microbial activity.

Erodibilidade, fatores cobertura e manejo e práticas conservacionistas em argissolo vermelho-amarelo, sob condições de chuva natural

Os modelos de predição de perda de solo têm se tornado importantes ferramentas no planejamento conservacionista, sendo, para tanto, fundamental a estimativa local dos parâmetros que influenciam o processo erosivo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a erodibilidade (fator K) e os fatores manejo e cobertura (fator C) e práticas conservacionistas de suporte (fator P) da Equação Universal da Perda de Solo (USLE), em um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo. Foram avaliadas as perdas de solo (PS) ocorridas em parcelas-padrão de Wischmeier, no período de 2006 a 2011, com seus respectivos índices de erosividade (EI30). Valores de erodibilidade foram calculados pelo quociente entre PS e EI30 das chuvas anuais (Ka) e total no período (Kt) e pelo coeficiente angular gerado pela análise de regressão linear entre esses mesmos parâmetros (Kci e Kct). Os fatores C e P foram estimados para a cultura do milho, durante três anos de cultivo em nível (MN). Os valores de Kt e Kct obtidos foram de 0,0090 e 0,0106 Mg ha h ha-1 MJ-1 mm-1, respectivamente. Os valores médios calculados para os fatores C e P são de 0,0070 Mg ha Mg-1 ha-1 e de 0,45, respectivamente, indicando redução de 55 % na perda de solo do MN, em relação ao MMA. Os valores dos fatores K, C e P encontrados podem ser usados como primeira aproximação para estudos de manejo e conservação do solo e da água na região.

Brachiaria sp yield and nutrient contents after nitrogen and sulphur fertilization

Among the production factors, adequate fertilization is an important tool to raise the productivity of pastoral systems and consequently increase the share of Brazil in the supply chain of primary agricultural products at the global level. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction of nitrogen and sulfur fertilization in BRACHIARIA DECUMBENS: Stapf. The experiment in pots with Dystrophic Oxisol was evaluated in a completely randomized design with four replications in a 5 x 3 factorial arrangement, involving five N doses (0, 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg dm-3) in the form of ammonium nitrate and three S doses (0, 20 and 80 mg dm-3) in the form of calcium sulfate, with a total of 15 treatments. In the treatments with low S dose, calcium was provided as calcium chloride, to ensure a homogeneous Ca supply in all treatments. The results showed that the tiller production and dry weight of green leaves and of stems + sheaths and total dry weight were favored by the combination of N and S fertilizer, while the proportion of dry leaves was reduced. Nitrogen fertilization raised the N contents in green leaves and stems + sheaths and reduced K contents in fresh and dry leaves. The response to S rates in the N content of green leaves was quadratic.

Decomposição e liberação de N, P e K de esterco bovino e de cama de frango isolados ou misturados

A utilização de resíduos orgânicos de origem animal na adubação das culturas demanda informações sobre a dinâmica de decomposição e mineralização de nutrientes neles contidos. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a decomposição e a liberação de N, P e K dos resíduos orgânicos esterco bovino e cama de frango isolados ou misturados, em Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo, da região de Tabuleiros Costeiros paraibanos. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, utilizando-se o método das sacolas de decomposição (litterbag), com os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial 3 × 2 × 6, referentes a três resíduos orgânicos: esterco bovino (EB), cama de frango (CF) e a mistura desses resíduos na proporção de 1:1, denominada de esterco misto (EM); duas camadas de incorporação (0-10 e 10-20 cm); e seis períodos de avaliação (0, 30, 90, 150, 210 e 270 dias após a aplicação - DAA) com três repetições. Os resultados revelaram que a profundidade de incorporação não influenciou a decomposição dos resíduos EB e EM, que essa foi mais rápida na CF (0,0035 g dia-1), mais lenta no EB (0,0010 g dia-1) e ocorreu numa velocidade intermediária no EM (0,0020 g dia-1). Houve liberação mais rápida de N no EM (0,0011 g dia-1), de P no EB (0,0040 g dia-1) e de K na CF (0,0025 g dia-1), com tendência de aumento na liberação de N na CF e de P em todos os resíduos com a incorporação desses na camada de 10-20 cm. Após 270 DAP, estimou-se que a liberação de nutrientes pelos resíduos EB, CF e EM, em relação ao teor inicial, foi de 5,0; 15,0; e 28,0 %, para N; 80,0; 68,0; e 47,0 %, para P; e 20,0; 53,0; e 32,0 %, para K. Em valores absolutos, esses percentuais representaram, respectivamente, 19,0; 103,5; e 149,5 kg ha-1 de N; 28,0; 18,0; e 15,0 kg ha-1 de P; e 75,0; 493,0; e 209,0 kg ha-1 de K. Os resíduos orgânicos se evidenciaram fontes inadequadas para suprir isoladamente a demanda nutricional de culturas de ciclo curto nesses solos.