Influence of alkaline extraction on the characteristics of humic substances in Brazilian soils

An investigation was made of the influence of alkaline extraction on the characteristics of humic substances extracted from Brazilian soil samples. Humic substances (HS) from seven different soils samples collected in Brazil were extracted using the procedure recommended by the International Humic Substances Society (IHSS). Soils, HS and humins were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. About 8 mg of each material (soil, HS and humin) were placed in a platinum crucible and heated continuously from 20 to 750 degrees C at a heating rate of 10 degrees C min(-1) in an atmosphere of synthetic air (100 ml min(-1)). A thermal analysis revealed a difference between the content and structural characteristics of organic matter present in HS and humin fractions in relation to their soils. The results indicated that alkaline extraction alters the characteristics of humic substances during the extraction process, underlining the importance of developing methodologies and analytical procedures that allow organic matter in soils to be studied without extracting it. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phosphorus solubilizing and iaa production activities in plant growth promoting rhizobacteria from brazilian soils under sugarcane cultivation

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been used as a biofertilizer, bringing benefits to agriculture as Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB), indole-acetic acid (IAA) producers, and with other activites. The goal of this report was the identification of PGPR from soils under sugarcane crops by 16S rRNA sequencing, and the evaluation of the ability of phosphorus solubilizing and IAA production by biological assays. The isolates of this work were obtained from three areas of sugarcane crop from São Paulo State, Brazil. All isolates came from rhizosphere soil, and in a total of 60 isolates just 10 have showed high ability in phosphorus solubilizing. The selection of PSB may be done by phenotypic and/or genotypic characterization. Among ten isolates Enterobacter sp. (FJ890899), Entrobacter homaechei subsp. verschuerennii (FJ890998), Burkholderia sp. (FJ890895), and Labrys portucalensis (FJ890891) were able to IAA production. © 2006-2012 Asian Research Publishing Network (ARPN).

Mineralisation of the fungicide 14C-labelled metalaxyl fungicide in Brazilian soils.

Laboratory incubation experiments were carried out to estimate the mineralisation of metalaxyl 14C {N-(2-6 dimethyphenyl)-N-(methoxyacetyl) alanine methyl ester} in four Brazilian soils with different physico-chemical properties, at 3 and 30 ?g a.i. g-1. In the Petrolina sandy soil the mineralisation presented higher 14CO2 production rates, at two essayed concentrations, after 70 days. Microbiological studies were done to determine the numbers of bacteria, actinobacteria and fungi (CFU g-1 soil). In relation with other microbial community, bacterial population demonstrated to be a major component of the cultivable heterotrophic community after the application.of the compound. No detectable metabolites were found in this study. The results suggest that soil properties and application history may have a strong influence on the fungicide behavior in these soil samples.

Mineralisation of 14c-labelled metalaxyl fungicide in Brazilian soils.

2008

The influence of brazilian soils properties in Americium sorption.

Although some radioecological studies have been accomplished in Brazilian soils supplying useful information to optimization of emergency planning actions in rural areas and to the management of soils contaminated by 137Cs, 60Co and 90Sr, few studies were made with transuranic elements in tropical agricultural areas. The different scenarios found in Brazilian agricultural environments enhance the importance of studying the biogeochemical behavior of radionuclides in representative soils. The objective of this work was to determine the mobility of 241Am in 3 different Brazilian agricultural soils evaluating migration with depth and Kd values for 241Am and the effect of organic amendments on this behavior. A strong effect of organic amendments on mobility of americium could be observed. The values of Kd obtained in all studied tropical soils were however smaller than those found in European soils and from those recommended by IAEA to be used as default values in the absence of regional data. This result reinforces the vulnerability of some tropical soils to a contamination, emphasizing the need to use of regional values.

Mapping spatial and temporal potassium balances in Brazilian soils of south-west Goias.

Introduction: Brazil, is one of the main agricultural producers in the world ranking 1st in the production of sugarcane, coffee and oranges. It is also 2nd as world producer of soybeans and a leader in the harvested yields of many other crops. The annual consumption of mineral fertilizers exceeds 20 million mt, 30% of which corresponds to potash fertilizers (ANDA, 2006). From this statistic it may be supposed that fertilizer application in Brazil is rather high, compared with many other countries. However, even if it is assumed that only one fourth of this enormous 8.5 million km2 territory is used for agriculture, average levels of fertilizer application per hectare of arable land are not high enough for sustainable production. One of the major constraints is the relatively low natural fertility status of the soils which contain excessive Fe and Al oxides. Agriculture is also often practised on sandy soils so that the heavy rainfall causes large losses of nutrients through leaching. In general, nutrient removal by crops such as sugarcane and tropical fruits is much more than the average nutrient application via fertilization, especially in regions with a long history of agricultural production. In the recently developed areas, especially in the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) where agriculture has expanded since 1980, soils are even poorer than in the "old" agricultural regions, and high costs of mineral fertilizers have become a significant input factor in determining soybean, maize and cotton planting. The consumption of mineral fertilizers throughout Brazil is very uneven. According to the 1995/96 Agricultural Census, only in eight of the total of 26 Brazilian states, were 50 per cent or more of the farms treated "systematically" with mineral fertilizers; in many states it was less than 25 per cent, and in five states even less than 12 per cent (Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics; Censo Agropecuario1995/96, Instituto Brazileiro de Geografia e Estadistica; IBGE, www.ibge.gov.br). The geographical application distribution pattern of mineral fertilizers may be considered as an important field of research. Understanding geographical disparities in fertilization level requires a complex approach. This includes evaluation of the availability of nutrients in the soil (and related soil properties e.g. CEC and texture), the input of nutrients with fertilizer application, and the removal of nutrients by harvested yields. When all these data are compiled, it is possible to evaluate the balance of particular nutrients for certain areas, and make conclusions as to where agricultural practices should be optimized. This kind of research is somewhat complicated, because it relies on completely different sources of data, usually from incomparable data sources, e.g. soil characteristics attributed to soil type areas, in contrast to yields by administrative regions, or farms. A priority tool in this case is the Geographical Information System (GIS), which enables attribution of data from different fields to the same territorial units, and makes possible integration of these data in an "inputoutput" model, where "input" is the natural availability of a nutrient in the soil plus fertilization, and "output" export of the same nutrient with the removed harvested yield.

Nickel adsorption by soils in relation to pH, organic matter, and iron oxides

There is little information on nickel adsorption by Brazilian soils. The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of pH, organic matter, and iron oxides on nickel adsorption by three soils: a clayey Anionic Rhodic Acrudox, a sandy clay loam Anionic Xanthic Acrudox, and a clayey Rhodic Hapludalf. Soil samples were collected from the 0-0.2 in layer and treated to eliminate organic matter and iron oxides. The nickel adsorption was evaluated in the original samples and in those treated to remove organic matter and to remove both, organic matter and iron oxides, using 2 g soil + 20 mL of 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2 solution containing 5 mg L-1 Ni, pH varying from 3.5 to 7.5. The nickel adsorption decreased with the elimination of organic matter. For the samples without organic matter and iron oxides, adsorption decreased only in the Anionic Rhodic Acrudox. The pH was the main factor involved in nickel adsorption variation, and for soil samples without organic matter and iron oxides, the maximum adsorption occurred at higher pH values.

Tannery sludge compost amendment rates on soil microbial biomass of two different soils

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Zinc and lead content and availability in Brazilian soil contaminated with residue of a secondary smelting lead recycling plant

The sequential extraction procedure of Zinc and lead performed in a Brazilian soil showed that it presents high pollution potential once over 90% of total lead is present in fractions where the metals can be easily mobilized. The fraction contents are as follow: F1 = 174 and 15 mg kg-1; F2 = 3155 and 9.7 mg kg -1; F3 = 99 and 1.6 mg kg -1; Residual fraction = 38 and 5.5 mg kg -1 for lead and zinc, respectively. The comparison with non contaminated soil only Pb 2+ concentration is above its intervention reference concentration, 900 mg kg -1.

Otimização de metodologia para determinação de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos pela técnica de extração por líquido pressurizado e sua aplicação a diferentes solos brasileiros

Os hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPA) representam hoje grande preocupação à comunidade científica devido a sua comprovada ação cancerígena e mutagênica, assim tornam-se necessárias metodologias mais eficientes para suas determinações. O presente trabalho desenvolveu a técnica de extração por líquido pressurizado com a etapa de clean-up simultânea a extração, com sílica e alumina como adsorventes dentro da cela do equipamento ASE-350. A metodologia desenvolvida foi comparada com a tradicional extração por Sohxlet através de material de referência certificado. A extração por Soxhlet, apesar de eficiente, mostrou-se dispendiosa pelo gasto enorme de tempo, solvente e adsorventes quando comparada a extração por líquido pressurizado. De maneira geral a extração por líquido pressurizado apresentou-se mais vantajosa que a tradicional extração por Soxhlet. A eficiência da metodologia desenvolvida também foi testada através de quatro diferentes tipos de solos brasileiros fortificados com solução padrão de HPA. Os solos utilizados foram dos seguintes locais: Nova Lima MG, Lavras MG, Casimiro de Abreu RJ e Luiz Eduardo Magalhães BA. Todos possuíam características granulométricas e químicas diferentes entre si. Dois solos foram classificados em latossolos vermelhos, um em vermelho-amarelo e um em planossolo. Houve diferença significativa na eficiência de recuperação de alguns HPA quando comparados os quatro tipos de solos, já para outros HPA não evidenciou-se influência da tipologia do solo

A influência da presença de ferro endógeno de solos brasileiros na remediação de diesel via reagente de Fenton modificado

Os Processos Oxidativos Avançados (POA) surgem como uma tecnologia eficiente para a remediação de áreas contaminadas com óleos, permitindo em muitos casos a completa degradação de uma grande variedade de compostos orgânicos recalcitrantes. Dentre os POA, o reagente de Fenton se destaca por sua simplicidade operacional e tecnologia eficiente para grande carga orgânica, assim como, envolve tempo e custo de processos reduzidos. A literatura reporta uma variedade de trabalhos envolvendo remediação de solos arenosos por POA. Estes resultados não devem ser aplicados diretamente para remediar solos brasileiros devido à variedade dos tipos de petróleo e à grande extensão do território brasileiro rico em diferentes tipos de solos predominantemente argilosos. Dessa forma, é de extrema importância o profundo conhecimento de avaliação e indicação de uma forma de se remediar o solo com condições menos agressivas evitando assim a sua desertificação. Dessa forma, este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a eficiência do teor e da forma do ferro endógeno na remediação do tipo Fenton em diferentes amostras de solos brasileiros contaminados com óleo diesel. Dez diferentes tipos de solos brasileiros: argissolo (Arg), chernossolo (Che), latossolo vermelho (LV), latossolo amarelo (LA), latossolo vermelho e amarelo (LVA), latossolo férrico (LE), neossolo (NeQ), organossolo (Org), solonchak (Soc), vertissolo (Ver). Os teores das diferentes formas de ferro endógenos (amorfo, cristalino, biodisponível e total) foram determinados pela extração por ditionito-citrato-bicarbonato de sódio (Fe-CDB), extração com oxalato ácido de amônio (Fe-oxalato), extração com ácido sulfúrico (Fe2O3-AS) e extração com solução de ácido dietileno triamino pentacético (Fe-DTPA), respectivamente. A avaliação da eficiência de oxidação pela dosagem de H2O2 e a forma de ferro disponível, assim como a sua quantidade, foi avaliada segundo correlação de Pearson. Verificou-se que a maioria dos solos argilosos tropicais (LV, LE, LA), mesmo apresentando uma grande quantidade de óxido de ferro cristalino (Fe-DCB) comparados aos solos tipo arenosos (NeQ, Org, Soc), apresentaram resultados de remediação semelhantes aos solos arenosos. Além disso, não foi observada uma correlação linear entre a quantidade de óxido de ferro cristalino e a eficiência da remediação, porém sugere-se que a elevada quantidade de óxido de ferro cristalino (Fe-DCB) adsorva os íons ferro da solução. O LVA foi o solo que apresentou a maior eficiência de remediação, independente da adição ou não de ferro. Este resultado foi atribuído à sua maior quantidade de ferro amorfo (Fe-oxalato). A tentativa de se correlacionar a remediação com algumas propriedades dos solos demonstrou que a correlação com pH, sem considerar o solonchack (Soc) é a que apresenta maior significância, ou seja, é o pH do solo que parece influenciar o grau de diferenciação das remediações com ou sem adição de ferro. Em solos mais arenosos, a eficiência da remediação com a adição de ferro exógeno foi mais significativa do que a observada para os solos argilosos.

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.

Analysis of phosphorus use efficiency traits in Coffea genotypes reveals Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora have contrasting phosphorus uptake and utilization efficiencies

Background and Aims: Phosphate (Pi) is one of the most limiting nutrients for agricultural production in Brazilian soils due to low soil Pi concentrations and rapid fixation of fertilizer Pi by adsorption to oxidic minerals and/or precipitation by iron and aluminum ions. The objectives of this study were to quantify phosphorus (P) uptake and use efficiency in cultivars of the species Coffea arabica L. and Coffea canephora L., and group them in terms of efficiency and response to Pi availability. Methods: Plants of 21 cultivars of C. arabica and four cultivars of C. canephora were grown under contrasting soil Pi availabilities. Biomass accumulation, tissue P concentration and accumulation and efficiency indices for P use were measured. Key Results: Coffee plant growth was significantly reduced under low Pi availability, and P concentration was higher in cultivars of C. canephora. The young leaves accumulated more P than any other tissue. The cultivars of C. canephora had a higher root/shoot ratio and were significantly more efficient in P uptake, while the cultivars of C. arabica were more efficient in P utilization. Agronomic P use efficiency varied among coffee cultivars and E16 Shoa, E22 Sidamo, Iêmen and Acaiá cultivars were classified as the most efficient and responsive to Pi supply. A positive correlation between P uptake efficiency and root to shoot ratio was observed across all cultivars at low Pi supply. These data identify Coffea genotypes better adapted to low soil Pi availabilities, and the traits that contribute to improved P uptake and use efficiency. These data could be used to select current genotypes with improved P uptake or utilization efficiencies for use on soils with low Pi availability and also provide potential breeding material and targets for breeding new cultivars better adapted to the low Pi status of Brazilian soils. This could ultimately reduce the use of Pi fertilizers in tropical soils, and contribute to more sustainable coffee production.

Efeito simultâneo da deficiência hídrica e do alumínio tóxico no solo na cultivar IAC91-5155 de cana-de-açúcar

Sugarcane is a very important economic crop in Brazil. The effects of abiotic stresses cause negative reduction of the productivity in the sugarcane industry. In order to identify indicators of stresses tolerance, two physiological variables were evaluated, nitrate reductase activity and chlorophyll contents in young plants of sugarcane, cv. IAC91-5155. The simultaneous effect of abiotic stresses of high occurrence in Brazilian soils are, water deficiency and aluminum toxicity. The plants were submitted to three treatments of water availability (% field capacity, FC): no stress (70% FC), moderate stress (55% FC), and extreme stress (40% FC); and three acidity treatments in the soil (base saturation, V%): no acidity (V=55%), average acidity (V=33%), and high acidity (V=23%). The experiment was carried out in greenhouse, with 29.7 +/- 4.3 degrees C and 75 +/- 10% RH. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in 3x3 factorial arrangement, with four replicates. After 60 days, nitrate reductase activity and chlorophyll contents were evaluated in the diagnostic leaf. The results demonstrate that the response of plants to a combination of drought and aluminum toxicity, similar to the conditions in many natural environments, is different from the response of plants to each of these stresses applied individually, as typically tested in the laboratory. The nitrate reductase activity can be used as a biochemical-physiological marker of water deficiency while chlorophyll contents can be used as a biochemical-physiological marker of both of them, water deficiency or aluminum toxicity in soil. Both parameters can not be as a biochemical-physiological marker for acclimation of young plants of sugarcane cv. IAC91-5155, under the combined stresses.

The status of soil phosphate fractions and the ability of fungi to dissolve hardly soluble phosphates

Brazilian soils predominantly consist of iron and aluminum oxides and have a low phosphorus content. The present study was carried out in order to assess the status of phosphate fractions in pasture, forest and agricultural soils and the ability of soil fungi to solubilize iron and aluminum phosphates. The abundance of P fractions in the soils studied occurred in the following order: Fe-P > reductant-soluble Fe-P > occluded Fe-P > occluded Al-P > Al-P > Ca-P. of the 481 fungi isolated, 33 showed the ability to solubilize the inorganic phosphates in culture. of these, 14 were considered to be high or very high solubilizers based on a solubilization capacity > 1000 mu g PO43- ml(-1). Isolate F-111 was the only one that dissolved all the insoluble phosphates used. Nine isolates solubilized both Al-P and Ca-P, and four other isolates only solubilized Ca-P. The highest number of isolates with high solubilization capacity were detected in pasture soil, followed by tropical rain forest and forest patch soils. Pasture soil presented both the largest contents of insoluble phosphates and the largest number of fungal isolates with phosphate-solubilizing ability. The range and size of P fractions influenced the number of fungi and their ability to solubilize hardly soluble phosphates. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.