Soil and crop residue CO2-C emission under tillage systems in sugarcane-producing areas of southern Brazil

Appropriate management of agricultural crop residues could result in increases on soil organic carbon (SOC) and help to mitigate gas effect. To distinguish the contributions of SOC and sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) residues to the short-term CO2-C loss, we studied the infl uence of several tillage systems: heavy offset disk harrow (HO), chisel plow (CP), rotary tiller (RT), and sugarcane mill tiller (SM) in 2008, and CP, RT, SM, moldboard (MP), and subsoiler (SUB) in 2009, with and without sugarcane residues relative to no-till (NT) in the sugarcane producing region of Brazil. Soil CO2-C emissions were measured daily for two weeks after tillage using portable soil respiration systems. Daily CO2-C emissions declined after tillage regardless of tillage system. In 2008, total CO2-C from SOC and/or residue decomposition was greater for RT and lowest for CP. In 2009, emission was greatest for MP and CP with residues, and smallest for NT. SOC and residue contributed 47% and 41%, respectively, to total CO2-C emissions. Regarding the estimated emissions from sugarcane residue and SOC decomposition within the measurement period, CO2-C factor was similar to sugarcane residue and soil organic carbon decomposition, depending on the tillage system applied. Our approach may define new emission factors that are associated to tillage operations on bare or sugarcane-residue-covered soils to estimate the total carbon loss.

LITTER DEVOLUTION AND DECOMPOSITION IN A PERIODICALLY FLOODED FOREST IN RESTINGA DA MARAMBAIA, RIO DE JANEIRO

Restinga (sandbank) areas are fragile environments, which have been subjected to anthropogenic pressures since the country colonization. So that mitigate actions can be taken, it must be developed studies to better understand the ecological processes in these environments. Thus, this study aims to quantify litter and nutrients devolution and litter decomposition in a periodically flooded forest in 'Restinga da Marambaia', Rio de Janeiro. In the study area 10 conic collectors and 30 litter bags were installed. The annual litter devolution was 7.64 Mg.ha(-1), and September was the highest contribution month. Nitrogen was the element returned to the soil to a higher amount (71.9 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)), followed by potassium (41.1 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)). Litter decomposition rate 0.0015 g g(-1) day(-1) and the half-life were 462 days. Potassium was the element that showed the highest losses in comparison to the others. Cellulose appeared as a major participant in the structure of leaf litter, followed by lignin, the latter being associated with the leathery texture of the leaves in this formation.

No adverse effect of genetically modified antifungal wheat on decomposition dynamics and the soil fauna community - a field study

The cultivation of genetically modified (GM) plants has raised several environmental concerns. One of these concerns regards non-target soil fauna organisms, which play an important role in the decomposition of organic matter and hence are largely exposed to GM plant residues. Soil fauna may be directly affected by transgene products or indirectly by pleiotropic effects such as a modified plant metabolism. Thus, ecosystem services and functioning might be affected negatively. In a litterbag experiment in the field we analysed the decomposition process and the soil fauna community involved. Therefore, we used four experimental GM wheat varieties, two with a race-specific antifungal resistance against powdery mildew (Pm3b) and two with an unspecific antifungal resistance based on the expression of chitinase and glucanase. We compared them with two non-GM isolines and six conventional cereal varieties. To elucidate the mechanisms that cause differences in plant decomposition, structural plant components (i.e. C:N ratio, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose) were examined and soil properties, temperature and precipitation were monitored. The most frequent taxa extracted from decaying plant material were mites (Cryptostigmata, Gamasina and Uropodina), springtails (Isotomidae), annelids (Enchytraeidae) and Diptera (Cecidomyiidae larvae). Despite a single significant transgenic/month interaction for Cecidomyiidae larvae, which is probably random, we detected no impact of the GM wheat on the soil fauna community. However, soil fauna differences among conventional cereal varieties were more pronounced than between GM and non-GM wheat. While leaf residue decomposition in GM and non-GM wheat was similar, differences among conventional cereals were evident. Furthermore, sampling date and location were found to greatly influence soil fauna community and decomposition processes. The results give no indication of ecologically relevant adverse effects of antifungal GM wheat on the composition and the activity of the soil fauna community.

Decomposition of nitrogen-15 labeled hoop pine harvest residues in subtropical Australia

Information on decomposition of harvest residues may assist in the maintenance of soil fertility in second rotation (2R) hoop pine plantations (Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex A. Cunn.) of subtropical Australia. The experiment was undertaken to determine the dynamics of residue decomposition and fate of residue-derived N. We used N-15-labeled hoop pine foliage, branch, and stem material in microplots, over a 30-mo period following harvesting. We examined the decomposition of each component both singly and combined, and used C-13 cross-polarization and magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (C-13 CPMAS NMR) to chart C transformations in decomposing foliage. Residue-derived N-15 was immobilized in the 0- to 5-cm soil layer, with approximately 40% N-15 recovery in the soil from the combined residues by the end of the 30-mo period. Total recovery of N-15 in residues and soil varied between 60 and 80% for the combined-residue microplots, with 20 to 40% of the residue N-15 apparently lost. When residues were combined within microplots the rate of foliage decomposition decreased by 30% while the rate of branch and stem decomposition increased by 50 and 40% compared with rates for these components when decomposed separately. Residue decomposition studies should include a combined-residue treatment. Based on C-15 CPMAS NMR spectra for decomposing foliage, we obtained good correlations for methoxyl C, aryl C, carbohydrate C and phenolic C with residue mass, N-15 enrichment, and total N. The ratio of carbohydrate C to methoxyl C may be useful as an indicator of harvest residue decomposition in hoop pine plantations.

Synthesis, characterisation and thermal analysis of copper (II) and chromium (II, III) hydrazine carboxylates

Copper(II) hydrazine carboxylate monohydrate, Cu(N2H3COO)2·H2O and chromium (II, III) hydrazine carboxylate hydrates, Cu(N2H3COO)2·H2O and Cu(N2H3COO)2·3H2O have been prepared and characterised by chemical analysis, IR, visible spectra and magnetic measurements. Thermal analysis of the copper complex yields a mixture of copper metal and copper oxide. Chromium complexes on thermal decomposition yield Cr2O3 as residue. Decomposition of chromium(HI) complex under hydrothermal conditions yield CrOOH, a precursor to CrO2.

A transient detection algorithm for audio using iterative analysis of STFT

We propose an iterative algorithm to detect transient segments in audio signals. Short time Fourier transform(STFT) is used to detect rapid local changes in the audio signal. The algorithm has two steps that iteratively - (a) calculate a function of the STFT and (b) build a transient signal. A dynamic thresholding scheme is used to locate the potential positions of transients in the signal. The iterative procedure ensures that genuine transients are built up while the localised spectral noise are suppressed by using an energy criterion. The extracted transient signal is later compared to a ground truth dataset. The algorithm performed well on two databases. On the EBU-SQAM database of monophonic sounds, the algorithm achieved an F-measure of 90% while on our database of polyphonic audio an F-measure of 91% was achieved. This technique is being used as a preprocessing step for a tempo analysis algorithm and a TSR (Transients + Sines + Residue) decomposition scheme.

Influência de fatores climáticos na decomposição de resíduos culturais de aveia e trigo.

RESUMO: Os efeitos de fatores climáticos sobre a dinâmica da decomposição de resíduos culturais, apesar de importantes para a compreensão de processos como a formação da matéria orgânica, são pouco conhecidos e estudados, sendo raros os estudos, principalmente os de longa duração. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os impactos das temperaturas máxima e mínima, da quantidade de chuvas (precipitação) e da evaporação sobre a evolução da decomposição de resíduos de aveia e trigo, em semeadura direta e convencional, utilizando-se dados de um ensaio de longa duração (12 anos) conduzido no campo experimental da Embrapa Soja, em Londrina, PR. Enquanto as temperaturas mostraram não ser um fator limitante à decomposição dos resíduos, as maiores quantidades de chuvas foram diretamente relacionadas às maiores taxas de decomposição dos resíduos estudados, principalmente no sistema plantio convencional. ABSTRACT: Climatic effect studies on residue decomposition are scarce in spite of its importance to understand the formation of the soil organic matter. The infl uence of maximum and minimum temperatures, rain and evaporation was studied on oat and wheat residues with emphasis on decay levels, considering tillage and no-tillage practices, over 12 years, in a clayish soil at the experimental fi eld of Embrapa Soybean, Londrina-PR, Brazil. While temperatures showed no limitations on decomposition of residues studied, rainfall was directly associated with high levels of residue decay. Decomposition levels were greater for tillage systems in both crops.

Acid-base reactions between an acidic soil and plant residues

The elemental composition of residues of maize (Zea mays), sorghum (S. bicolor), groundnuts (Arachis hypogea), soya beans (Glycine max), leucaena (L. leucocephala), gliricidia (G. sepium), and sesbania (S. sesban) was determined as a basis for examining their alkalinity when incorporated into an acidic Zambian Ferralsol. Potential (ash) alkalinity, available alkalinity by titration to pH 4 and soluble alkalinity (16 It water extract titrated to pH 4) were measured. Potential alkalinity ranged from 3 73 (maize) to 1336 (groundnuts) mmol kg(-1) and was equivalent to the excess of their cation charge over inorganic anion charge. Available alkalinity was about half the potential alkalinity. Cations associated with organic anions are the source of alkalinity. About two thirds of the available alkalinity is soluble. Residue buffer curves were determined by titration with H2SO4 to pH 4. Soil buffer capacity measured by addition of NaOH was 12.9 mmol kg(-1) pH(-1). Soil and residue (10 g:0.25 g) were shaken in solution for 24 h and suspension pH values measured. Soil pH increased from 4.3 to between 4.6 (maize) and 5.2 (soyabean) and the amounts of acidity neutralized (calculated from the rise in pH and the soil buffer capacity) were between 3.9 and 11.5 mmol kg(-1), respectively. The apparent base contributions by the residues (calculated from the buffer curves and the fall in pH) ranged between 105 and 350 mmol kg(-1) of residue, equivalent to 2.6 and 8.8 mmol kg(-1) of soil, respectively. Therefore, in contact with soil acidity, more alkalinity becomes available than when in contact with H2SO4 solution. Available alkalinity (to pH 4) would be more than adequate to supply that which reacts with soil but soluble alkalinity would not. It was concluded that soil Al is able to displace cations associated with organic anions in the residues which are not displaced by H+, or that residue decomposition may have begun in the soil suspension releasing some of the non-available alkalinity. Soil and four of the residues were incubated for 100 days and changes in pH, NH4+ and NO3- concentrations measured. An acidity budget equated neutralized soil acidity with residue alkalinity and base or acid produced by N transformations. Most of the potential alkalinity of soyabean and leucaena had reacted after 14 days, but this only occurred after 100 days for gliricidia, and for maize only the available alkalinity reacted. For gliricidia and leucaena, residue alkalinity was primarily used to react with acidity produced by nitrification. Thus, the ability of residues to ameliorate acidity depends not only on their available and potential alkalinity but also on their potential to release mineral N. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Taxas de decomposição e de liberação de macronutrientes da palhada de aveia preta em plantio direto

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influência de silicato e calcário na decomposição de resíduos culturais e disponibilidade de nutrientes ao feijoeiro

A disponibilidade do Si pelo silicato de Ca poderá aumentar a formação de polifenóis, os quais tornariam possível a maior persistência dos resíduos culturais em superfície. Com esse intuito, procurou-se avaliar a ação do silicato e do calcário na decomposição de diferentes resíduos culturais e a liberação de nutrientes para o desenvolvimento do feijoeiro. O delineamento experimental empregado foi o de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 3 x 5, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de três espécies de plantas de cobertura: milheto (Pennisetum americanum), braquiária (Brachiaria brizantha) e guandu-anão (Cajanus cajan L.) e cinco níveis proporcionais de silicato de cálcio: 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100 %, aplicado nas doses crescentes de 0, 2,31, 4,63, 6,96 e 9,27 g/vaso, respectivamente, balanceadas com carbonato de cálcio e carbonato de magnésio, de forma que as quantidades de Ca e Mg em cada tratamento fossem iguais, calculados para atingir uma saturação por bases no solo de 70 %. A aplicação de silicato de Ca não interferiu na decomposição do resíduo cultural de braquiária, guandu e milheto. O teor de Mg disponível no solo foi reduzido pela aplicação de silicato de Ca, o que induz menor absorção pelas plantas de cobertura e eventual disponibilização após sua decomposição. O crescimento do feijoeiro foi favorecido pela aplicação de silicato de Ca, sendo as doses de 2,31 e 6,95 g/vaso de silicato com o resíduo cultural de braquiária os tratamentos que apresentaram maior eficiência.

Resíduos da agroindústria de chá preto como substrato para produção de mudas de hortaliças

O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar o efeito do resíduo do chá preto como substrato na produção de mudas de alface, tomate e pepino. Para tal, foram conduzidos testes de germinação e ensaios de crescimento empregando, respectivamente, extrato aquoso e diferentes tipos de resíduo. Nos testes de germinação, sementes de alface, tomate e pepino foram colocadas em bandejas sobre papel de filtro umedecido com água ou extrato aquoso na concentração de 1, 5 e 10%. Nos ensaios de crescimento, sementes das mesmas espécies foram colocadas em bandejas contendo: 1. vermiculita; 2. resíduo decomposto mais vermiculita; 3. resíduo decomposto e 4. resíduo bruto lavado mais vermiculita. O resíduo decomposto foi obtido após processo de decomposição do resíduo bruto e o resíduo bruto lavado foi obtido a partir da lavagem do resíduo bruto em água. Nos testes de germinação e ensaios de crescimento, foi adotado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e quatro repetições com 30 sementes cada. Os resultados indicaram que o extrato aquoso inibiu a germinação das sementes e o crescimento das plântulas de alface, tomate e penino. O uso do resíduo bruto lavado mais vermiculita reduziu a emergência das plântulas. O resíduo decomposto e o resíduo decomposto mais vermiculita estimularam a emergência e o crescimento das plântulas. O processo de decomposição tornou viável a utilização do resíduo da indústria de chá preto como substrato para produção de mudas de hortaliças.

Produtividade de milho em plantio direto após plantas de cobertura

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Aplicação de escória, lama cal e lodo de esgoto na superfície do solo sob sistema de plantio direto

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Decomposição de resíduos vegetais de culturas de entressafra em sistema de semeadura direta e efeitos nos atributos químicos de um Latossolo e na produtividade de soja e milho

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Significant Residue Features Revealed By Eigenvalue Decomposition Analysis Of Blosum Matrices

Here we attempt to characterize protein evolution by residue features which dominate residue substitution in homologous proteins. Evolutionary information contained in residue substitution matrix is abstracted with the method of eigenvalue decomposition. Top eigenvectors in the eigenvalue spectrums are analyzed as function of the level of similarity, i.e. sequence identity (SI) between homologous proteins. It is found that hydrophobicity and volume are two significant residue features conserved in protein evolution. There is a transition point at SI approximate to 45%. Residue hydrophobicity is a feature governing residue substitution as SI >= 45%. Whereas below this SI level, residue volume is a dominant feature. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.