Exploring the potential of Canavalia ensiformis for phytoremediation of B10 biodiesel-contaminated soil: insights on aromatic compound degradation and soil fertility.

The widespread use of petroleum-based fuels poses a significant environmental problem due to the risks associated with accidental spills. Among the treatments available, phytoremediation is increasingly accepted as an effective and low-cost solution. This study aimed to evaluate the degradation of the aromatic fraction of biodiesel B10 and the soil fertility analysis in artificially contaminated soils treated with phytoremediation. The experimental design consisted of a 3x3 factorial, with three types of soil treatment: control, autoclaved, and planted with C. ensiformis L, and three levels of B10 biodiesel contamination: 0, 1, and 2%, to simulate spills of 30,000 and 60,000 L ha-1. The soil was analyzed at three depths: 0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm. The results indicated that aromatic compound degradation after phytoremediation was superior to 92,76% and 88,65% for 1% and 2% B10 soil contamination, respectively. The fuel contamination affected soil fertility, reducing the availability of phosphorus and zinc while increasing the Total Organic Carbon (TOC), pH, and the availability of manganese and iron for plants.

Numerous studies have been carried out on the phytoremediation of soils contaminated with diesel. However, the potential impact of biodiesel-diesel blends on soil fertility has not been fully explored, leading to a critical knowledge gap. This work investigates the novel effects of biodiesel-diesel blends on phytoremediation and soil fertility, allowing us to expand our understanding of the effectiveness of this approach to remediate contaminated sites.

Evidence of limited carbon sequestration in soils under no-tillage systems in the Cerrado of Brazil.

The Brazilian government aims at augmenting the area cropped under no-tillage (NT) from 32 to 40 million ha by 2020 as a means to mitigate CO2 emissions. We estimated soil carbon (C) sequestration under continuous NT systems in two municipalities in the Goiás state that are representative of the Cerrado. A chronosequence of NT fields of different age since conversion from conventional tillage (CT) was sampled in 2003 and 2011. Soil C levels of native Cerrado and pasture were measured for comparison. After about 11 to 14 years, soil C stocks under NT were highest and at the levels of those under natural Cerrado. Average annual rates of soil C sequestration estimated using the chronosequence approach were respectively 1.61 and 1.48 Mg C ha(-1) yr(-1) for the 2003 and 2011 sampling, and were higher than those observed using repeated sampling after eight years. The diachronic sampling revealed that the younger NT fields tended to show higher increases in soil C stocks than the older fields. Converting an extra 8 million ha of cropland from CT to NT represents an estimated soil C storage of about 8 Tg C yr(-1) during 10 to 15 years.

Fertility and acidity status of latossolos (oxisols) under pasture in the Brazilian Cerrado.

The Cerrado region, with over 50 million hectares of cultivated pasture, provides 55% of Brazilian beef production. Previous investigations have shown that about 70-80% of this pasture is affected by some kind of degradation, leading to low productivity. However, until now, few surveys have been carried out on a regional scale. The aim of the present work is both to assess the fertility and acidity levels of Cerrado soils under pasture and compare the variability of the soils characteristics on a regional scale. Two soil depths were sampled in different places within the studied area: (1) a surface horizon (0.0-0.2 m) in order to evaluate its fertility and acidity status for pasture, and (2) a subsurface horizon (0.6-0.8 m), used for classification. Most of soils had levels of nutrients below the reference values for adequate pasture development. Whatever the texture, about 90% of soils had low or very low availability of phosphorus. Only 7 to 14% of soils had low pH, high exchangeable aluminum, and aluminum saturation above the critical acidity level. Except for nitrogen, no significant difference was found between Latossolos Vermelhos and Latossolos Vermelho-Amarelos.

Fertility and acidity status of latossolos (oxisols) under pasture in the Brazilian Cerrado

The Cerrado region, with over 50 million hectares of cultivated pasture, provides 55 percent of Brazilian beef production. Previous investigations have shown that about 70-80 percent of this pasture is affected by some kind of degradation, leading to low productivity. However, until now, few surveys have been carried out on a regional scale. The aim of the present work is both to assess the fertility and acidity levels of Cerrado soils under pasture and compare the variability of the soils characteristics on a regional scale. Two soil depths were sampled in different places within the studied area: (1) a surface horizon (0.0-0.2 m) in order to evaluate its fertility and acidity status for pasture, and (2) a subsurface horizon (0.6-0.8 m), used for classification. Most of soils had levels of nutrients below the reference values for adequate pasture development. Whatever the texture, about 90 percent of soils had low or very low availability of phosphorus. Only 7 to 14 percent of soils had low pH, high exchangeable aluminum, and aluminum saturation above the critical acidity level. Except for nitrogen, no significant difference was found between Latossolos Vermelhos and Latossolos Vermelho-Amarelos.

A região do Cerrado, com 50 milhões de hectares de pastagens cultivadas, responde por 55 por cento da carne bovina produzida no Brasil. Há estimativas indicando que entre 70 e 80 por cento destas pastagens apresentam algum grau de degradação, o que leva a baixa produtividade. No entanto, até o presente, poucos trabalhos foram desenvolvidos em escala regional. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a fertilidade e a acidez de Latossolos sob pastagens na região do Cerrado e comparar a variabilidade das características dos solos em escala regional. A amostragem foi realizada em duas profundidades, superficial (0,0-0,2 m) para avaliação da fertilidade e acidez e subsuperficial (0,60,8 m), utilizada para classificar os solos. A maioria dos solos apresentou teores de nutrientes abaixo do recomendado para o adequado desenvolviento das pastagens. Independentemente da textura, aproximadamente 90 por cento dos solos apresentaram baixa ou muito baixa disponibilidade de P. Apenas 7-14 por cento dos solos apresentaram baixo pH, alta saturação por Al e acidez acima do nível crítico. Exceto para o N, não houve diferença significativa nos níveis de fertilidade e acidez entre os Latossolos Vermelhos e os Latossolos Vermelho-Amarelos.

Caracterização da solução de solos do Bioma Cerrado sob pastagens / Characterization of the soil solution of brazilian Cerrado soils under pasture

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a solução de solos e avaliar a especiação do Al em solos sob pastagens no Bioma Cerrado. Para a coleta das soluções dos solos utilizou-se tubo de PVC com a extremidade inferior acoplada a uma ponta porosa de cerâmica especial. Para quantificar as formas iônicas do alumínio, foram comparadas duas metodologias: método químico do “aluminon” e o método WHAM (modelo geoquímico de especiação). Os solos utilizados no presente estudo foram coletados às margens das rodovias GO – 060 e BR – 154, no trecho entre os municípios de Goiânia, GO e Barra do Garças, MT. Os resultados permitiram concluir que as espécies iônicas de alumínio predominantes variaram em função do tipo de solo, pH e concentração de NO3 - na solução do solo. Verificou-se também que as espécies iônicas mais abundantes foram: Al-M.O., Al3+ e Al(OH)4.

The aim of the present work was to characterize the soils solution and to examine Al's speciation in soilsunder pasture in Brazilian Cerrado region. The soils used in this study were collected in the spacebetween the towns of Goiânia, GO and Barra do Garças, MT, to the margins of GO ­ 060 and BR ­ 154highways. For the collection of soil solutions it was used a special equipment built with a PVC tubewhose inferior extremity was coupled to a porous tip of special ceramic. To quantify the aluminum ionicspecies, two methods were used: chemical method of " aluminon " and the method WHAM (geochemicalspeciation model). The results allowed to conclude that the predominant aluminum ionic species variedin function of soil type, pH and concentration of NO3- in the soil solution. More abundant Al's speciesin the soils were Al-M.O., Al3+ and Al(OH)4- , in this order.

Avaliação de fontes e doses de fósforo no crescimento inicial do milho / Evaluation of sources and rates of P fertilizers on the initial growth of corn

O fósforo é componente vital para todos os seres vivos e é essencial para a produção agrícola. No Brasil, a maior parte dos solos agricultáveis tem baixos teores de fósforo disponível. Para atender as exigências das plantas e suprimento adequado de fósforo há a necessidade da aplicação de adubos fosfatados. Dentre as opções de fontes no mercado, os fosfatos totalmente acidulados são os usualmente comercializados. Com o aumento do uso dos fosfatos naturais reativos, a avaliação da eficiência da aplicação do fertilizante é importante no manejo da adubação fosfatada. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação, utilizando um Nitossolo. O delineamento experimental empregado foi o inteiramente casualizado com os tratamentos arranjados em um fatorial 4 x 2 com quatro repetições. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de fontes e doses de fósforo no crescimento inicial do milho. A produção de matéria seca e os teores de P da parte aérea das plantas de milho aumentaram com o incremento das doses de fósforo, dependentemente da fonte de P considerada. Contudo, o Superfosfato Triplo foi mais eficiente que o fosfato de Arad, garantindo melhor nutrição e crescimento inicial das plantas de milho.

Phosphorus is an essential element for all living organisms and important also for agricultural production.The content of P in most agricultural soils in Brazil is low. In order to supply the plant needs and the soilfixation, application of P fertilizer is required. Among the various options of P fertilizers in the market, thetotally acidified phosphates are usually commercialized. The evaluation of the efficiency of the reactivenatural phosphates as P fertilizers is important due to the increase of the utilization of cheaper sourcesof natural P. The experiment was carried out in green house, using a Nitossolo. The experimental designused was complete randomized design, with the treatments in a 4x2 factorial arrangement, and fourreplications. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effects of sources and rates of P on thegrowth of corn. The production of dry matter and the content of P on the corn leave and stalks (aboveground corn parts) increased as rates of P increased, regardless the P sources tested. However, theTriple Super Phosphate was more efficient compared with Arad phosphate, providing better nutritionand initial growth of corn plants

Compactação do solo: causas e efeitos / Soil compacting: causes and effects

Os solos agrícolas vêm sofrendo grandes perturbações, sendo a compactação apontada como a principal causa destas mudanças em virtude do tráfego de tratores e máquinas agrícolas em condições inadequadas de manejo. A presente revisão teve como objetivo discutir as causas e os efeitos da compactação sobre as propriedades físicas do solo vão depender da pressão exercida pelos pontos de apoio das máquinas e equipamentos, das suas cargas, do número de vezes que trafegam no terreno, da textura e da agregação do solo. As modificações que podem ocorrer nas propriedades físicas do solo vão desde aumento na densidade do solo, aumento da resistência do solo à penetração das raízes, redução da macroporosidade, conseqüentemente, menor condutividade e menor acúmulo de água, comprometendo desta forma a infiltração de água e a penetração das raízes no perfil do solo, que se torna mais suscetível à erosão. Com a adoçåo de algumas técnicas de manejo por parte dos agricultores poderão ser minimizados os efeitos da compactação do solo sobre suas propriedades físicas, melhorando assim o ambiente para desenvolvimento do sistema de raízes das culturas.