Prevention values for copper (low tier approach) in subtropical acidic soils.

Copper is a trace element in plants and animals whose importance can be understood due to its role in different essential metabolic processes. Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and mining are potential sources of pollution due to the emission of copper into the environment. Brazilian legislation ties soil quality to guideline values, among which the Prevention Value indicates the critical environmental limit for trace elements. The aim of this study was to obtain PVs for copper for two subtropical soils (Cambisol and Nitisol), given that the pedological richness was not considered when deriving the PVs contained in the federal normative. Reproduction assays followed ISO guidelines with the earthworm species Eisenia andrei and Perionyx excavatus, the enchytraeids Enchytraeus crypticus and Enchytraeus bigeminus and the springtails Folsomia candida and Proisotoma minuta. Results showed that the sensitivity of the organisms was greater in Cambisol. The most sensitive species were the earthworms, especially Perionyx excavatus (EC50 = 67.83 in Cambisol; EC50 = 264.96 in Nitisol). The springtails, on the other hand, were the least sensitive to contamination. These findings reinforce the need to include organisms from different ecological groups in ecotoxicological assessments. It was also observed that the PV adopted in federal legislation (= 60 mg kg-1) is in fact protective for the species and soils we evaluated, since the PVs we obtained based on the EC50 were 346.74 mg kg-1 in Nitisol and 134.05 mg kg-1 in Cambisol. It is important to note that our results do not exclude the need for evaluations with other subtropical soils, given the influence of their properties on the toxicity and bioavailability of copper to soil organisms.

Ecotoxicity of alkaline residue from the pulp and paper industry to soil faunal organisms.

The increased production and expanding demand for cellulosic products have required companies to provide solutions for the proper disposal of generated residues without compromising soil quality. In this context, the current research aimed at evaluating the ecotoxicological impacts of dregs application in subtropical soils. The experiments were carried out with the earthworm Eisenia andrei, the springtail Folsomia candida, and the potworm Enchytraeus crypticus in two subtropical soils (Neosol and Cambisol) collected in the southern region of Brazil. The considerable differences in texture and organic matter content motivated the choosing of these soils. The reproductive rate of all organisms was influenced, with varying EC50 values depending on the soil type. However, more pronounced effects were observed for Neosol. The springtail F. candida proved to be the most sensitive to contamination (EC50 = 5.8 g kg-1 for Neosol and 48.5 g kg-1 for Cambisol), followed by the earthworm E. andrei (EC50 = 62.4 g kg-1 for Neosol and 129.5 g kg-1 for Cambisol) and the potworm E. crypticus (EC50 = 67.2 g kg-1 for Neosol and 230.4 g kg-1 for Cambisol). As a result, while dregs can be used to correct soil acidity, they have been shown to have negative effects on important organisms responsible for functions critical to maintaining ecosystem quality.

An alternative risk assessment framework for tropical soil multi-metal contamination using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are a key group of soil organisms involved in several ecosystem services, but they had not been explored in retrospective ecological risk assessment (ERA) schemes, partially due to a lack of experimental protocols. We aimed to perform a site-specific test to assess the effects of multiple metal contaminated soil (Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb) on several ecotypes of AMF and evaluate the conceptual fitness of the performed AMF test to include in the TRIAD approach of ERA schemes. The results demonstrated that increasing metal contaminated soil proportions that inhibited 50 % (IC50) of spore germination varied from 28 to >80. Ecotypes such as Claroideoglomus etunicatum (IC50 > 80) and Racocetra gregaria (IC50 > 80) experienced 50 % reduction in spore germination at metals concentrations of 10,776.3 for Zn, 1015.2 Cu, 65.5 Cd, 140.2 mg dm-3 Pb, that are 3 times higher than those for Acaulospora mellea CMM101 (IC50 28 [16.2-39.8]) (3441.7 Zn, 333.9 Cu, 17.8 Cd, 56.5 mg dm-3 Pb). In the evaluation of the suitability of the AMF ecotoxicological test to ERA, both spore germination and germinative tube growth were best evaluated and thus suitable in the following descending order: Tier III, Tier II, and Tier I. Variable effects of multiple-metal contamination on the ecotypes indicates how AMF community is affected in its pre-symbiotic structures. The ecotoxicological test allowed the selection of two species with the greatest sensitivity (Ambispora appendicula and Rhizophagus clarus CMM103) to the metal matrix, with the potential to best fit ERA objectives. The site-specific ecotoxicological test with AMF ex-situ proved adequate as an alternative test for Tiers II and III of TRIAD ERA schemes for metal contaminated areas. Data generated through test results, such as the inhibition concentrations (ICs), could be incorporated into ERAs risk indexes, increasing its ecological relevance, and reducing overall uncertainties.

Ecotoxicological effects of untreated pig manure from diets with or without growth-promoting supplements on Eisenia andrei in subtropical soils.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of untreated pig manure from diets incorporating growth-promoting supplements (antibiotics and Zn oxide) on the survival and reproduction of Eisenia andrei earthworms. The tested manures were obtained from four different groups of pigs fed with four different diets: CS, a diet based on corn and soymeal; TR, a diet based on corn, soymeal, and ground wheat (15%); CSa, a diet based on corn and soymeal + 100 ppm of doxycycline + 50 ppm of colistin + 2500 ppm of Zn oxide; and TRa, a diet based on corn, soymeal, and ground wheat (15%) + 100 ppm of doxycycline + 50 ppm of colistin + 2500 ppm of Zn oxide. The study used two soils representative of the Southern region of Brazil (Oxisol and Entisol). In general, there were no significant differences between the different manures tested in each soil. However, there were differences in the toxicity manure on E. andrei between the soils, and the magnitude of this effect was dependent on the applied dose. In Oxisol, LC50 values were higher than 80 m3 ha-1, and EC50 varied from 9 to 27 m3 ha-1. In Entisol, the LC50 values were below the lowest dose tested (< 25 m3 ha-1), and EC50 remained around 5 m3 ha-1. It may be possible that the effects observed were attributed to an excess of nitrogen, copper, and zinc, promoted by the addition of the untreated manure and how these factors interacted with soil type.

Ecotoxicological test to assess effects of herbicides on spore germination of Rhizophagus clarus and Gigaspora albida.

Given the essential role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soil systems and agriculture, their use as biological indicators has risen in all fields of microbiology research. However, AMF sensitivity to chemical pesticides is poorly understood in field conditions, and not explored in ecotoxicology protocols. Hence, the goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of glyphosate (Roundup®) and diuron+paraquat (Gramocil®) on the germination of spores of Gigaspora albida and Rhizophagus clarus in a tropical artificial soil. This study was conducted in 2019 at the Soil Ecology and Ecotoxicology Laboratory of the Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina. The nominal concentrations of glyphosate were 0, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg a.i. kg-1. For diuron+paraquat, the concentrations tested were 0, 10 + 20, 50 + 100, 100 + 200, 250 + 500, 500 + 1000, 750 + 1500 and 1000 + 2000 mg a.i. kg-1. Glyphosate did not alter germination of G. albida, but germination inhibition of R. clarus spores was of 30.8% at 1000 mg kg-1. Diuron+paraquat inhibited by 8.0% germination of G. albida, but only at the highest concentration tested. On the other hand, effects on R. clarus were detected at 50 + 100 mg kg-1 concentration and above, and inhibition was as high as 57.7% at the highest concentration evaluated. These results suggest distinct response mechanisms of Rhizophagus and Gigaspora when exposed to herbicides, with the former being more sensitive than the later.

Are there any risks of the disposal of pesticide effluents in soils? Biobed system meets ecotoxicology ensuring safety to soil fauna.

The biobed is a purification system, which reduces soil pollution for receiving pesticide residues from handling and washing machinery in agricultural areas. The aims of this study were (1) to assess ecotoxicity effects over time to soil fauna, posed by Lorsban® 480 BR (Chlorpyrifos) and Dithane® NT (Mancozeb) residues when disposed of in a biobed system compared with two subtropical soils, and (2) to assess ecotoxicity effects over time to soil fauna simulating an accidental spillage with Lorsban® 480 BR at the biobed. A semi-field experiment was conducted for 420 days in southern Brazil, testing continuous disposal of washing pulverization tanks in biobeds, Typic Haploperox or Typic Hapludults. In addition, different biobeds received a single dose (1 L) of Lorsban® 480 BR to simulate an accidental spillage. Chronic ecotoxicity tests were performed using Folsomia candida, Eisenia andrei, and Enchytraeus crypticus in different sampling times for both experiments. F. candida was the most sensitive species. The biobed system was able to eliminate effects from residues of both pesticides over time in all species, which did not happen in both natural soils. In accidental spillage simulation, even 420 days after contamination, F. candida did not show reproduction. The biobeds can be a feasible alternative for the disposal and treatment residues of pesticides, also for handling and washing pesticides activities. The system was efficient in promoting degradation and reducing ecotoxicity effects posed by Lorsban® 480 BR and Dithane® NT for soil fauna. It is a safe alternative to avoid soil contamination.

Disentangling the effects of the aqueous matrix on the potential toxicity of liquid pig manure in sub-tropical soils under semi-field conditions.

Inadequate application of liquid pig manure (LPM) may pose risks to the soil due to the potential contaminants that exists, as well as by the large water input that can originate excessive moisture. By using Terrestrial Model Ecosystems, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of application of LPM (82% moisture) using the application rates of 20, 50 and 150 m3 ha-1 and also of the corresponding amount of water to understand the origin of effects on the soil fauna of two sub-tropical soils. In general, the results obtained for the two soil types indicated that LPM (150 m3 ha-1) changed the composition of soil fauna, with an increase in the abundance of insect larvae and dipterans, but a decrease in the number of earthworms and enchytraeids. Microbial biomass, soil respiration and the nutrients Mg, K and P increased with the amount of LPM supplied to the soil. When analysing the effects of adding large volumes of water via the LPM, results showed that application did not originate significant effects on the parameters measured. The differences obtained when comparing both treatments were mainly attributed to the organic load brought by the LPM and not to the amount of water without LPM.

Morphological diversity of springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) as soil quality bioindicators in land use systems / Diversidade morfológica de colêmbolos (Hexapoda: Collembola) como bioindicadora de qualidade do solo em sistemas de uso

Abstract: The aim of this work was to evaluate the soil quality of native forest, eucalyptus plantations, pasture, integrated crop-livestock, and no-tillage systems, correlating the morphological diversity of springtails with physical and chemical soil properties. Springtail samples were captured from soils of the southern plateau of the State of Santa Catarina in Brazil, during winter and summer, by using Pitfall traps, using a 3 × 3 point grid. The morphotyping of springtails consisted of the observation of five traits and for each one a partial value of the eco-morphological index was assigned to obtain the modified Soil Quality Index. A correlation of the morphotype abundance and diversity with physical (soil moisture, bulk density, biopores, microporosity, and macroporosity) and chemical (pH in water, calcium/magnesium ratio and total organic carbon content) soil properties was studied, describing all results by variance and multivariate analyses. The springtail abundance and diversity were influenced by the different land use systems. Higher soil quality index was determined in native forest followed by eucalyptus plantations, pasture, no-tillage system and integrated crop-livestock, in the winter. Moreover, higher soil quality index was found in native forest followed by integrated crop-livestock, eucalyptus plantations, no-tillage system and pasture, in the summer. Therefore, the quality index of a soil can be evaluated by the springtail morphological traits in correlation with the physical and chemical properties such as calcium/magnesium ratio, total organic carbon contents, biopores, macroporosity, microporosity, soil moisture, bulky density and pH.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade do solo de florestas nativas, reflorestamento de eucalipto, pastagem, sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária e plantio direto, correlacionando a diversidade morfológica de colêmbolos com propriedades físicas e químicas do solo. Amostras de colêmbolos foram coletadas de solos do planalto sul do Estado de Santa Catarina no Brasil, durante o inverno e o verão, usando armadilhas de queda, em grade amostral de 3 × 3. A morfotipagem dos colêmbolos consistiu na observação de cinco características e para cada uma foi atribuído um valor parcial do índice eco-morfológico para a obtenção do Índice de Qualidade do Solo modificado. As avaliações foram da abundância e diversidade de morfotipos e de atributos físicos (umidade do solo, densidade do solo, bioporos, microporosidade e macroporosidade) e químicos do solo (pH em água, relação cálcio/magnésio e carbono orgânico total), descrevendo os resultados por análises de variância e multivariada. A abundância e a diversidade de colêmbolos foram influenciadas pelos diferentes sistemas de uso do solo. Maior índice de qualidade do solo foi determinado em floresta nativa seguida de reflorestamento de eucalipto, pastagem, plantio direto e integração lavoura-pecuária, no inverno. Além disso, encontrou-se maior índice de qualidade do solo em floresta nativa seguida de integração lavoura-pecuária, reflorestamento de eucalipto, plantio direto e pastagem, no verão. Portanto, o índice de qualidade do solo pode ser avaliado pelas características morfológicas de colêmbolos em correlação com as propriedades físicas e químicas, como razão cálcio/magnésio, teores de carbono orgânico total, bioporos, macroporosidade, microporosidade, umidade do solo, densidade do solo e pH.

Diversity of soil spiders in land use and management systems in Santa Catarina, Brazil / Diversidade de aranhas edáficas em sistemas de uso e manejo do solo em Santa Catarina, Brasil

Abstract: The ability of spiders to spread over contiguous areas (Arachnida: Araneae) is directly related to soil management conditions. The objective of this work was to study the effect of land use system (LUS) on the abundance and diversity of soil spider families and their relationship with soil physical and chemical properties. The evaluated LUS were: native forest, eucalyptus reforestation, pasture, crop-livestock integration, and no-tillage crop. Samples were collected in three municipalities of Southern Plateau of Santa Catarina, considered as true replicates, during winter and summer. A total of 270 samples was taken in each area and season. The sampling points were arranged in a grid of 3 × 3 m, spaced by 30 m. We evaluated soil physical, chemical, and microbiological attributes and the abundance and diversity of spider families, collected by soil monolith and soil traps. A total of 448 spiders were captured, 152 in winter and 296 in summer, distributed in 24 families and 52 species/morphospecies. There was a seasonality effect related to the land use systems and the highest Shannon-Wiener diversity index was recorded in the native forest in both sampling periods. Most families of spiders have a direct dependence on soil physical and chemical properties, such as microporosity, exchangeable aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and potassium during the winter. Organic matter, nitrogen, pH in water, weighted average diameter, soil density, and microbial biomass carbon exhibited dependence during the summer. Vegetation type and soil management are the factors that seem to affect most the occurrence of spiders. The families Theridiidae and Nemesiidae are dependent on sites with low human intervention.

Resumo: A capacidade de dispersão das aranhas em áreas contíguas (Arachnida, Araneae) está ligada diretamente às condições de manejo do solo. Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho estudar o efeito do sistema de uso do solo (SUS) sobre a abundância e diversidade das famílias de aranhas edáficas, bem como a relação dessas com os atributos físicos e químicos do solo. Os SUS avaliados foram: floresta nativa, reflorestamento de eucalipto, pastagem, integração lavoura-pecuária e lavoura com sistema plantio direto. As amostras foram coletadas em três municípios do Planalto Sul-Catarinense, considerados réplicas verdadeiras, durante o inverno e o verão. Um total de 270 amostras foi coletado em cada área e estação do ano. Os pontos de amostragem foram dispostos em uma grade de amostragem de 3 × 3 distanciados 30 m entre si. Foram avaliados atributos físicos, químicos e microbiológicos do solo e abundância e diversidade de famílias de aranhas, coletadas pelo método de monólitos e armadilhas de solo. Ao todo foram capturados 448 indivíduos, sendo 152 no inverno e 296 no verão, distribuídos em 24 famílias, 52 espécies/morfoespécies. Houve efeito da sazonalidade entre os sistemas de uso e a maior diversidade de Shannon-Wiener foi registrada em floresta nativa em ambas as épocas de amostragem. A maior parte das famílias de aranhas possui dependência direta dos atributos físicos e químicos do solo, como: microporosidade e alumínio trocável, cálcio, magnésio e potássio durante o inverno. Matéria orgânica, nitrogênio, pH em água, diâmetro médio ponderado, densidade do solo e carbono da biomassa microbiana apresentaram dependência durante o verão. O tipo de vegetação e o manejo são fatores que mais afetam a ocorrência de aranhas. As famílias Theridiidae e Nemesiidae são dependentes de locais com baixa intervenção antrópica.

Soil macrofauna in organic and conventional coffee plantations in Brazil / Macrofauna do solo em plantações de café orgânico e convencional no Brasil

Abstract: Brazil has always been one of the most important coffee producing countries. Lately, there has equally been a renewed interest in alternative coffee production systems. The state of Espírito Santo is the second greatest coffee producer in Brazil; so, we used local coffee plantations to evaluate the relations between soil macrofauna and chemical and microbiological soil properties to identify which of these properties discriminate more effectively between the organic management system (OS) and the conventional management system (CS) of coffee plantations. For each of these two cultivation systems we chose three coffee farms who employed both cultivation systems and picked out the most similar fields from each property. At each site, first we sampled the litter at the soil surface. Afterwards, we sampled nine soil monoliths to evaluate the macrofauna, in summer and winter. We also collected nine supplemental soil samples, taken at a few centimeters from the soil monoliths, for chemical and microbiological analyses. Macrofauna density was evaluated by ANOVA and multivariate analysis. The chemical and microbiological properties are environmental variables, while the data on macrofauna are the explanatory variables. The total number of individuals recovered in this study was 3,354, and the climate, identified by the sampling season, was a great modulator of macrofauna, with higher numbers in winter. The principal components analysis showed that soil moisture, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, boron, copper, pH, acid and alkaline phosphatases and microbial biomass carbon, were the most outstanding ones to discriminate both cultivation systems. We found no statistical significant differences in macrofauna density between OS and CS, probably due to a general great variability, since there was a tendency for much greater values in OS. We detected the interference of chemical and microbiological soil properties on the macrofauna community in both systems of coffee cultivation, and some results clearly correlated much better with climate data than with other factors. To our knowledge, this is the first time in which the data point to a clear separation between the more numerous and diversified soil macrofauna in coffee with organic cultivation from that with a conventional cultivation system.

Resumo: O Brasil sempre foi um dos mais importantes países produtores de café. Ultimamente, houve um renovado interesse pelos sistemas alternativos de produção de café. O Estado do Espírito Santo é o segundo maior produtor de café do Brasil; então, utilizaram-se plantações locais de café para avaliar as relações entre a macrofauna do solo e as propriedades químicas e microbiológicas do solo para identificar quais dessas propriedades discriminam mais efetivamente entre o sistema de manejo orgânico (SO) e o sistema de manejo convencional (SC) das plantações de café. Para cada um desses dois sistemas de cultivo, escolheu-se três fazendas de café que empregaram ambos os sistemas de cultivo e selecionaram os campos mais similares de cada propriedade. Em cada local, primeiro amostrou-se a serrapilheira do solo. Posteriormente, amostraram-se nove monólitos de solo para avaliar a macrofauna, tanto no verão como no inverno. Também, foram coletadas nove amostras suplementares de solo, a alguns centímetros dos monólitos de solo, para análises químicas e microbiológicas. A densidade da macrofauna foi avaliada por ANOVA e análise multivariada. As propriedades químicas e microbiológicas são variáveis ambientais, enquanto os dados sobre a macrofauna são as variáveis explicativas. O número total de indivíduos recuperados neste estudo foi de 3.354 e o clima, identificado pela época de amostragem, foi um ótimo modulador da macrofauna, com maiores números no inverno. A análise dos componentes principais mostrou que a umidade do solo, matéria orgânica, nitrogênio, fósforo, boro, cobre, pH, fosfatases ácido e alcalina e carbono da biomassa microbiana, foram os mais destacados para discriminar ambos os sistemas de cultivo. Encontraram-se diferenças significativas na densidade da macrofauna entre SO e SC, provavelmente devido a uma grande variabilidade geral, uma vez que houve uma tendência para valores muito maiores no SO. Detectou-se a interferência das propriedades químicas e microbiológicas do solo na comunidade de macrofauna em ambos os sistemas de cultivo de café, e alguns resultados claramente correlacionados muito melhor com os dados climáticos do que com outros fatores. A nosso conhecimento, esta é a primeira vez em que os dados apontam para uma clara separação entre a macrofauna do solo mais numerosa e diversificada em café com cultivo orgânico de que com um sistema de cultivo convencional.

Adubação fosfatada para cultivares de mamoneira no Rio Grande do Sul / Phosphate fertilization to castor bean cultivars in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

O estudo foi realizado na safra agrícola 2007/08, em um Planossolo Háplico, em Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Os tratamentos compreenderam as cultivares de mamoneira 'AL Guarany 2002' e 'Lyra', com cinco doses de P (0; 30; 60; 90 e 120kg ha-1 de P2O5), sendo dispostas em delineamento blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial, com três repetições. Avaliaram-se o estado nutricional e o desempenho produtivo da cultura. A adubação fosfatada alterou os teores foliares de N, Ca, B e Fe da mamoneira; para boro, o efeito restringiu-se à 'Lyra'. A cultivar 'AL Guarany 2002' mostrou-se mais exigente em fósforo que a 'Lyra'. A adubação fosfatada elevou a produtividade de grãos de ambas as cultivares de mamoneira. Esta aumentou com o uso de até 156kg ha-1 de P2O5, para a 'AL Guarany 2002', e de até 90kg ha-1 de P2O5, para a 'Lyra', e as doses de máxima eficiência econômica para essas cultivares foram, respectivamente, de 134kg ha-1 e 78kg ha-1 de P2O5.

The study was carried out from April 2007 to May 2008, on a Planossolo Háplico (Albaqualf), in Pelotas, RS, Brazil. The treatments comprised the castor bean cultivars 'AL Guarany 2002' and 'Lyra', with five rates of phosphate (0; 30; 60; 90 and 120kg ha-1 of P2O5).These were arranged as a randomized complete block in a factorial design with three replications. Castor bean nutritional status and yield performance were evaluated. The phosphate fertilization altered castor bean foliar concentrations of nitrogen, calcium, boron, and iron. For boron, this effect was limited to the 'Lyra' cultivar. The 'AL Guarany 2002' cultivar demanded more phophorus than 'Lyra' cultivar. Phosphate fertilization increased grain yield of both castor bean cultivars. Yield increased with the use of up to 156kg ha-1 of P2O5, for 'AL Guarany 2002' cultivar, and of up to 90kg ha-1 of P2O5, for 'Lyra' cultivar. The rates of maximum economic efficiency for 'AL Guarany 2002' and 'Lyra' cultivars were, respectively, 134kg ha-1 and 78kg ha-1 of P2O5.