Nitrous oxide and methane emissions from a Ferralsol as affected by loblolly pine cultivation time in subtropical Brazil.

We hypothesized that the age of loblolly pine stands influences soil methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This is a relevant topic to be studied in subtropical Brazil, where the pine plantation area is increasing considerably. We evaluated N2O and CH4 emissions for two years in a Ferralsol under loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands of 1, 9 and 18 year-olds and a native forest (NF). We calculated the net CO2eq emission by considering the N2O and CH4 emissions from soil and the carbon (C) accumulation as litter in the forest floor. The soil N2O emission reduced gradually over the loblolly pine cultivation years, whereas CH4 uptake rates showed no clear pattern. Soil N2O emission showed a positive relationship with soil temperature in NF, and with soil ammonium and nitrate intensities in the pine stands. Soil CH4 uptake was inversely related to water-filled pore space in the pine stands, but this relationship was not observed in NF. The soil CH4 uptake rate was 4.6 times higher (p < 0.10) in NF than the average uptake in loblolly pine stands. On the other hand, soil N2O emissions in 9 and 18-year-old stands were similar (p > 0.10) to those in NF (1.3 kg N ha-1 yr-1). Our results suggest that cultivation with loblolly pine for 18 years can reduce soil N2O emission, and the uptake of CH4 in this system offsets 17 % of N2O emissions. Furthermore, the C accumulation as litter in the forest floor of the mature pine stands (9- and 18-year-old) generated a net emission of -1.6 Mg CO2eq ha-1 yr-1, showing to be an expressive offsetting mechanism. Therefore, we conclude that aged loblolly forests can reach N2O emissions levels comparable to those of NF, and the C sequestration in these forests floor can significantly contribute to offset N2O emissions and act as sink for net atmospheric CO2eq.

Nitrous oxide and methane emissions from soil under integrated farming systems in southern Brazil.

This study aimed at evaluating soil nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions from integrated farming systems. Soil N2O and CH4 fluxes were assessed in a subtropical Cambisol in southern Brazil, using manual static chambers, over two years, in five farming systems (cropland, livestock, integrated crop-livestock, integrated livestock-forestry, and integrated crop-livestock-forestry). The study was conducted in four growing seasons: summer-1, winter-1, summer-2, winter-2. Integrated farming systems had lower soil N2O emissions than livestock. The observed reduction was possibly due to lower water-filled pore space (WFPS) in soils under integrated systems (average 59.5-64.7%, vs 70.4% in livestock) as indicated by correlation (r = 0.74). Cropland, including cover-crops and maize, also had lower N2O emission (by 40%) relative to livestock, of levels similar to those observed in integrated systems. Methane was consumed in soil, but it was not affected by farming systems, and offset only ~1.4% of the N2O emissions. In the rainiest season of summer-2, the soil had the highest WFPS (on average 71.4%) and thus the highest N2O emission (on average 9.79 kg N2O-N ha-1 season-1) and the lowest CH4 consumption (on average - 0.40 kg CH4-C ha-1 season-1); while the opposite trend occurred in the driest season of winter-2 (on average 57.3% WFPS; 0.64 kg N2O-N ha-1 season-1 and -0.90 kg CH4-C ha-1 season-1). Integrated farming systems including crop-livestock, livestock-forestry and crop-livestock-forestry reduced soil N2O emissions relative to sole livestock by 27-40%, but did not affect CH4 emissions. Seasonal variations of precipitation, and therefore WFPS were driving factors of the N2O and CH4 emissions. Overall, integrated farming systems show the potential to mitigate soil N2O emission compared to livestock system.

A "Dirty" Footprint: Macroinvertebrate diversity in Amazonian Anthropic Soils.

Amazonian rainforests, once thought to be pristine wilderness, are increasingly known to have been widely inhabited, modified, and managed prior to European arrival, by human populations with diverse cultural backgrounds. Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are fertile soils found throughout the Amazon Basin, created by pre-Columbian societies with sedentary habits. Much is known about the chemistry of these soils, yet their zoology has been neglected. Hence, we characterized soil fertility, macroinvertebrate communities, and their activity at nine archeological sites in three Amazonian regions in ADEs and adjacent reference soils under native forest (young and old) and agricultural systems. We found 673 morphospecies and, despite similar richness in ADEs (385 spp.) and reference soils (399 spp.), we identified a tenacious pre-Columbian footprint, with 49% of morphospecies found exclusively in ADEs. Termite and total macroinvertebrate abundance were higher in reference soils, while soil fertility and macroinvertebrate activity were higher in the ADEs, and associated with larger earthworm quantities and biomass. We show that ADE habitats have a unique pool of species, but that modern land use of ADEs decreases their populations, diversity, and contributions to soil functioning. These findings support the idea that humans created and sustained high-fertility ecosystems that persist today, altering biodiversity patterns in Amazonia.

Does Brachiaria humidicola and dicyandiamide reduce nitrous oxide and ammonia emissions from cattle urine patches in the subtropics?

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from pasture-based livestock systems represent 34% of Brazil's agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The forage species Brachiaria humidicola is known for its biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) capacity and N2O emissions reduction ability from urine patches under tropical conditions. However, there is little information about the effect of BNI on N2O emission and ammonia (NH3) volatilisation in the subtropics. This study aimed to: (i) evaluate the potential of Brachiaria humidicola, compared with Panicum maximum (Jacq. cv. Áries; guinea grass), a broadly used grass (with no BNI capacity), to reduce N2O emissions under subtropical conditions; (ii) determine the efficacy of nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) to decrease N2O emissions; and (iii) determine the effect of brachiaria and DCD application on NH3 volatilisation. A field experiment was carried out using a Cambisol, where cattle urine ± DCD was applied to brachiaria and guinea grass. Over the 67-day measurement period, cumulative N2O emissions were 20% lower from urine patches in the brachiaria treatment (1138 mg N m-2, Emission factor = 1.06%) compared to guinea grass (1436 mg N m-2, Emission factor = 1.33%) (P < .10). A greenhouse experiment, using pots with the same treatments as in the field experiment, suggested that this could have been due to lower soil nitrate levels under brachiaria forage compared to guinea grass, indicating that BNI could be a possible mechanism for lower N2O emissions from brachiaria. The DCD application was effective in both forage species, decreasing N2O emissions by 40-50% (P < .10) compared with the urine only treatment. Approximately 25% of the urine applied N was lost via NH3 volatilisation, however the NH3 loss was not affected by forage species or DCD application (P > .10). Overall, the results demonstrated that brachiaria and DCD use are strategies that can reduce N2O emissions from urine patches.

Potential of soil organic matter molecular chemistry determined by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for forensic investigations.

Wetlands near urban centers may be more isolated areas and can be chosen for the disposal of bodies or used as a crime scene. The predominant soils in these areas usually have a high content of organic matter (OM), classified as Histosols. Soil organic matter (SOM) is composed of many different compounds that can be identified by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The study aimed to use Py-GC/MS to classify small amounts of organic soil in a forensic context. We sampled Histosols from five representative sites of Curitiba, Brazil. The molecular composition of the samples was determined by byPy-GC/MS. The factor analysis was carried out, and the factor scores showed a clear differentiation between the sites. Compounds indicative of relatively fresh plant material was separated from more recalcitrant and charred material. Py-GC/MS has the potential to be a useful tool to study the composition of SOM in Histosols to track the trace sample collected from a crime suspect.

The efficacy of Plantago lanceolata for mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from cattle urine patches.

Urine deposited by grazing animals is the main source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in New Zealand. Recent studies have suggested that certain pasture plants, for example plantain (Plantago lanceolata), can curb N2O emissions from livestock systems. This study aimed to i) evaluate the potential of plantain for reducing N2O emissions from cattle urine patches; ii) determine the effect of including plantain in animal diets on urine-N loading and its influence on N2O emissions; and, iii) evaluate whether any effects on N2O emissions reduction could be attributed to a 'urine' or a 'plant' effect. A static chamber method was used to measure N2O fluxes from urine collected from cows fed a 0, 15, 30 or 45% plantain mixed with "standard" ryegrass/clover (Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens) diet and applied to plots with the corresponding percentage of plantain in the sward. In addition, we measured N2O emissions from different proportions of plantain in the sward (0, 30, 60 and 100%) that received urine collected from cows fed on ryegrass/clover. The urine N loading rates of animals fed plantain, significantly reduced with increasing proportions of plantain in the diet (r2 = 0.987, P < 0.01). There was a trend of lower N2O emissions with an increasing proportion of plantain in the diet (r2 = 0.830, P < 0.08). However, there was no significantly difference in the N2O emission factors (P > 0.10). Following applications of standard urine, total N2O emissions and emission factor reduced linearly as the proportion of plantain in the sward increased (r2 = 0.969, P < 0.05 and 0.974, P < 0.05, respectively). The results suggest that the efficacy of plantain as a N2O mitigation option is due to both a reduction in urinary N excretion and a plant effect. The latter could be due to biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) caused by the release of root exudates and/or changes in the soil microclimate.

Factor analysis of organic soils for site discrimination in a forensic setting.

Organic soils are generally located in fluvial settings such as river floodplains that are commonly used for the disposal of bodies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide a protocol for the analysis of small amounts of organic soils for forensic purposes. The protocol was applied in five representative sites within the Curitiba metropolitan region (Brazil), with each site supplying four composite samples separated from one another by 3m. The soil samples were collected at a depth of 0 to 5cm. One gram of soil sample was used to determine the total elemental content and perform physical fractionation of the soil (>53µm and <53µm). For both soil size fractions, total C and N contents were determined, and the elements adsorbed to organic matter was determined only for the <53µm size fraction (Na-pyrophosphate extraction). Chemometric multivariate analyses were conducted for the total data set, where more than 77% of the variation was explained by the first three factors. It was determined that Ca, Ba, and Mg adsorbed to organic matter, and total Ba, Ca, K, Mg, Mo, and C contents were most important in sample groupings. As expected in forensic science, the five sites were efficiently distinguishable from each other and the four replicates collected at the same individual site were clearly grouped. This protocol for sampling, chemical analysis, and data treatment of organic soils can be used in real crime situations.

Three-dimensional data interpolation for environmental purpose: lead in contaminated soils in southern Brazil.

Monitoring of heavy metal contamination plume in soils can be helpful in establishing strategies to minimize its hazardous impacts to the environment. The objective of this study was to apply a new approach of visualization, based on tridimensional (3D) images, of pseudo-total (extracted with concentrated acids) and exchangeable (extracted with 0.5 mol L(-1) Ca(NO3)2) lead (Pb) concentrations in soils of a mining and metallurgy area to determine the spatial distribution of this pollutant and to estimate the most contaminated soil volumes. Tridimensional images were obtained after interpolation of Pb concentrations of 171 soil samples (57 points × 3 depths) with regularized spline with tension in a 3D function version. The tridimensional visualization showed great potential of use in environmental studies and allowed to determine the spatial 3D distribution of Pb contamination plume in the area and to establish relationships with soil characteristics, landscape, and pollution sources. The most contaminated soil volumes (10,001 to 52,000 mg Pb kg(-1)) occurred near the metallurgy factory. The main contamination sources were attributed to atmospheric emissions of particulate Pb through chimneys. The large soil volume estimated to be removed to industrial landfills or co-processing evidenced the difficulties related to this practice as a remediation strategy.

Desempenho da cultura do feijão após diferentes formas de uso do solo no inverno / Performance of common bean cultivated after different soil use during the winter

O uso e manejo do solo durante o inverno pode alterar as características físicas do solo, a cobertura remanescente e o desempenho da cultura semeada em sucessão. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de formas de uso do solo no inverno sobre essas variáveis, semeando-se a cultura do feijão em sucessão, manejada em plantio direto. Na safra 2007/08, foram conduzidos três experimentos na região do Planalto Norte Catarinense, onde foram avaliadas cinco formas de uso do solo durante o inverno: 1) consórcio de aveia preta + azevém + ervilhaca + trevo vesiculoso manejado sem pastejo e sem adubação nitrogenada (consórcio cobertura); 2) o mesmo consórcio, com pastejo e com 100kg ha-1 de N em cobertura (pastagem com N); 3) o mesmo consórcio, com pastejo e sem adubação nitrogenada (pastagem sem N); 4) nabo forrageiro, sem pastejo e sem adubação nitrogenada (nabo forrageiro); e 5) pousio, sem pastejo e sem adubação nitrogenada (pousio). O consórcio cobertura proporciona maior quantidade de palha para o cultivo de feijão em sucessão, mas as formas de uso do solo no inverno estudadas não afetam expressivamente a densidade e a macroporosidade do solo. O uso do solo no inverno com pastagem anual em sistema integração lavoura-pecuária, coberturas de solo e pousio não afeta o desempenho da cultura do feijão semeada em sucessão, manejada em plantio direto.

Soil use and management during the winter can affect soil physical properties, reminiscent straw and performance of the crop cultivated in succession. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of winter soil use on these variables, cultivating black bean under no tillage system in the summer. Three experiments were carried out in the North Plateau of Santa Catarina State, Brazil, during 2007/08 crop season, with five strategies of soil use during the winter: 1) multicropping with black oat + ryegrass + commom vetch + arrow leaf clover without grazing and nitrogen fertilization (multicropping cover); 2) the same multicropping, with grazing and 100kg ha-1 of nitrogen fertilization (pasture with N); 3) the same multicropping, with grazing and without nitrogen fertilization (pasture without N); 4) oil seed radish, without grazing and nitrogen fertilization (oil seed radish); and 5) natural vegetation, without grazing and nitrogen fertilization (fallow). Highest straw dry mass is verified in multicropping cover, but the strategies of winter soil use do not affect significantly the soil bulk density and macroporosity. The soil use with winter annual pasture in crop-livestock system, cover crops and fallow does not affect the black bean performance in succession, under no tillage system.

Integração lavoura-pecuária: intensificação de uso de áreas agrícolas / Crop-livestock system: intensified use of agricultural lands

Integração lavoura-pecuária (ILP) se constitui em sistema de produção que alterna, na mesma área, o cultivo de pastagens anuais ou perenes, destinadas à alimentação animal, e culturas destinadas à produção vegetal, sobretudo grãos. O objetivo desta revisão foi discutir os principais fundamentos e as características do sistema ILP na região Sul do Brasil e seus efeitos sobre a qualidade do solo e o rendimento animal e vegetal. A ILP pode proporcionar algumas vantagens para o produtor, tais como maior renda por área, maior diversificação de atividades, menor risco econômico e menor custo de produção. Além disso, pode proporcionar vantagens biológicas, como maior biodiversidade e melhoria da qualidade do solo. Dentre as desvantagens, pode-se relacionar a possibilidade de ocorrência de compactação superficial do solo, em situação de manejo inadequado da pastagem. Para que o sistema ILP tenha êxito, alguns fundamentos devem ser atendidos, como uso de rotação de culturas, do sistema plantio direto e de genótipos de animais e vegetais melhorados, correção da acidez e fertilidade do solo e, principalmente, manejo adequado da pastagem.

Crop-livestock is a production system that succeeds, at the same area, pastures to animal production and vegetal crops, especially cereals. The objective of this work was to discuss the major presuppositions and characteristics of the crop-livestock system in Southern Brazil, and its effects on the soil quality and animal and vegetal yield. This production system can result in some advantages to farmers such as increase of rent per area, higher diversification, decrease of economic hazards and production costs. Moreover, the crop-livestock system can show biological advantages such as biodiversity increase and improved soil quality. Among the disadvantages, it can point out the possibility of superficial soil compaction in inappropriate pasture management. To success of crop-livestock system some presuppositions must be considered, such as crop rotation, use of no-tillage system, correction of soil acidity and fertility, use of improving vegetal and animal genotypes and, mainly, adequate pasture management.