Effect of Biochar Pyrolysed at Different Temperatures on Plant-AM Fungi Symbiosis in a Soil with Low Phosphorus Content

Poster Session

Biochar and soil nitrous oxide emissions

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions. The experiment was carried out in pots under greenhouse conditions. Four levels of ground commercial charcoal of 2 mm (biochar) were evaluated in a sandy Albaqualf (90% of sand): 0, 3, 6, and Mg ha-1. All treatments received 100 kg ha-1 of N as urea. A cubic effect of biochar levels was observed on the N 2O. Biochar doses above 5 Mg ha-1 started to mitigate the emissions in the evaluated soil. However, lower doses promote the emissions.The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of biochar application on soil nitrous oxide emissions. The experiment was carried out in pots under greenhouse conditions. Four levels of ground commercial charcoal of 2 mm (biochar) were evaluated in a sandy Albaqualf (90% of sand): 0, 3, 6, and 9 Mg ha-1. All treatments received 100 kg ha-1 of N as urea. A cubic effect of biochar levels was observed on the N2O emissions. Biochar doses above 5 Mg ha-1 started to mitigate the emissions in the evaluated soil. However, lower doses promote the emissions

Reproducing the organic matter model of anthropogenic dark earth of Amazonia and testing the ecotoxicity of functionalized charcoal compounds

The objective of this work was to obtain organic compounds similar to the ones found in the organic matter of anthropogenic dark earth of Amazonia (ADE) using a chemical functionalization procedure on activated charcoal, as well as to determine their ecotoxicity. Based on the study of the organic matter from ADE, an organic model was proposed and an attempt to reproduce it was described. Activated charcoal was oxidized with the use of sodium hypochlorite at different concentrations. Nuclear magnetic resonance was performed to verify if the spectra of the obtained products were similar to the ones of humic acids from ADE. The similarity between spectra indicated that the obtained products were polycondensed aromatic structures with carboxyl groups: a soil amendment that can contribute to soil fertility and to its sustainable use. An ecotoxicological test with Daphnia similis was performed on the more soluble fraction (fulvic acids) of the produced soil amendment. Aryl chloride was formed during the synthesis of the organic compounds from activated charcoal functionalization and partially removed through a purification process. However, it is probable that some aryl chloride remained in the final product, since the ecotoxicological test indicated that the chemical functionalized soil amendment is moderately toxic.The objective of this work was to obtain organic compounds similar to the ones found in the organic matter of anthropogenic dark earth of Amazonia (ADE) using a chemical functionalization procedure on activated charcoal, as well as to determine their ecotoxicity. Based on the study of the organic matter from ADE, an organic model was proposed and an attempt to reproduce it was described. Activated charcoal was oxidized with the use of sodium hypochlorite at different concentrations. Nuclear magnetic resonance was performed to verify if the spectra of the obtained products were similar to the ones of humic acids from ADE. The similarity between spectra indicated that the obtained products were polycondensed aromatic structures with carboxyl groups: a soil amendment that can contribute to soil fertility and to its sustainable use. An ecotoxicological test with Daphnia similis was performed on the more soluble fraction (fulvic acids) of the produced soil amendment. Aryl chloride was formed during the synthesis of the organic compounds from activated charcoal functionalization and partially removed through a purification process. However, it is probable that some aryl chloride remained in the final product, since the ecotoxicological test indicated that the chemical functionalized soil amendment is moderately toxic

Lessons from the terra preta de índios of the amazon region for the utilisation of charcoal for soil amendment

peer-reviewedThe potential of charcoal and of partially combusted organic waste to mimic the soil organic matter of the Terras Pretas de Índios (Amazonian Dark Earths) from the Amazon Region is discussed. These materials serve as soil conditioners and as sequesterers of carbon in recalcitrant and in reactive forms. Studies carried out by Brazilian and by international groups have contributed to the emergence of an awareness of the compositions and of the uses of these materials. In this contribution we report on chemical studies that are leading to the development of a scientific and technological awareness, and of innovations that will have value in finding novel uses in applications to soil of chars from organic wastes such as those from the biofuel industry, and from metallurgical and various coal plant residues

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope compositions of organic matter in marine sediment cores from the Abrolhos region: indicators of sources and preservation

Organic matter is an important source of information on the transport and consolidation processes of sediments. In this study, the isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (δ13C and δ15N), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and 13C-NMR were utilized to understand the origin and behavior of organic material in the Abrolhos region. It were analyzed nine sediment cores taken from a mangrove, a channel between the mainland and the coral reefs. The average value of the C/N ratio in the mangrove was 18, which characterizes purely terrigenous areas. For the reefs, the average value of the C/N ratio was 8,which is characteristic of marine and coastal regions. For the sediment cores taken from the channel, the average value of the C/N ratio was 10, a typical value of areas under the influence of mangroves. The mean values of δ13C were -26.9‰ for the mangrove, -20.7‰ for the channel region, and -18.2‰ for the reefs. This variation is associated with the main source of organic matter, which in the mangrove is derived from vascular plants (mainly C3 metabolism) and for the reefs is derived from phytoplankton. The 13C-NMR results corroborate the isotopic and elemental analyses. The analyses of these cores indicate that the anthropogenic influence on the coast did not significantly alter the composition of the material that has been deposited in about the last 80 years in the region of study.A matéria orgânica é uma fonte de informação importante nos processos\ud de transporte e consolidação de sedimentos. Neste estudo, foram utilizados\ud isótopos de carbono e de nitrogênio (δ13C e δ15N), carbono orgânico total\ud (TOC), nitrogênio total, razão carbono/nitrogênio (C/N) e 13C-NMR para\ud entender a origem e o comportamento do material orgânico na região de\ud Abrolhos. Foram analisados nove testemunhos de sedimentos coletados em\ud um manguezal, em um canal e em recifes de corais. O valor médio da razão\ud C/N no manguezal foi de 18, o que caracteriza áreas puramente terrígenas.\ud Nos recifes, esse valor foi de 8, característico de regiões marinhas e costeiras,\ud e, nos testemunhos de sedimentos coletados no canal, foi de 10, um valor\ud típico de áreas sob a influência de manguezais. O valor médio de δ13C foi de\ud -26,9‰ para o manguezal, -20,7‰ para a região do canal e -18,2‰ para os\ud recifes. Essa variação é associada com a principal fonte de matéria orgânicaa qual, no manguezal, é derivada de plantas vasculares (principalmente de\ud metabolismo C3) e, nos recifes, é derivada de fitoplâncton. Os resultados de\ud 13C-NMR corroboram as análises isotópicas e elementais. As análises dos\ud testemunhos indicam que a influência antropogênica da região costeira não\ud altera significantemente a composição do material que tem sido depositado\ud nos últimos 80 anos na região estudad

Biochar: pyrogenic carbon for agricultural use: a critical review.

O biocarvão (biomassa carbonizada para uso agrícola) tem sido usado como condicionador do solo em todo o mundo, e essa tecnologia é de especial interesse para o Brasil, uma vez que tanto a ?inspiração?, que veio das Terras Pretas de Índios da Amazônia, como o fato de o Brasil ser o maior produtor mundial de carvão vegetal, com a geração de importante quantidade de resíduos na forma de finos de carvão e diversas biomassas residuais, principalmente da agroindústria, como bagaço de cana, resíduos das indústrias de madeira, papel e celulose, biocombustíveis, lodo de esgoto etc. Na última década, diversos estudos com biocarvão têm sido realizados e atualmente uma vasta literatura e excelentes revisões estão disponíveis. Objetivou-se aqui não fazer uma revisão bibliográfica exaustiva, mas sim uma revisão crítica para apontar alguns destaques na pesquisa sobre biochar. Para isso, foram selecionados alguns temaschave considerados críticos e relevantes e fez-se um ?condensado? da literatura pertinente, mais para orientar as pesquisas e tendências do que um mero olhar para o passad

Spectroscopic and chromatographic studies of humic substances from soils under different tillage systems

Neste trabalho efetuou-se um detalhado estudo metodológico das técnicas empregadas para a caracterização espectroscópica e cromatográfica dos ácidos húmicos. Neste estudo demonstrou-se que outros fatores, além de características intrínsecas dos ácidos húmicos, podem afetar os resultados obtidos pelas diferentes técnicas espectroscópicas utilizadas. Dentre estes fatores o mais importante foi o íon vanadila (VO2+) residual que afetou drasticamente os resultados das análises espectroscópicas levando à supressão: dos sinais de RMN de 13C de grupos hidrofílicos; dos sinais de RPE dos radicais livres orgânicos; e da intensidade de fluorescência. Pela supressão seletiva dos sinais de RMN de 13C dos grupos carboxilas e daqueles associados a carboidratos foi possível inferir que estas estruturas possivelmente estejam diretamente envolvidas na complexação do VO2+, assim como a supressão dos sinais de fluorescência e de RPE dos radicais livres orgânicos indicaram que estes radicais e estruturas fluorescentes também podem estar envolvidas na complexação deste íon ou então o efeito do íon paramagnético pode difundir-se facilmente pela estrutura dos ácidos húmicos. Adicionalmente, os ácidos húmicos com maior conteúdo de VO2+ apresentaram um maior tamanho molecular aparente, indicando um possível efeito agregante deste íon. A análise multivariada dos dados obtidos possibilitou o isolamento destes efeitos do VO2+ e as novas variáveis obtidas pela técnica dos componentes principais, independentes do conteúdo deste íon, indicaram que o cultivo mais intenso do solo levou ao acúmulo relativo de estruturas mais recalcitrantes e com maiores conteúdos de estruturas associadas à lignina e C-Alquila de cadeia longa. Além disto, observou-se que o sinal dos radicais livres orgânicos dos ácidos húmicos era devido à pelo menos dois centros paramagnéticos distintos sendo que o VO2+ suprimiu preferencialmente o sinal com maior valor-g, atribuído a radicais livres orgânicos onde o elétron desemparelhado estaria delocalizado sobre átomos de oxigênio.In this work it was realized a detailed methodological studies of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques that were applied in the humic substances characterization. In these studies it was demonstrated that, besides the intrinsic characteristics of humic substances, there are other factors which can affect the results obtained with the different spectroscopic techniques utilized. Among these factors, the residual vanadyl ion (VO2+) affected drastically the spectroscopic results causing the suppression of: 13C NMR signals of hydrophilic groups; EPR signals from organic free radicals; and the fluorescence intensity. By the selective suppression of 13C NMR signals from carbohydrates and carboxyl groups it was proposed that these structures could possibly be directly involved in the VO2+ complexation. The suppression of fluorescence signals and EPR ones from organic free radicals indicated that or these radicals and the fluorescent structures can also be involved in the VO2+ complexation, either the paramagnetic ion effect can diffuse through the humic substances structures. In addition, the increase of VO2+ contents resulted in a higher apparent molecular size indicating a possibly aggregating effect of this ion. The multivariate analysis from the obtained data allowed the isolation of these effects from VO2+. The new variables obtained by the principal components technique, independent from that ion content, indicated that the most intense cultivation of the soil lead to the relative accumulation of more recalcitrant structures associated to lignin and long chain C-alkyl. Besides this, we observed that the organic free radicals signal from humic acids was due to at least two paramagnetic centers. The residual VO2+ suppressed preferentially the signal with the highest g-value. This signal was assignment to organic free radicals where the unpaired electron could be delocalized on oxygen atoms