Screening of Microorganisms for Biodegradation of Simazine Pollution (Obsolete Pesticide Azotop 50 WP)

The capability of environmental microorganisms to biodegrade simazine—an active substance of 2-chloro-s-triazine herbicides (pesticide waste since 2007)—was assessed. An enormous metabolic potential of microorganisms impels to explore the possibilities of using them as an alternative way for thermal and chemical methods of utilization. First, the biotope rich in microorganisms resistant to simazine was examined. Only the higher dose of simazine (100 mg/l) had an actual influence on quantity of bacteria and environmental fungi incubated on substrate with simazine. Most simazine-resistant bacteria populated activated sludge and biohumus (vermicompost); the biggest strain of resistant fungi was found in floral soil and risosphere soil of maize. Compost and biohumus were the sources of microorganisms which biodegraded simazine, though either of them was the dominant considering the quantity of simazine-resistant microorganisms. In both cases of periodic culture (microorganisms from biohumus and compost), nearly 100% of simazine (50 mg/l) was degraded (within 8 days). After the repeated enrichment culture with simazine, the rate of its degradation highly accelerated, and just after 24 h, the significant decrease of simazine (20% in compost and 80% in biohumus) was noted. Although a dozen attempts of isolating various strains responsible for biodegradation of simazine from compost and biohumus were performed, only the strain identified as Arthrobacter urefaciens (NC) was obtained, and it biodegraded simazine with almost 100% efficiency (within 4 days)

Efeito de período de controle de plantas daninhas na cultura de amendoim Effects of weed control periods on peanut crop

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos de diferentes períodos de controle das plantas daninhas, sobre algumas características produtivas da cultura do amendoim. Os experimentos foram instalados no município de Taquaritinga-SP, em duas épocas de semeadura, sendo uma no cultivo "das secas", semeada durante o mês de março, e outra no cultivo "das águas", semeada durante o mês de setembro. Os tratamentos foram períodos de controle das plantas daninhas entre 017, 0-31, 0-45, 0-59, 0-73, 17-31, 17-45, 17-59, 17-73, 31-45, 31-59, 31-73, 45-59, 45-73 e 59-73 dias após a emergência da cultura. Foram mantidas duas testemunhas, uma sem controle e outra com controle das plantas daninhas durante todo o ciclo da cultura. A principal planta daninha, nos dois experimentos, foi Digitaria horizontalis. A comunidade infestante e a cultura foram influenciadas pela época de semeadura, modificando suas relações de interferência. No cultivo da época "das águas", os efeitos da convivência da comunidade infestante foram mais drásticos, afetando com maior intensidade a produtividade da cultura. Dentre as características produtivas avaliadas, o número de vagens por planta foi o principal fator na redução da produtividade. No cultivo "das águas", o controle somente foi necessário após os 45 dias iniciais de convivência, e na cultura "das secas", após os 59 dias, caracterizando os períodos anteriores à interferência. Nas duas épocas de semeadura o controle das plantas daninhas, realizado até 17 dias após a emergência, foi suficiente para garantir a produtividade da cultura semelhante à testemunha capina, caracterizando o período total de prevenção à interferência.<br>Field trials were carried out to study the effect of weed control periods on some yield components of the peanut crop. Two experiments were carried out in Taquaritinga-SP, Brazil, one during the "dry season" (seeds sown in March), and the other during the "rainy season" (seeds sown in September). The treatments utilized were the following weed control periods: 0-17, 0-31, 0-45, 0-59, 0-73, 17-31, 17-45, 17-59, 17-73, 31-45, 31-59, 31-73, 45-59, 45-73 and 59-73 days after plant emergence. Two controls were used, one without weed control, and the other without weed interference during throughout the crop cycle. The major weed infesting both trials was Digitaria horizontalis. The infesting weed community and crop were affected by the seeding season, altering their interference relationships. In the "rainy season", the effects of the infesting weed community were more drastic, affecting peanut yield more intensely. Among the yield crop components evaluated, the number of pods per plant was the major factor in yield reduction. In the "rainy season" , control was needed only after 45 days of weed interference while in the dry season, only after 59 days, characterizing the critical times prior to interference. In both seeding seasons, weed control carried out up to 17 days after emergence was enough to maintain yield crop, being characterized as the critical weed-free period