ABSTRACT. Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced during organic waste pyrolysis. In this context, two experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of biochar produced from rice husks and cattle manure on soil fertility and common bean production, as well as to identify the optimal dose of cattle manure biochar to be applied. The first experiment (Experiment I) was conducted according to a completely randomized design (factorial scheme 2 × 2 × 2 + 1) with six replicates: two types of biochar (cattle manure biochar and rice husk biochar), with and without acidity correction [addition of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate (PA) in a proportion of 4:1 (Ca:Mg) to raise the soil base saturation to 60%], with or without the addition of 120 mg dm-3 of phosphorus (P) as ammonium phosphate, and a control treatment (without biochar, acidity correction, and P). Based on the results of Experiment I, a second experiment was conducted according to a completely randomized design, with five treatments (doses of biochar from cattle manure) and four replications. Rice husk biochar, as a conditioner of soil chemical properties, had less prominent effects than cattle manure biochar. Cattle manure biochar functioned as a corrective for soil acidity and a source of nutrients (mainly phosphorus). The dose corresponding to 5.46% of the soil volume led to the maximum grain production by common bean plants.

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the levels of heavy metals in the soil and castor bean plant after fertilization with sewage sludge (SS) subjected to different stabilization processes. The study was conducted in a Haplic Cambisol with the following treatments: control (CO), fertilization with solarized sewage sludge (SSS), composted sewage sludge (CSS), vermi composted sewage sludge (VSS), limed sewage sludge (LSS), and mineral fertilizer (MF). The experimental design included a subdivided plot scheme with fertilization being the primary factor and soil layers or leaf parts being the secondary factor. The data obtained were analyzed using analysis of variance and the Scott-Knott test with 5% significance. Fertilization with SSS, CSS, and LSS led to the highest increase in Zn in the soil, mainly in the surface layer. In the leaf tissues, Zn and Cu levels were higher with the CO and SSS treatments, whereas the Ni level was higher with SSS, CSS, VSS, and MF treatments. In general, Zn and Cu levels were higher in the leaf limb than in the petiole, whereas Ni, Pb, and Cr levels were higher in the petiole than in the leaf limb. In any case, no symptoms of toxicity in the plants and no risk of soil contamination were observed with any of the fertilization treatments.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os teores de metais pesados no solo e na planta de mamoneira em resposta à adubação com lodo de esgoto (LE) submetido a diferentes processos de estabilização. O experimento foi desenvolvido em Cambissolo Háplico com os tratamentos: testemunha, adubação com LE solarizado, LE compostado, LE vermicompostado, LE caleado e adubação mineral. O delineamento experimental foi em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, sendo as adubações o fator primário e as camadas do solo ou as partes da folha o fator secundário. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância e teste de Scott-Knott a 5% de probabilidade. No solo, as adubações com LE solarizado, compostado e caleado promoveram os maiores incrementos dos teores de Zn, principalmente na camada superficial. No tecido foliar, os teores de Zn e Cu foram mais elevados na testemunha e no LE solarizado, enquanto o Ni foi mais elevado nos LE solarizado, compostado, vermicompostado e na adubação mineral. De modo geral, os maiores teores de Zn e Cu ocorreram no limbo foliar em comparação ao pecíolo, enquanto os teores de Ni, Pb e Cr foram mais elevados no pecíolo do que no limbo foliar. Contudo, não foram constatados sintomas de toxidez nas plantas e nenhum risco de contaminação do solo com os diferentes tipos de adubações realizadas.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this work was to determine the adequate nitrogen (N) dose via fertigation associated with the maximum economic production of maize for silage, in two agricultural crops (summer and winter), in the municipality of Canindé de São Francisco-SE, Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of four doses of N (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg ha-1) using urea. The cultivar planted was the hybrid Bt Feroz. The evaluated characteristics were as follows: shoot fresh and dry mass productivity, gross and net incomes, the rate of return and net profit margin. There was an interaction between N doses and agricultural crops for all variables. Higher agroeconomic efficiency in the production of maize for silage was obtained from the winter harvest. In the summer crop, the rate of return (1.82) and the net profit margin (45.52%) were highest when the plants were fertigated with 56.04 and 58.92 kg ha-1 of N, respectively. In winter, the yields of fresh mass, gross and net incomes increased linearly with increasing doses of N, with a profit proportional to the invested capital since nitrogen fertigation did not influence the rate of return (2.24) and the net profit margin (55.22%).

O uso de fontes alternativas para a fertilização na agricultura vem sendo cada vez mais explorada pelo homem, devido à escassez das fontes finitas dos minerais utilizados atualmente. Produtos como a torta de mamona e silicatos de serpentinito podem ser fontes viáveis para o uso na agricultura. Com isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os teores e conteúdos de N, P, K, Ca e Mg na cultura do crambe, assim como a sua produção em função da adubação com torta de mamona PDS e silicato de serpentinito. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com sete doses de torta de mamona PDS e duas doses de silicato de serpentinito (com e sem enxofre elementar), totalizando 21 tratamentos. Utilizaram-se as doses de 0,0; 0,5; 1; 2; 4; 6 e 8t ha-1 de torta de mamona PDS (equivalente à aplicação de 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 e 240kg ha-1 de N) e as doses de silicato de serpentinito em 0 e 1t ha-1, com e sem enxofre. A aplicação de silicato de serpentinito sem enxofre aumentou os teores e conteúdos de nutrientes de N, P, K, Ca e Mg do crambe e a produção de sementes. O uso de torta de mamona PDS como fertilizante orgânico favoreceu o crescimento e desenvolvimento do crambe. A dose de 8t ha-1 de torta de mamona PDS foi a mais indicada para a fertilização da cultura do crambe.

The use of alternative sources for fertilization in agriculture is being increasingly exploited by man because of the shortage of the finite sources of minerals used today. Products such as cake castor bean and serpentinite silicate, may be viable sources for use in agriculture. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the contents and accumulation of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in the culture of crambe, as well as their production in line with fertilization cake castor bean PDS and silicate serpentinite. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design with seven doses of cake castor bean PDS and two doses of serpentinite silicate (with and without elemental sulfur), totaling 21 treatments. We used doses of 0.0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8t ha-1 of cake castor bean PDS (equivalent to the application of 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 240kg ha-1 of N) and the doses of serpentinite silicate 0 and 1t ha-1 for with and without sulfur. The application of serpentinite silicate without sulfur increased the content and nutrient content of N, P, K, Ca and Mg and crambe seed production. The use of cake castor bean PDS as organic fertilizer increased the growth and development of crambe. A dose of 8t ha-1 of castor bean PDS was the most suitable for the fertilization of the crop crambe.

Pesquisas feitas com pó-de-rocha têm mostrado a potencialidade de alguns desses resíduos em promover o enriquecimento mineral de solos; prática definida como rochagem do solo. Ela visa aumentar a fertilidade do solo, proporcionar uma boa produtividade e maior sustentabilidade agrícola. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o crescimento de mudas de pinhão-manso (Jatropha curcas L.) em resposta a adubação do substrato com superfosfato simples e pó-de-rocha. O experimento foi instalado e conduzido no período de setembro a novembro de 2007, em casa de vegetação do Instituto de Ciências Agrárias/UFMG. Os tratamentos, em esquema fatorial 2 x 5, no delineamento em blocos casualizados, com 3 repetições, corresponderam a 2 doses de pó-de-rocha (0 e 20 kg m-3 de substrato) e 5 doses de superfosfato simples (1,25; 2,5; 5,0; 7,5 e 10,0 kg m-3 de substrato). Foram avaliados: altura da planta, diâmetro do caule, relação altura da planta/diâmetro do caule, número de folhas por planta, área foliar, matéria fresca e seca da raiz e da parte aérea, matéria fresca e seca total, relação matéria seca da parte aérea/matéria seca da raiz e índice de qualidade de Dickson IQD. Os resultados mostram que não houve interação significativa entre as doses de fósforo e a de pó-de-rocha aplicadas e as variáveis estudadas. A aplicação de superfosfato simples foi significativa para altura da planta, diâmetro do caule, área foliar, matéria fresca da raiz, da parte aérea e total, respondendo positivamente até a dose máxima de fósforo aplicada.

Research into rock-flour have shown the potential of some of these residues in promoting the mineral enrichment of soils; a practice defined as stonemeal soil. Such practice aims to increase soil fertility and provide good productivity and greater agricultural sustainability. The present study had as objective to evaluate the growth of jatropha seedlings (Jatropha curcas L.) in response to fertilization of the substrate with single superphosphate and rock-flour. The experiment was setup and conducted from September to November, 2007, in a greenhouse at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences/UFMG. The treatments, in a 2 x 5 factorial design of randomized blocks, with three replications, corresponded to two doses of rock-flour (0 and 20 kg m-3 of substrate) and 5 doses of single superphosphate (1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 kg m-3 of substrate). Plant height, stem diameter, plant height/stem diameter ratio, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, fresh and dry matter of root and shoot, total fresh and dry matter, shoot/root dry-matter ratio, dry matter content and the Dickson quality index- IQD, were all evaluated. The results show no significant interaction between the levels of phosphorus and rock-flour applied and the variables studied. The application of single superphosphate was significant for plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, root, shoot and total fresh matter, with a positive response up to the maximum applied phosphorus dosage.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da aplicação de lodo de esgoto e de silicato de cálcio e magnésio sobre os atributos físicos de um Cambissolo Háplico, cultivado com girassol. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em esquema fatorial (4 x 2) + 1, correspondendo a quatro doses de lodo de esgoto desidratado (0; 6,25; 12,5 e 18,5 t ha-1), duas doses de silicato de cálcio e magnésio (0 e 240 g m-1) e um tratamento adicional com adubação mineral. O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com três repetições. Após 150 dias da adubação, coletaram-se amostras de solos, nas camadas de 0-20 e 20-40 cm, para avaliação da densidade aparente, densidade de partícula, porosidade total, grau de dispersão, grau de floculação, índice de estabilidade de agregados, diâmetro médio ponderado, diâmetro médio geométrico e resistência do solo à penetração. O tratamento adicional, correspondente à adubação mineral, não diferiu dos tratamentos correspondentes às adubações com lodo de esgoto e silicato de cálcio e magnésio, em relação aos atributos físicos do solo. Para o silicato de cálcio e magnésio, também não se constataram diferenças nos atributos físicos do solo, entre a dose zero e 240 g m-1. Por outro lado, a aplicação de lodo de esgoto diminuiu o grau de dispersão de argila e aumentou a porosidade total do solo, o grau de floculação de argilas e o índice de estabilidade de agregados a úmido, não tendo, porém, influenciado os demais atributos físicos.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sewage sludge and calcium and magnesium silicate on the physical attributes of a Cambisol cultivated with sunflower. The treatments were arranged in a factorial (4 x 2) + 1, corresponding to four doses of sewage sludge (0, 6.25, 12.5 and 18.5 t ha-1, in dry basis), two doses of calcium and magnesium silicate (0 and 240 g m-1) and an additional treatment with chemical fertilizers. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. After 150 days of fertilization, were collected soil samples at depth of 0-20 and 20-40 cm for the evaluation of bulk density, particle density, total porosity, water dispersible clay, flocculation index, aggregate stability index, mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter and soil penetration resistance. The additional treatment, corresponding to chemical fertilizer, did not differ from the corresponding treatments with sewage sludge fertilizer and calcium and magnesium silicate in relation to soil physical attributes. For calcium and magnesium silicate, also were not found differences in soil physical characteristics between dose zero and 240 g m-1. On the other hand, the application of sewage sludge to soil decreased the water dispersible clay and increased the soil total porosity, the clay flocculation index and wet aggregate stability index. There was no influence of sewage sludge on the other attributes physical of soil.

Pesquisas feitas com pó de rocha têm mostrado a potencialidade de alguns resíduos em promover o enriquecimento mineral de solos pobres; prática definida como rochagem do solo. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o crescimento de mudas de maracujázeiro-amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) em resposta à adubação com superfosfato simples e pó de rocha. O experimento foi realizado no período de janeiro a abril de 2006, em casa de vegetação do Instituto de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (ICA-UFMG), localizado em Montes Claros/MG. Os tratamentos, em esquema fatorial 2 x 5, no delineamento em blocos casualizados, com três repetições, corresponderam à adição ao substrato de: duas doses de pó de rocha e cinco de superfosfato simples. Foram avaliados: altura das plantas, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas por planta, área foliar, massas de matéria fresca e seca da raiz, massas de matéria fresca e seca da parte aérea e conteúdo de fósforo na planta. Os resultados indicam aumento do crescimento das mudas com o incremento das doses de superfosfato simples e redução do efeito da adubação fosfatada com a adição de pó de rocha ao substrato, possivelmente relacionados a fenômenos de adsorção por formas de ferro amorfo e/ou por carbonatos, considerando que o pó de rocha provém da desintegração de ardósias, mármore e granito. A dose de superfosfato simples sem adição de pó de rocha, para se obterem mudas de maracujá com melhores características, deve ser de 3,0 a 6,5 kg m-3, enquanto com a adição de pó de rocha, de 6,0 a pelo menos 10,0 kg m-3.

Research with powder rock have shown the potential of some residues in promoting the mineral enrichment of soils, a practice defined as ground basalt soil. This study aimed to evaluate the growth of seedlings of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deg.) in response to fertilization with simple superphosphate and powder rock. The experiment was conducted from January to April 2006 in a greenhouse of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG-ICA), located in Montes Claros/MG, Brazil. The treatments were arranged in a factorial 2 x 5, in a randomized block design with 3 replicates, corresponding to the addition to the substrate of 2 doses of rock powder and 5 doses of simple superphosphate. The evaluated variables were: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, root fresh and dry matter, shoot fresh and dry matter and phosphorus content in the plant. The results indicate an increase in seedling growth with increasing levels of simple superphosphate and decrease of the effect of the phosphate fertilizer with the addition of powder rock to the substrate, possibly related to phenomena of adsorption by iron oxides and amorphous and/or carbonates, considering that the powder rock came from the disintegration of slate, marble and granite. The simple superphosphate dose, without the addition of powder rock, to produce better quality seedlings, should range from 3.0 to 6.5 kg m-3, whereas with the addition of powder rock, should range from 6.0 to at least 10.0 kg m-3.