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Nanomaterials composed of non-nutritive elements are gaining momentum in agriculture. In view of these advances, this study aimed to synthesize and assess the effects of silver (Ag) and cobalt (Co) nanoparticles as seed treatment in maize crops. Nanoparticles were synthesized by coprecipitation and characterized by X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, surface area analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. An experiment was carried out according to a completely randomized design with a 3 × 5 factorial arrangement. The factors were Ag and Co source (soluble, microparticle, and nanoparticle) and concentration (0, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg L−1). A total of 50 maize seeds were used per treatment. Seeds were placed on germination paper moistened with distilled water. Germination, biometric parameters (root and shoot lengths), and biomass production were evaluated. Characterization analyses showed that particles ranged from 20 to 100 nm in size and were composed of oxides, such as Ag2O and Co3O4. Nanoparticle treatment improved germination and reduced the incidence of defects. The best results were achieved with 98–106 mg L−1 Ag2O and 75–80 mg L−1 Co3O4. There was no significant change in biometric parameters between treatments.

ABSTRACT From 1913 onwards, the global situation changed from a scenario of nitrogen (N) scarcity to an abundance of ammonia (NH3) produced synthetically via the Haber-Bosch process. Several N compounds have been synthesized since then, with urea becoming the main source of N, accounting for 55 % of current N consumption. However, N efficiency in agroecosystems is low and, normally, N recovery in cultivated plants is less than 50 %. This occurs because a large amount of reactive N is lost to the environment, inducing various forms of pollution, threatening human and environmental health, in addition to causing a negative economic impact on the farmer. The main processes responsible for low N efficiency are NH3 volatilization, leaching, and N denitrification. Considering global NH3 volatilization losses of 14 %, it can be assumed that up to 8.6 million Mg of urea are lost every year in the form of NH3. For each ton of NH3 produced, 1.9 to 3.8 Mg of CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere. Therefore, increasing N use efficiency (NUE) without compromising yield is a necessity and a challenge for crop improvement programs and current management systems, in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), which contain technologies that minimize the potential for nutrient losses compared to conventional sources, are an alternative to increasing the efficiency of nitrogen fertilization. Currently, EEFs are classified into three categories: stabilized, slow-release, and controlled-release. This study aims to understand the technologies used to produce EEFs and the factors that govern their availability to plants. This review covers the following topics: the discovery of N, N dynamics in the soil-atmosphere system, N assimilation in plants, strategies to increase NUE in agrosystems, NH3 synthesis, NH3 volatilization losses, N fertilizer technologies, the importance of characterization of EEFs, conventional nitrate or ammonium-based fertilizers to reduce gaseous losses of NH3 and future prospects for the use of N fertilizers in agriculture.

In no-till (NT), liming and urea fertilization are performed on the soil surface, which can increase nitrogen (N) losses via ammonia volatilization. On the basis of N fertilization management, gypsum application provides a promising alternative for improving N uptake by plants. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the N behavior loss by NH3-N volatilization, the soil pH at a depth of 0 – 0.05 m, leaf N content, and N uptake by second-season corn after lime and gypsum application in a Rhodic Ferralsol under NT. Overall, the treatments consisted of a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement with four lime rates (0, 2.6, 5.4, and 8.1 Mg ha-1) and four gypsum rates (0, 4, 8, and 12 Mg ha-1). During the study period, second-season corn was cultivated for two years and fertilized with urea, for which the N losses through ammonia volatilization, soil pH, leaf N content, and N uptake values were quantified. The losses through ammonia volatilization were subjected to nonlinear regression using a logistic model, and the other variables were subjected to linear regressions. The lime applied by broadcasting on the soil surface in the NT increased the pH of the topsoil and increased N losses via NH3-N volatilization in the second-season corn. Further, the N losses in the NT treated with lime accounted for 58% of the applied N, which increased by 2.3 to 2.5% for each Mg ha-1 of lime applied. Therefore, lime or gypsum application did not improve the status of N in second-season corn in soils with low acidity and no S deficiency.

Nutrient leaf application is complementary to soybean nutritional management, mainly at maturity, when plants present high nutritional demand and high nutrients and photoassimilate translocation rates for seed production. The aim of this research was to evaluate the agronomic performance, physiological quality, and nutritional contents of soybean seeds after application of different rates (0, 0.50, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 kg ha−1) of foliar fertiliser containing calcium (20%) and boron (4%) at the R3 stage (onset of pod formation). This research was carried out in two sites (Guaragi and Floresta) both in Parana State, Brazil, in randomised complete blocks with 4 replicates. Calcium and boron leaf application increased grain sulphur and nitrogen levels (Guaragi) but reduced phosphorus and magnesium (Floresta). Regarding physiological quality, foliar fertilisation increased the index of germination speed. The yield and number of pods increased up to the rate of 0.6 and 1.2 kg ha−1 of leaf fertiliser in Floresta. Foliar fertilisation with calcium and boron showed advantages, however, results depended on the site, indicating different levels of soil fertility and climatic characteristics.

Nanoparticle (NP) use is becoming important alternative in different branches of science such as in agriculture, used as new source of fertiliser. In this study, it was tested iron (Fe) NP, applied as corn seed priming. In order to evaluate the early growth and development of the corn seedling a factorial experiment (5 × 3) was performed in a complete random way design with 4 replications. One of the factors were concentrations of (0, 20, 40, 80, 160 mg L−1) related to iron inside and the factor with three levels were sources (Fe3O4 NP, Fe3O4 bulk and FeCl3). 50 sterile seeds were the plot composition, which were soaked in the different Fe concentration solution containing a total volume of 200 mL for 8 h. Germination and biometric development were evaluated. Fe NPs promoted beneficial responses for seedling growth compared to other Fe sources tested here. It was realised that Fe3O4 NP concentration beneficial effects was lower compared to the other tested sources. Particle size had an important assignment in the bioavailability. The plant response reached in this research indicated iron NPs can consist efficiency for corn seed priming when applied between 50 and 70 mg L−1 concentration based on interpolation.

ABSTRACT Brazil is currently the leading country in no-till (NT) farming, particularly on Ferralsols (Latossolos), the most abundant soil type. These soils are characterized by subsurface acidity that cannot be effectively corrected by surface application of additives. In this situation, the use of phosphogypsum can be advantageous. This study aimed to assess the residual effects of lime and phosphogypsum application on a clayey Ferralsol, and four soybean and two wheat yields in southern Brazil. The area has been cultivated under no-till since 1975. The soil was limed to different base saturation (BS) levels (50, 60, 70, and 90 %) by surface application (SL) or lime incorporation (IL). Three combined treatments were also studied: (i) surface liming to 60 % BS plus standard (3.71 Mg ha-1) phosphogypsum dose (60G1), (ii) surface liming to 70 % BS + standard phosphogypsum dose (70G1); and (iii) surface liming to 70 % BS + double (7.42 Mg ha-1) phosphogypsum dose (70G2). Soil samples were collected 48 months after treatment. Soybean and wheat yield was not influenced by BS levels, however IL increased soybean yield in 2012/13, but reduced soybean and wheat yield in later crops. Phosphogypsum increased wheat yield by up to 12.8 % (2012 season) and 5.2 % (2015 season), but soybean was not influenced. Incorporated liming caused a decrease in soil Al3+ levels until 0.60 m depth, whereas SL decreased Al3+ levels until 0.30 m depth. Surface liming increased Mg2+ levels in the 0.40-0.60 m layer. Incorporated liming reduced soil organic matter in the surface layer. A double dose of phosphogypsum (7.42 Mg ha-1) had a greater residual effect in subsurface layers but caused a decrease in Mg2+ and K+ levels. Therefore, the standard phosphogypsum dose provided the best results. In the very clayey soil in subtropical environment, the effects of SL extend beyond surface layers and are preferable to those of IL, although production was not influenced by BS.

ABSTRACT Novel fertilizer stabilization technologies are needed to decrease ammonia (NH3-N) losses and increase nitrogen use efficiency. Duromide + NBPT is a new technology that combines two molecules, Duromide and NBPT, whose propose is to increase the efficiency of the urease inhibitor NBPT in reducing NH3-N loss from urea. Preliminary results showed that Duromide + NBPT can be a more effective product than just NBPT, particularly under low soil pH and high-temperature conditions. This study aimed to compare the effects of urea + Duromide + NBPT, urea + NBPT, and conventional urea on soil N losses by NH3-N volatilization. The field experiment was conducted on a Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico (Oxisol) in Campo Mourão, Paraná, Brazil, using a randomized complete block design with treatments arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial, comprising two N doses (45 and 90 kg ha-1) and three N fertilizers (urea + Duromide + NBPT, urea + NBPT, and conventional urea). The NH3-N volatilization data were subjected to nonlinear regression using a logistic model. The NH3-N losses varied according to dose and fertilizer, reaching up to 12.4 % of the applied N in the conventional urea treatment. Urea + Duromide + NBPT was more efficient than urea + NBPT in decreasing NH3-N volatilization. Compared to conventional urea at doses of 45 and 90 kg ha-1 of N, urea + Duromide + NBPT reduced NH3-N volatilization losses by 35 and 54 % and from urea + NBPT by 15 and 33 %, respectively. The new stabilizing technology Duromide + NBPT reduced NH3-N losses by up to 33 % compared to NBPT alone. Ammonia volatilization was influenced by soil moisture. The volatilization peak, observed after 18-19 days of N fertilizer application, was triggered by rainfall events.

ABSTRACT Oxisols ( Latossolos ) are widely distributed in tropical zones and generally characterized by high levels of surface and subsurface acidity. In Brazil, most Oxisols are managed under no-till conditions with surface application of acidity amendments. This study aimed to evaluate lime application strategies (incorporated and surface) for achieving the desired soil base saturation (BS%) levels (44, 60, 70, and 90 %) and the effect of phosphogypsum + lime application on soil chemical properties as well as wheat and corn yield in southern Brazil. Lime incorporation was more effective in reducing the soil acidity and increasing Ca2+ and Mg2+ despite a decrease in organic matter at the soil surface. Phosphogypsum application increased S-SO42- and Ca2+ availability throughout the deeper soil layers and reduced the Mg2+ content in the surface layer. Wheat yield under incorporated lime conditions increased with BS% up to 75, but there was no response to surface application. When phosphogypsum was applied, the wheat yield increased by 8.4 %. For corn, incorporated lime increased the yield up to 445 kg ha-1, which was equivalent to the yield after phosphogypsum application. An increase in the S-SO42- level was the main factor related to the increase in crop yields. In the short term, our results suggest that phosphogypsum applied along with lime is more appropriate than incorporating lime under no-till management conditions.

Knowing the nutrient removal by soybean grain harvest in different varieties, locations, and over time is essential to correctly adjust agronomic recommendations, update farmers’ practices, and increase nutrient use efficiency. A field-based research trial was carried out to assess macronutrients [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sulfur (S)] removed in grain by modern soybean varieties from southern Brazil introduced between 2007 and 2016. We examined changes between our set of modern varieties and a dataset of historical values encompassing a wide range of varieties introduced before 2007. Moreover, we undertook a synthesis analysis using scientific literature published after 2007 to investigate nutrient removal by grain among modern Brazilian soybeans and a dataset that included field trials from Argentina, United States, and India. There were no yield gains across the years for modern soybean varieties introduced among 2007 and 2016 in Brazil, although the grain N and Mg concentrations decreased. Modern Brazilian soybeans increased nutrient removal compared with that by soybeans historically planted in Brazil, with 11.1, 26.9, 45.0, and 31.6% more N, P, K, and Mg removed, respectively. Our results indicated that soybean growing in Brazil removed 4.3% less N relative to the values reported in the literature dataset, whereas K removal was 21.4% greater. A significant difference was also recorded for high-yield soybean varieties, and Brazilian varieties removed 11.8% less N and 8.6% more K than varieties in the literature dataset. No differences were found among locations for P removal, averaging 4.9 kg Mg–1 grain. In conclusion, this study indicates that the amounts of nutrients removed by modern soybean varieties were greater relative to the historical values recorded in Brazil, excluding Ca and S. Nonetheless, in the middle to long term (10 years), a significant impact of plant breeding on grain nutrient concentration was recorded only for N and Mg. The difference in nutrient removal patterns between Brazil and other countries indicates an integrated effect of management, genotype, and environment on nutrient removal. These findings provide guidance for optimal nutrient management and specific information for plant breeding programs to understand nutrient variability.

Improvements in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in corn production systems are necessary, to decrease the economic and environmental losses caused by loss of ammonia volatilization (NH3-N). The objective was to study different nitrogen (N) fertilizer technologies through characterization of N sources, NH3-N volatilization losses, and their effects on the nutrient concentration and yield of corn grown in clayey and sandy soils in south Brazil. The treatments consisted of a control without N application as a topdressing, three conventional N sources (urea, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate + calcium sulfate), and three enhanced-efficiency fertilizers [urea treated with NBPT + Duromide, urea formaldehyde, and polymer-coated urea (PCU) + urea treated with NBPT and nitrification inhibitor (NI)]. The losses by NH3-N volatilization were up to 46% of the N applied with urea. However, NI addition to urea increased the N losses by NH3-N volatilization by 8.8 and 23.3%, in relation to urea alone for clayey and sandy soils, respectively. Clayey soil was 38.4% more responsive than sandy soil to N fertilization. Ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate + calcium sulfate showed the best results, because it increased the corn yield in clayey soil and contributed to reductions in NH3-N emissions of 84 and 80% in relation to urea, respectively.

The use of Azospirillum brasilense has the potential to improve plant nitrogen (N) use efficiency, while a better understanding of alternative management practices with inoculation is necessary. The aim was to examine the effects of the leaf application of A. brasilense in association with nitrogen fertilization on the wheat crop. The experiment was conducted in Lidianópolis, Paraná, Brazil, in a completely randomized block design with four replications. The treatments included four doses of A. brasilense for leaf application (0, 200, 400, and 600 ml ha-1) and four doses of N (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha-1). The nutritional content, yield components, quality, and yield of the wheat crop were evaluated. There was no interaction among the factors, nor did the treatments have an isolated effect on spike length, the number of spikelets per spike, spikes per m2, thousand grain weight, and test weight. However, doses of A. brasilense increased calcium and magnesium absorption at 283 and 380 ml ha-1, respectively. Similarly, nitrogen application increased the content of calcium, magnesium, and copper in the leaf at 61, 47, and 49 kg N ha-1, respectively. Nitrogen also increased the number of grains per spike and yield at 56 and 54 kg N ha-1, respectively. Yield correlated with the number of grains per spike and the manganese and copper content in the leaf. The results demonstrate that the inoculation of leaves with A. brasilense favored a higher absorption of divalent cationic macronutrients and that N was fundamental to increasing the yield, with the best responses observed between 47 and 61 kg ha-1.

Abstract: Fertilizer formulation alternatives that avoid unnecessary losses and environmental impacts are being investigated in agricultural management. Seed priming with nanofertilizers prior to planting, reduces concerns about non-target dispersion; however, priming formulations and concentrations must be carefully selected to avoid undesired effects. Here, seed germination and seedling development were evaluated after seed priming with CuO nanoparticles (NPs), CuO bulk and CuCl2. The seeds were immersed in priming solutions of 0, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg.L−1 Cu for the three Cu sources. Following 8 hours priming, the seeds were evaluated for germination and vigor (first germination count). Root and shoot lengths were measured as well as shoot and root dry biomass. The copper NP did not show any toxic effects on corn seed germination and growth, and also promoted higher biomass when compared to the other Cu sources. On the other hand, CuCl2 primed seeds exhibited Cu-toxicity in roots and shoots for all concentrations tested. Bulk Cu priming results indicated the better role of NPs size effects. These findings support NP-seed priming as an alternative to delivery of essential micronutrients, such as copper, to corn seedlings.

ABSTRACT The development of new fertilizer technologies to reduce nitrogen (N) losses from an agricultural system and to increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a global research objective. Controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers have shown great potential for reducing N losses and synchronizing N release according to crop demand, thereby improving the NUE. The objective of this study was to characterize controlled-release nitrogen fertilizers and compare them with conventional nitrogen sources in terms of N release, N loss via NH3 volatilization, and fertilizer effects on second-season corn. The field experiment was performed on an Ultisol in a randomized block design. The treatments consisted of two conventional nitrogen sources (urea and ammonium sulfate) and three brands of polymer-coated urea (PCU; Agrocote®, FortBlen®, and Kimcoat®). The variables N release and N loss by NH3 volatilization were subjected to nonlinear regression analysis using a logistic model and the Korsmeyer-Peppas model, respectively. Leaf N content and dry matter yield were subjected to the Tukey test, and the morphologies of the PCUs were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Electron micrographs revealed differences in the number of layers and the thickness of the coatings of the studied PCUs. FortBlen®, containing granules with single- or double-layer coatings with thicknesses ranging from 34.53 to 50.34 µm, promoted more gradual N release and reduced N-NH3 losses by 36.4 % compared with those observed with uncoated urea. Kimcoat® released approximately 98 % of the applied N within 24 hours, resulting in N-NH3 volatilization, and the responses in second-season corn were similar to those with uncoated urea. Although no benefits were observed in second-season corn for PCUs over uncoated nitrogen sources, some PCUs promoted more gradual N release and reduced N-NH3 volatilization, providing a promising alternative for environments prone to N loss.

Effluents from different industrial supply conglomerates are often discarded in the environment without proper treatment. The concern for an economically viable industrial production line, which is both environmentally sound and socially acceptable, is increasing. Some of these effluents are alkaline in nature and may be used as an alternative to chemical conditioners for acidic soils in agricultural systems. This research aimed to evaluate changes in the chemical attributes of a Dystroferric Red Latosol (Oxisol) after application of an effluent from a pharmaceutical industry. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using PVC tubes of 1-m length and a 0.2-m diameter filled with soil and different doses of the effluent. After 3 days, 100 mm of water was applied to each treatment. The PVC tubes were incubated for 30 days; thereafter, the tubes disassembled, and soil chemical analyses were made at different soil depths: 0-0.2, 0.2-0.4, 0.4-0.6, 0.6-0.8, and 0.8-1.0 m. The effluent applications significantly altered the soil elements in the 0-0.2 m layer, increasing the concentrations of K+, P, Mn2+, Na+, Cu2+, H+, Ca2+, Al3+ and the soil pH. In the subsurface layers, the concentration of the elements Zn2+, Cu2+, K+, and Na+ also changed significantly. In general, the application of pharmaceutical industry residue improved soil chemical attributes.

Nanofertilizers are increasingly explored for sustainable micronutrient delivery in agriculture. Pre-treating seeds with nanofertilizers prior to planting (i.e., seed priming) reduces concerns about nanoparticle (NP) fertilizer non-target dispersion; however, priming formulations and concentrations must be carefully selected to avoid germination inhibition and toxicity. Here we investigate changes in corn seed germination and seedling development after seed priming with ZnO NPs, ZnO bulk and ZnCl2. To evaluate the effects sterile seeds were immersed in priming solutions of 0, 20, 40, 80, 160 mg L−1 Zn for the three Zn sources. Following an 8 h priming the seeds were evaluated for germination and vigor for 5 days on germination paper. Root and shoot lengths were measured as well as fresh and dry biomass. Compared to the control, the ZnO NP and ZnCl2 seed priming promoted beneficial effects. ZnO NP seed-priming exhibited a concentration dependent profile in improving seedling growth, with greatest benefit around 80 mg L−1, providing 17%, 25% and 12% higher values than control for germination, root length, and dry biomass production, respectively. In contrast, seeds primed with bulk ZnO did not differ from the control. These findings support NP-seed priming as an alternative to delivery of essential micronutrients, such as zinc, to corn seedlings.

ABSTRACT Brazilian soybean producers commonly apply maintenance potassium (K) fertilization during cultivation to restore the K taken up by plants; however, this measure can modify the morphophysiological plant characteristics, since the functions of K are closely related with plant growth and development. This study assessed the morphological changes in soybean plants in response to K rates, sowing fertilization, and the application periods of K fertilization in a Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico (Oxisol) under a no-tillage system, located in the municipality of Floresta, Paraná. A randomized block design was used in the experiment with four replications in a fully crossed factorial design (5 × 2 × 2). The experiment was carried out in two growing seasons (2015/2016 and 2016/2017), with a total of 80 experimental units. The rates corresponded to the first factor (0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg ha-1 of K). The application periods (pre-sowing and post-sowing) were the second factor, and sowing fertilization (0 and 30 kg ha-1 of K) the third. The following variables were measured: shoot dry weight, leaf dry weight, stem dry weight, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf area ratio, and leaf area index, and these biometric parameters were correlated with soybean yield. The results showed that plants well-supplied with K exploited the environment better and this may be reversed for higher yields since there were correlations between grain yield and the biometric parameters. At lower water availability, the biometric changes were more evident.

Há grande carência de informações quanto à adubação com Nitrogênio e Potássio para a produção de minimilho. Quando colhido antes do início da formação de grãos, as quantidades de nutrientes exigidas podem ser diferenciadas. Por essa razão, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a resposta do minimilho às adubações nitrogenada e potássica em solo de textura média na região de Maringá, gerando dados que possibilitam a recomendação da aplicação de doses adequadas desses nutrientes para a cultura, evitando os desperdícios e a contaminação ambiental. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Fazenda Experimental de Iguatemi, na safra verão 2010/2011 e safrinha 2011. O delineamento experimental para os dois experimentos foi blocos casualizados no esquema fatorial 4 x 4, utilizando-se quatro doses de nitrogênio (N) (0, 50, 75 e 100 kg ha-1) e quatro de potássio (K) (0, 20, 40 e 60 kg ha-1), aplicadas 50% na semeadura e 50% em cobertura no estádio V6 de desenvolvimento. O cultivar de milho-pipoca utilizado foi o IAC 125, híbrido triplo top cross, de ciclo precoce. Para as condições em que foi realizada a pesquisa, o potássio e a interação NK não influenciaram a altura de plantas e o comprimento das espiguetas comerciais na safra verão. A máxima produtividade de minimilho, na safra verão, foi obtida com a aplicação de 64,35 kg ha-1 de nitrogênio, não havendo incremento na produtividade com a aplicação de potássio. Na safrinha, a maior produtividade foi alcançada com a combinação das doses 60,9 e 51,23 kg ha-1 de nitrogênio e potássio, respectivamente.

Synthetic aluminum-substituted maghemites were characterized by total chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy (ME), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The aim was to determine the structural, magnetic, and hyperfine properties of γ-Fe2-xAl xO3 as the Al concentration is varied. The XRD results of the synthetic products were indexed exclusively as maghemite. Increasing Al for Fe substitution decreased the mean crystalline dimension and shifted all diffraction peaks to higher º2θ angles. The a0 dimension of the cubic unit cell decreased with increasing Al according to the equation a o = 0.8385 - 3.63 x 10-5 Al (R²= 0.94). Most Mössbauer spectra were composed of one sextet, but at the highest substitution rate of 142.5 mmol mol-1 Al, both a doublet and sextet were obtained at 300 K. All hyperfine parameters from the sub-spectra were consistent with high-spin Fe3+ (0.2 a 0.7 mms-1) and suggested a strong superparamagnetic component associated with the doublet. The magnetic hyperfine field of the sextets decreased with the amount of Al-substitution [Bhf (T) = 49.751 - 0.1202Al; R² = 0.94] while the linewidth increased linearly. The saturation magnetization also decreased with increasing isomorphous substitution.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the most limiting factors for productivity. This research was carried out to assess the influence of Al nutrient solution on plant height, dry weight and morphoanatomical alterations in corn (Zea mays L.) roots and leaves. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with five treatments consisting of Al doses (0, 25, 75, 150, and 300 µmol L-1) and six replications. The solutions were constantly aerated, and the pH was initially adjusted to 4.3. The shoot dry matter, root dry matter and plant height decreased significantly with increasing Al concentrations. Compared to the control plants, it was observed that the root growth of corn plants in Al solutions was inhibited, there were fewer lateral roots and the development of the root system reduced. The leaf anatomy of plants grown in solutions containing 75 and 300 µmol L-1 Al differed in few aspects from the control plants. The leaf sheaths of the plants exposed to Al had a uniseriate epidermis coated with a thin cuticle layer, and the cells of both the epidermis and the cortex were less developed. In the vascular bundle, the metaxylem and protoxylem had no secondary walls, and the diameter of both was much smaller than of the control plants.A toxicidade do alumínio (Al) é um dos fatores mais limitantes para a produtividade. Esta pesquisa foi realizada para avaliar a influência do Al, em solução nutritiva, na altura de plantas, no peso da matéria seca e nas alterações morfoanatômicas de raízes e folhas de milho (Zea mays L.). O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação com tratamentos constituídos de cinco doses de Al (0; 25; 75; 150; e 300 µmol L-1) e seis repetições. As soluções foram constantemente aeradas e o pH foi ajustado a 4,3, inicialmente. A matéria seca da parte aérea e das raízes e a altura das plantas diminuíram significativamente com o aumento da concentração de Al. As raízes de plantas de milho cultivadas em soluções com Al tiveram seu crescimento inibido e apresentaram menos raízes laterais e desenvolvimento do sistema radicular inferior, em comparação com as das plantas-controle. As folhas das plantas crescidas em soluções que continham 75 e 300 µmol L-1 de Al não apresentaram muita diferença anatômica em relação às das plantas-controle. A bainha da folha das plantas exposta ao Al apresentou epiderme uniestratificada revestida por uma fina camada de cutícula e as células da epiderme e do córtex foram as que menos se desenvolveram. No feixe vascular, o metaxilema e protoxilema não tinham paredes secundárias, e o diâmetro de ambos foi muito menor quando comparado com os das plantas-controle.

O efeito de diferentes doses e profundidades de correção da acidez de um solo na produção de matéria seca de plantas de milho foi estudado sob condições controladas. Com o aumento das doses de corretivo, houve aumento nos valores de pH (CaCl2) e de saturação por bases. Por outro lado, houve redução nos valores de alumínio trocável. Os valores de produção de matéria seca da parte aérea e das raízes foram significativamente superiores em relação à testemunha. Com o aumento da profundidade de correção, houve aumento nos valores de produção de matéria seca total das plantas de milho. Por outro lado, para uma mesma profundidade de correção, não houve diferença significativa entre os diferentes valores de saturação por bases (V). Mesmo que o milho tenha respondido positivamente à calagem, valores de V acima de 40% não proporcionaram incrementos significativos de produção de matéria seca

ABSTRACT Maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) and hematite (α-Fe2O3) are important iron oxides in Brazilian soils derived from basalt. Maghemite can transform into hematite when exposed to high temperatures. However, isomorphic substitution (e.g., Al3+) may largely influence this process. We analyzed the kinetics of thermal transformation of Al-maghemites into Al-hematites and some of its mineralogical aspects. Synthetic substituted maghemites with different degrees of Al-substitution (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 2.9, 3.8, 5.6, 6.7, 10.0, 12.0, and 17.1 mol% Al) were subjected to a temperature of 500±10 °C for 0, 5, 10, 16, 64, 128, 192, 360, 720, 2160, 3600, 5040, and 6480 min. After thermal treatment, samples were characterized by X ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), specific surface area (SSA) measurement, and total chemical analysis. XRD patterns were analyzed by Rietveld refinement, and maghemite and hematite contents were calculated using Rietveld refinement and the method proposed by Sidhu. Isomorphic substitution of Fe by Al increased the critical temperature of transformation and the time necessary for maghemite to hematite transformation. Rietveld refinement data showed a better fit than the data adjusted by the Sidhu method. Increasing isomorphic substitution also decreased lattice parameters and mean crystallite dimension (MCD) values in maghemite; but only c-dimension and MCD decreased with increasing Al-substitution in hematite. For maghemite, the SSA increased with isomorphic substitution, rising up to 5.9 mol% Al; for hematite, SSA increased linearly. SSA decreased with heating time, regardless of isomorphic substitution.

ABSTRACT Burning is a common practice in tropical areas and related changes in mineralogy might affect the chemical and physical behavior of soils. Maghemite is a common iron oxide in soils formed from basic rocks in tropical regions. This mineral and hematite are the main pigments in these soils and exhibit high magnetization stemming from the precursor magnetite formed during the weathering process of primary minerals. The objective of the present study was to analyze changes in color, magnetic suceptibility values, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra, and available Fe and Al contents extracted with 1 mol L-1 KCl during the process of thermal transformation of synthetic Al-maghemites into Al-hematites. Synthetic substituted maghemites with different degrees of Al-substitution (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 2.9, 3.8, 5.6, 6.7, 10.0, 12.0, and 17.1 mol% Al) were subjected to a temperature of 500 ± 10 °C for 0, 5, 10, 16, 64, 128, 192, 360, 720, 2160, 3600, 5040 and 6480 min. The color of the samples was analyzed by a Munsell system in a colorimeter. Mass-specific magnetic susceptibility (χLF) was measured at low-frequency. Available Fe and Al contents were estimated by a 1 mol L-1 KCl solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra were obtained through use of a Bruker Vertex 70X FTIR spectrophotometer at a spectral resolution of 4 cm-1. Contents of Fe and Al extracted by 1 mol L-1 KCl in Al-hematites were not detected. All samples analyzed exhibited YR hue. Hue proportion decreased with increased heating time, and color changed from brown to red. The increase in isomorphic substitution (IS) led to increased hue values from maghemite to hematite, and the latter then became yellower. The χLF values decreased with an increase in heating time, indicating transformation from a ferrimagnetic phase (maghemite) to an antiferrimagnetic phase (hematite). With increasing IS, the maghemite χLF values decreased. Bands of the initial members (time 0) in the FTIR spectra were indexed as maghemites. The end members after completion of the heat treatment were identified as hematites. The IS of Fe by Al in maghemite influenced the thermal transformation to hematite, as well as the color and χLF of the minerals. The χLF proved to be very efficient in detecting maghemites remaining after thermal processing. Fe and/or Al were not ejected from the hematite crystalline structure after heat treatment.

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Copyright of Revista Ceres is the property of Revista Ceres and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)