O potássio (K) é o cátion presente em maior quantidade no citoplasma, atuando em processos enzimáticos e metabólicos vitais para as plantas. Nas raízes, a absorção ocorre na forma livre (K+), e sua biodisponibilidade depende das formas como o elemento se associa ao solo. Não existe limite crítico entre as frações solúveis, trocáveis, não trocáveis e estruturais de K, sendo suas concentrações alteráveis por fatores bióticos e abióticos. Solos oxídicos, situados em ambientes tropicais úmidos, geralmente apresentam baixos teores totais de K, atribuídos tanto ao forte intemperismo nessas regiões quanto aos materiais de origem pobres no nutriente. Os teores disponíveis de K são estabelecidos como referência para diagnósticos e para cálculos de adubações no Brasil. Contudo, existem evidências de que formas não extraíveis por extratores convencionais podem contribuir para a nutrição de plantas, principalmente quando se observa ausência de resposta à adubação potássica em solos com baixos teores disponíveis de K nos quais o processo de coleta de solo e determinação de K foram feitos de modo adequado. Além disso, mesmo em solos muito intemperizados, fontes minerais de K podem ser identificadas por técnicas especiais de difração de raios-X e extração sequencial de K em suas frações minerais. A soja (Glycine max L.) é uma espécie de grande importância econômica e apresenta requerimento elevado de K quando comparada a outras espécies de importância econômica. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do material de origem e da mineralogia do solo e suas frações nos atributos químicos e nas formas de K no solo, bem como na nutrição potássica da soja. Este projeto foi realizado com amostras de um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico (LVdf), oriundas de um experimento iniciado em 1983, em Londrina (PR), para avaliar o efeito de doses de adubo potássico (KCl) na produtividade da soja, em ciclos com restrição e ciclos com acúmulo de K. Com a interrupção da adubação potássica em 2008, as plantas vieram sendo nutridas com o K residual no solo por sete safras. Estudos com efeito residual de K em sistemas de produção tropicais são escassos, principalmente em experimentos de longa duração com solos oxídicos. Com isso, em outubro de 2015 foi reaplicado potássio em metade das parcelas para avaliar do efeito da adubação e da manutenção do efeito residual na mineralogia e formas de K no solo, bem como na nutrição da soja. Foram realizados o mapeamento elementar e a quantificação de K no material de origem (basalto), bem como a identificação e estudo da reserva mineral de K na fração argila do solo por meio de difrações e extrações sequenciais. Foram determinadas as formas trocáveis (resina trocadora de íons e Mehlich-1), não trocáveis e totais de K no solo, além dos teores totais em suas frações separadas. Para fins de fertilidade, foram determinados os demais atributos químicos do solo antes e após a aplicação de K nas subparcelas. Também foram determinados os teores de macronutrientes e micronutrientes, com exceção do níquel (Ni), cloro (Cl) e molibdênio (Mo), em trifólios, partes aéreas e grãos de soja, bem como parâmetros produtivos como massa seca produzida, produtividade e massa de cem grãos. O material de origem e o solo apresentaram baixa reserva de K, sendo que para este último a maior parte do reservatório mineral do nutriente esteve contido na fração argila. A constituição mineralógica do solo apresentou pouca variação, sendo identificados óxidos e hidróxidos como hematita, goethita e gibbsita, filossilicatos 1:1 e 2:1, com e sem hidróxi-Al intercamadas, e outros minerais como quartzo, maghemita e anatásio. Mesmo em avançado estágio de intemperismo, o Latossolo apresentou espécies minerais fontes de K na fração argila. Os extratores de teores trocáveis (Mehlich-1 e resina de troca iônica) extrairam quantidades diferentes de K. A disponibilidade de K e a reaplicação do nutriente após efeito residual, influenciaram os teores de determinados nutrientes em trifólios, partes aéreas e grãos, bem como a produtividade, a massa de grãos e a massa seca de partes aéreas. / Potassium (K) is the cation present in greater quantity in the cytoplasm and acts on enzymatic and metabolic processes vital for plants. The absorption occurs in the roots in the soluble form (K+), and its bioavailability depends on the ways in which the element is associated with the soil. There is no critical limit between soluble, exchangeable, non-exchangeable and structural fractions of K, and its changeable concentrations are affected by biotic and abiotic factors. Oxidic soils located in humid tropical environments generally have low contents of total K, attributed to the strong degree of weathering in these regions and to the parent materials, poor in the nutrient. The levels available K are set as a reference for diagnosis and fertilization calculations in Brazil. However, there are evidence that forms not extractable by conventional extractors can contribute to plant nutrition, especially in the absence of response to potassium fertilization in soils with low levels of available K, in which the process of soil sampling and K determination were done properly. Moreover, even in highly weathered soils, mineral sources of K can be identified by diffraction techniques and sequential extraction in soil minerals present in soil fractions with associated K. Soybean (Glycine max L.) is of great economic importance and requires high amounts of K as compared to other species. The objective was to evaluate the effect of parent material and soil mineralogy in the chemical attributes and K forms, as well as on K soybeans nutrition. This project was carried out with samples of an Oxisol, coming from a long-term field experiment started in 1983 at Londrina (state of Paraná), to evaluate the effect of potassium fertilizer rates (KCl) on soybean yield in cycles with either restraint or accumulation cycles of K. With the interruption of potassium fertilization in 2008, plants have been fed by the residual K in the soil for seven crops. Studies with the residual effect of K in tropical production systems are scarce, especially in long-term experiments under Oxisols. Thus, in October 2015 potassium fertilizer was reapplied in half of the plots to evaluate the effect of fertilization and the maintenance of the residual effect on the mineralogy and on the forms of K in the soil as well as in soybean nutrition. Elemental mapping was performed and quantification of the K in the parent material (basalt), as well as the identification and study of the mineral reserve of K in the soil clay fraction by diffractions and sequential extractions. The exchangeable forms (ion exchange resin and Mehlich-1), non-exchangeable and total K in the soil were determined, in addition to the total contents of K in their separate fractions. For fertility purposes, soil chemical properties were determined before and after application of K in subplots. The quantities of macronutrients and micronutrients were determined, with the exception of nickel (Ni), chlorine (Cl) and molybdenum (Mo) in the trefoil, aerial parts, and grains, as well as production parameters as dry mass produced, yield and mass of a hundred grains. The mineralogical composition of the soil had little variation, with oxides/hydroxides such as hematite, goethite, and gibbsite, 1:1 and 2:1 phyllosilicates, with or without hydroxyl-Al interlayers, ans other minerals such as quartz, maghemite, and anatase. The highly-weathered Oxisol presented mineral species containing potassium in the clay fraction. The extractors of exchangeable forms of K (Mehlich-1 and ion-exchange resin) extracted differect amounts os K. The availability of K, as well as the nutrient reaplication after the residual effect, influenced the nutrient contents in trefoils, aerial parts, and grains, as well as yield, grain mass and dry mass of aerial parts.

O potássio (K) é o cátion presente em maior quantidade no citoplasma, atuando em processos enzimáticos e metabólicos vitais para as plantas. Nas raízes, a absorção ocorre na forma livre (K+), e sua biodisponibilidade depende das formas como o elemento se associa ao solo. Não existe limite crítico entre as frações solúveis, trocáveis, não trocáveis e estruturais de K, sendo suas concentrações alteráveis por fatores bióticos e abióticos. Solos oxídicos, situados em ambientes tropicais úmidos, geralmente apresentam baixos teores totais de K, atribuídos tanto ao forte intemperismo nessas regiões quanto aos materiais de origem pobres no nutriente. Os teores disponíveis de K são estabelecidos como referência para diagnósticos e para cálculos de adubações no Brasil. Contudo, existem evidências de que formas não extraíveis por extratores convencionais podem contribuir para a nutrição de plantas, principalmente quando se observa ausência de resposta à adubação potássica em solos com baixos teores disponíveis de K nos quais o processo de coleta de solo e determinação de K foram feitos de modo adequado. Além disso, mesmo em solos muito intemperizados, fontes minerais de K podem ser identificadas por técnicas especiais de difração de raios-X e extração sequencial de K em suas frações minerais. A soja (Glycine max L.) é uma espécie de grande importância econômica e apresenta requerimento elevado de K quando comparada a outras espécies de importância econômica. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do material de origem e da mineralogia do solo e suas frações nos atributos químicos e nas formas de K no solo, bem como na nutrição potássica da soja. Este projeto foi realizado com amostras de um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico (LVdf), oriundas de um experimento iniciado em 1983, em Londrina (PR), para avaliar o efeito de doses de adubo potássico (KCl) na produtividade da soja, em ciclos com restrição e ciclos com acúmulo de K. Com a interrupção da adubação potássica em 2008, as plantas vieram sendo nutridas com o K residual no solo por sete safras. Estudos com efeito residual de K em sistemas de produção tropicais são escassos, principalmente em experimentos de longa duração com solos oxídicos. Com isso, em outubro de 2015 foi reaplicado potássio em metade das parcelas para avaliar do efeito da adubação e da manutenção do efeito residual na mineralogia e formas de K no solo, bem como na nutrição da soja. Foram realizados o mapeamento elementar e a quantificação de K no material de origem (basalto), bem como a identificação e estudo da reserva mineral de K na fração argila do solo por meio de difrações e extrações sequenciais. Foram determinadas as formas trocáveis (resina trocadora de íons e Mehlich-1), não trocáveis e totais de K no solo, além dos teores totais em suas frações separadas. Para fins de fertilidade, foram determinados os demais atributos químicos do solo antes e após a aplicação de K nas subparcelas. Também foram determinados os teores de macronutrientes e micronutrientes, com exceção do níquel (Ni), cloro (Cl) e molibdênio (Mo), em trifólios, partes aéreas e grãos de soja, bem como parâmetros produtivos como massa seca produzida, produtividade e massa de cem grãos. O material de origem e o solo apresentaram baixa reserva de K, sendo que para este último a maior parte do reservatório mineral do nutriente esteve contido na fração argila. A constituição mineralógica do solo apresentou pouca variação, sendo identificados óxidos e hidróxidos como hematita, goethita e gibbsita, filossilicatos 1:1 e 2:1, com e sem hidróxi-Al intercamadas, e outros minerais como quartzo, maghemita e anatásio. Mesmo em avançado estágio de intemperismo, o Latossolo apresentou espécies minerais fontes de K na fração argila. Os extratores de teores trocáveis (Mehlich-1 e resina de troca iônica) extrairam quantidades diferentes de K. A disponibilidade de K e a reaplicação do nutriente após efeito residual, influenciaram os teores de determinados nutrientes em trifólios, partes aéreas e grãos, bem como a produtividade, a massa de grãos e a massa seca de partes aéreas. / Potassium (K) is the cation present in greater quantity in the cytoplasm and acts on enzymatic and metabolic processes vital for plants. The absorption occurs in the roots in the soluble form (K+), and its bioavailability depends on the ways in which the element is associated with the soil. There is no critical limit between soluble, exchangeable, non-exchangeable and structural fractions of K, and its changeable concentrations are affected by biotic and abiotic factors. Oxidic soils located in humid tropical environments generally have low contents of total K, attributed to the strong degree of weathering in these regions and to the parent materials, poor in the nutrient. The levels available K are set as a reference for diagnosis and fertilization calculations in Brazil. However, there are evidence that forms not extractable by conventional extractors can contribute to plant nutrition, especially in the absence of response to potassium fertilization in soils with low levels of available K, in which the process of soil sampling and K determination were done properly. Moreover, even in highly weathered soils, mineral sources of K can be identified by diffraction techniques and sequential extraction in soil minerals present in soil fractions with associated K. Soybean (Glycine max L.) is of great economic importance and requires high amounts of K as compared to other species. The objective was to evaluate the effect of parent material and soil mineralogy in the chemical attributes and K forms, as well as on K soybeans nutrition. This project was carried out with samples of an Oxisol, coming from a long-term field experiment started in 1983 at Londrina (state of Paraná), to evaluate the effect of potassium fertilizer rates (KCl) on soybean yield in cycles with either restraint or accumulation cycles of K. With the interruption of potassium fertilization in 2008, plants have been fed by the residual K in the soil for seven crops. Studies with the residual effect of K in tropical production systems are scarce, especially in long-term experiments under Oxisols. Thus, in October 2015 potassium fertilizer was reapplied in half of the plots to evaluate the effect of fertilization and the maintenance of the residual effect on the mineralogy and on the forms of K in the soil as well as in soybean nutrition. Elemental mapping was performed and quantification of the K in the parent material (basalt), as well as the identification and study of the mineral reserve of K in the soil clay fraction by diffractions and sequential extractions. The exchangeable forms (ion exchange resin and Mehlich-1), non-exchangeable and total K in the soil were determined, in addition to the total contents of K in their separate fractions. For fertility purposes, soil chemical properties were determined before and after application of K in subplots. The quantities of macronutrients and micronutrients were determined, with the exception of nickel (Ni), chlorine (Cl) and molybdenum (Mo) in the trefoil, aerial parts, and grains, as well as production parameters as dry mass produced, yield and mass of a hundred grains. The mineralogical composition of the soil had little variation, with oxides/hydroxides such as hematite, goethite, and gibbsite, 1:1 and 2:1 phyllosilicates, with or without hydroxyl-Al interlayers, ans other minerals such as quartz, maghemite, and anatase. The highly-weathered Oxisol presented mineral species containing potassium in the clay fraction. The extractors of exchangeable forms of K (Mehlich-1 and ion-exchange resin) extracted differect amounts os K. The availability of K, as well as the nutrient reaplication after the residual effect, influenced the nutrient contents in trefoils, aerial parts, and grains, as well as yield, grain mass and dry mass of aerial parts.

This study describes the technique and procedures used for the simultaneous determination of elements involved in Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, applied to some geological samples as a sensitive and non-destructive tool. Using Isotopic Neutron Source, the delayed gamma-rays emitted due to neutron capture have been applied for the investigation of the elemental constituents and concentrations of major, minor and trace elements in such samples. The experimental investigations were carried out at the scale of researcher's practices at the chosen site by measuring soil/rock nutrient contents from hydrologically isolated farmland/site plots. Using detailed sampling procedures with special precautions, against contaminations, to yield meaningful results, soil/rock samples have been collected from selected areas of East Gojjam, pulverized, homogenized and prepared for irradiation. The samples were properly prepared together with known standards of potassium iodide or cupric sulphate or arsenic trioxide (one /or both at a time), and simultaneously irradiated in to isotopic neutron ux in the same irradiation position. After activation, the samples were subjected to gamma-ray spectrometry, using a high-purity germanium detection system and computerized multichannel analyzer. The gamma-ray spectra from the irradiated samples were measured by high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry with a calibrated germanium detector. Both qualitative and quantitative approach to data collection and analysis were used in order to gain insight into what should be acceptable to the community. The results obtained have a practical interest in view of possible applications to the technology of extraction and exploration of a variety of industrial, metallic, cement minerals, and geothermal energy and coal deposits. These results tend to agree with the lowest values reported in the literature, and the analytical precision is su cient for the determination of the standard deviation of the distribution of all elements in East Gojjam and these results were brie y discussed within the text of this research work. In carrying out the analysis, the best and most convenient method being the Instrumental and /non-destructive Neutron Activation Analysis was adopted, and NAA has matured and attained analytical competence providing not only rapid, quantitative, qualitative, simultaneous, multi􀀀element analysis but also crucial validation support to programmes using di erent analytical techniques. This method of analysis is generally multi-element and experimental conditions can be designed to be non􀀀destructive to the sample, and it plays a leading role among analytical techniques in the eld of environmental research related to human, animal and plant health. Studies of di erent radionuclide and trace elements in the environmental samples are very important for health physics, research and education. Many forms of elements are possible in environmental samples which may be hazardous for human being, animals and also plants. Most of them have the potential for both benefcial and harmful effects / Environmental Sciences / D. Phil. (Environmental Science)

This study describes the technique and procedures used for the simultaneous determination of elements involved in Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, applied to some geological samples as a sensitive and non-destructive tool. Using Isotopic Neutron Source, the delayed gamma-rays emitted due to neutron capture have been applied for the investigation of the elemental constituents and concentrations of major, minor and trace elements in such samples. The experimental investigations were carried out at the scale of researcher's practices at the chosen site by measuring soil/rock nutrient contents from hydrologically isolated farmland/site plots. Using detailed sampling procedures with special precautions, against contaminations, to yield meaningful results, soil/rock samples have been collected from selected areas of East Gojjam, pulverized, homogenized and prepared for irradiation. The samples were properly prepared together with known standards of potassium iodide or cupric sulphate or arsenic trioxide (one /or both at a time), and simultaneously irradiated in to isotopic neutron ux in the same irradiation position. After activation, the samples were subjected to gamma-ray spectrometry, using a high-purity germanium detection system and computerized multichannel analyzer. The gamma-ray spectra from the irradiated samples were measured by high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry with a calibrated germanium detector. Both qualitative and quantitative approach to data collection and analysis were used in order to gain insight into what should be acceptable to the community. The results obtained have a practical interest in view of possible applications to the technology of extraction and exploration of a variety of industrial, metallic, cement minerals, and geothermal energy and coal deposits. These results tend to agree with the lowest values reported in the literature, and the analytical precision is su cient for the determination of the standard deviation of the distribution of all elements in East Gojjam and these results were brie y discussed within the text of this research work. In carrying out the analysis, the best and most convenient method being the Instrumental and /non-destructive Neutron Activation Analysis was adopted, and NAA has matured and attained analytical competence providing not only rapid, quantitative, qualitative, simultaneous, multi􀀀element analysis but also crucial validation support to programmes using di erent analytical techniques. This method of analysis is generally multi-element and experimental conditions can be designed to be non􀀀destructive to the sample, and it plays a leading role among analytical techniques in the eld of environmental research related to human, animal and plant health. Studies of di erent radionuclide and trace elements in the environmental samples are very important for health physics, research and education. Many forms of elements are possible in environmental samples which may be hazardous for human being, animals and also plants. Most of them have the potential for both benefcial and harmful effects / Environmental Sciences / D. Phil. (Environmental Science)