Orientador: Marcos Omir Marques / Banca: José Fernando Durigan / Banca: Ricardo da Silva Sercheli / Resumo: A caracterização e quantificação das frações nitrogenadas presentes no caldo de diferentes cultivares de cana-de-açúcar pode facilitar a identificação da principal aptidão industrial da mesma para a produção de açúcar (baixos teores de nitrogênio), ou de etanol e cachaça (altos teores de nitrogênio). A hipótese deste trabalho é que diferentes cultivares precoces, médios e tardios possam produzir caldos com diferentes teores de nitrogênio e, portanto serem utilizados com maior desempenho nos processos de fermentação ou na produção de açúcar. Este trabalho tem como objetivo quantificar as frações nitrogenadas (amoniacal, protéica, total, não-protéica e amínica) em caldos de dezoito cultivares de cana-de-açúcar em soqueiras de segundo corte. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com parcelas subdividas e três repetições. Foram avaliados dezoito cultivares com três ciclos de maturação, em 5 épocas (0, 28, 69, 112 e 154 dias) durante o ano agrícola 2010/2011. No destilado, obtido a partir do caldo procedeu-se a determinação do nitrogênio amoniacal de acordo com o método de micro-Kjeldahl. Os teores de nitrogênio total e nitrogênio não-protéico, determinado em caldo desproteinizado com hidróxido de bário a 0,3N e sulfato de zinco a 5%, também foram determinados pelo método de micro-Kjeldahl. Os teores de nitrogênio protéico e amínico foram estimados por meio de cálculos. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância (teste F) que quando significativa, as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey, ao nível de 5% de probabilidade. O cultivar SP91-1049 obteve os maiores valores para as frações de nitrogênio amoniacal, total e protéico, além de maiores teores na interação para as frações amoniacal, protéica e total ao longo das... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The characterization and quantification of nitrogen fractions present in the juice of different varieties of sugar cane can help identify the main industry of the same ability to produce sugar (low levels of nitrogen), or ethanol and cachaça (high levels of nitrogen). The hypothesis is that different early cultivars, middle and late to produce stocks with different levels of nitrogen and therefore be used with higher performance in fermentation processes or the production of sugar. This study aims to quantify the nitrogen fractions (ammonium, protein, total non-protein and amine) in broths eighteen cultivars of sugar cane stumps on the second cut. The experimental design was completely randomized design with subdivided plots and three replications. Eighteen cultivars were evaluated with three cycles of maturation in 5 times (0, 28, 69, 112 and 154 days) during the 2010/2011 agricultural year. The distillate obtained from the broth made the determination of ammonia according to the micro-Kjeldahl method. The levels of total nitrogen and non-protein nitrogen determined in broth deproteinized with barium hydroxide and 0.3 N zinc sulfate 5%, were also determined by micro-Kjeldahl method. The levels of protein and amino nitrogen were estimated by calculations. The results were submitted to analysis of variance (F test) when significant, means were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. The cultivar SP91-1049 achieved the highest values for the fractions of ammonia nitrogen, total protein and, in addition to higher levels in the interaction for the fractions ammonia, and total protein through the ages. The results indicate that the cultivars studied showed significant differences in levels of nitrogen fractions and the collection times are much greater importance in these levels. The cultivar with a mean cycle of maturation... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

CAPES / A adubação nitrogenada é freqüentemente observada como um eficiente fator nutricional fornecido a planta visando melhorar a produção de espécies forrageiras, necessitando ser entendido o comportamento do nitrogênio (N) no sistema. O experimento foi conduzido na área do Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR) na estação experimental de Pato Branco, com objetivo de avaliar a dinâmica do N no sistema solo-planta em pastagem de Brachiaria plantaginea. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com duas repetições. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas foram alocados os períodos e nas sub-parcelas a combinação das três doses de N e duas intensidades de pastejo (Massa Alta e Massa Baixa), perfazendo seis tratamentos em esquema fatorial. As doses de N foram compostas de 0, 200 e 400 kg.ha-1 de N e as intensidades de pastejo preconizadas em massa baixa (MB), com 1.500 kg de MS.ha-1, e massa alta (MA) com 3.000 kg de MS.ha-1 em pastejo com lotação contínua e taxa de lotação variável. Utilizaram-se caprinos, meio sangue Bôer, com cinco meses de idade e peso médio de 21 Kg de peso vivo (PV), para definir as massas de forragem (MF) preconizadas. Avaliou-se a produção acumulada e total de biomassa aérea de papuã nos períodos experimentais, os índices nutricionais de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio, também a curva de diluição, eficiência e recuperação do nitrogênio e o comportamento do nitrogênio no solo. A produção de forragem de B. plantaginea foi maior na dose intermediaria de N (200 kg de N.ha-1), atingindo uma produção de 19.834 kg de MS.ha-1, 31% a mais que no tratamento que não recebeu adubação nitrogenada. Os teores de N encontrados nas plantas que receberam adubação nitrogenada apresentaram valores superiores aos preconizados como críticos, resultando em conteúdos adequados deste elemento na planta, e, ao contrário, as plantas cultivadas sem adubação nitrogenadas apresentaram teores inferiores ao crítico, apontando desta forma que a curva de diluição de N é uma ferramenta adequada para diagnose de nutrição nitrogenada em pastagens. A máxima produtividade foi limitada pela falta de fósforo indicada pelo baixo índice de fósforo obtido conforme os teores do elemento na pastagem e a absorção de K aumentou com a adubação nitrogenada apresentando índices satisfatórios do elemento. A dose de 200 kg de N.ha-1 demonstrou-se a mais eficiente com taxas de recuperação de N superiores em 63% em relação a dose de 400 kg de N.ha-1. Não foi observada lixiviação das formas de nitrogênio inorgânicas estudas (nitrato e amônio) no perfil do solo e observou-se maior quantidade de nitrato e N-Mineral na menor massa de forragem após completada a quantidade de N proposta. / Nitrogen fertilization is usually noticed as an efficient nutritional factor offered to the plant with the aim to improve its production, being necessary to understand the nitrogen behave (N) in the system. The experiment was carried out at the Agronomist institute of Paraná (IAPAR), experimental unit of Pato Branco with the aim to evaluate the dynamic of N in the soil-plant system of a Brachiaria plantaginea. The experiment was laid out as random block design with two replications. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot model. At the plots were allocated the periods and at the sub-plots the combination of three levels of nitrogen and two grazing intensities (High mass and Low Mass), making six treatments in a factorial scheme. The levels of nitrogen used were composed of 0, 200 and 400 kg of N.ha-1 and the grazing intensities characterized by the low forage mass (LM) with 1.500 kg of DM.ha-1 and high forage mass (HM) with 3000 kg of DM.ha-1 in a continuous stocking rate. Were used goats half blood Boer with five months old and average life weight of 21 kg of live weight (LW) at the beginning of the experiment with the aim to adjust the forage mass (FM) wanted. Was evaluated the accumulate and total forage production of the papuã aerial biomass at the experimental periods, the nutritional indices of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and also the dilution curve, efficiency of N recovery and behave of nitrogen in the soil. The Brachiaria plantaginea forage production was higher at the nitrogen intermediate level (200 kg of N.ha-1), reaching an production of 19.834 kg of DM.ha-1, 31% more then treatment without nitrogen. The N levels found in the plants that received nitrogen fertilization showed higher values than the ones recognized as deficient, resulting in adequate contents of this element in the plant and, in the other hand, the plants cultivated without nitrogen showed levels below the one recognized as sufficient, showing with that the dilution curve of N is an adequate tool to diagnose the forage nitrogen nutrition. The highest production was limited by the lack of phosphorous showed by the phosphorous indices obtained according to the pasture element levels and the absorption of K increased with the nitrogen application, showing satisfactory level of the element. The 200 level of N.ha-1 showed to be the most efficient with recovery N levels 63% higher than the 400 kg.N.ha-1. There was no inorganic (NO3 - e NH4 +) N leaching found in the soil profile and was noticed higher quantities of NO3 - and mineral-N at the lower forage mass after finishing the total N applied.

CAPES / A adubação nitrogenada é freqüentemente observada como um eficiente fator nutricional fornecido a planta visando melhorar a produção de espécies forrageiras, necessitando ser entendido o comportamento do nitrogênio (N) no sistema. O experimento foi conduzido na área do Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR) na estação experimental de Pato Branco, com objetivo de avaliar a dinâmica do N no sistema solo-planta em pastagem de Brachiaria plantaginea. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com duas repetições. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em parcelas subdivididas. Nas parcelas foram alocados os períodos e nas sub-parcelas a combinação das três doses de N e duas intensidades de pastejo (Massa Alta e Massa Baixa), perfazendo seis tratamentos em esquema fatorial. As doses de N foram compostas de 0, 200 e 400 kg.ha-1 de N e as intensidades de pastejo preconizadas em massa baixa (MB), com 1.500 kg de MS.ha-1, e massa alta (MA) com 3.000 kg de MS.ha-1 em pastejo com lotação contínua e taxa de lotação variável. Utilizaram-se caprinos, meio sangue Bôer, com cinco meses de idade e peso médio de 21 Kg de peso vivo (PV), para definir as massas de forragem (MF) preconizadas. Avaliou-se a produção acumulada e total de biomassa aérea de papuã nos períodos experimentais, os índices nutricionais de nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio, também a curva de diluição, eficiência e recuperação do nitrogênio e o comportamento do nitrogênio no solo. A produção de forragem de B. plantaginea foi maior na dose intermediaria de N (200 kg de N.ha-1), atingindo uma produção de 19.834 kg de MS.ha-1, 31% a mais que no tratamento que não recebeu adubação nitrogenada. Os teores de N encontrados nas plantas que receberam adubação nitrogenada apresentaram valores superiores aos preconizados como críticos, resultando em conteúdos adequados deste elemento na planta, e, ao contrário, as plantas cultivadas sem adubação nitrogenadas apresentaram teores inferiores ao crítico, apontando desta forma que a curva de diluição de N é uma ferramenta adequada para diagnose de nutrição nitrogenada em pastagens. A máxima produtividade foi limitada pela falta de fósforo indicada pelo baixo índice de fósforo obtido conforme os teores do elemento na pastagem e a absorção de K aumentou com a adubação nitrogenada apresentando índices satisfatórios do elemento. A dose de 200 kg de N.ha-1 demonstrou-se a mais eficiente com taxas de recuperação de N superiores em 63% em relação a dose de 400 kg de N.ha-1. Não foi observada lixiviação das formas de nitrogênio inorgânicas estudas (nitrato e amônio) no perfil do solo e observou-se maior quantidade de nitrato e N-Mineral na menor massa de forragem após completada a quantidade de N proposta. / Nitrogen fertilization is usually noticed as an efficient nutritional factor offered to the plant with the aim to improve its production, being necessary to understand the nitrogen behave (N) in the system. The experiment was carried out at the Agronomist institute of Paraná (IAPAR), experimental unit of Pato Branco with the aim to evaluate the dynamic of N in the soil-plant system of a Brachiaria plantaginea. The experiment was laid out as random block design with two replications. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot model. At the plots were allocated the periods and at the sub-plots the combination of three levels of nitrogen and two grazing intensities (High mass and Low Mass), making six treatments in a factorial scheme. The levels of nitrogen used were composed of 0, 200 and 400 kg of N.ha-1 and the grazing intensities characterized by the low forage mass (LM) with 1.500 kg of DM.ha-1 and high forage mass (HM) with 3000 kg of DM.ha-1 in a continuous stocking rate. Were used goats half blood Boer with five months old and average life weight of 21 kg of live weight (LW) at the beginning of the experiment with the aim to adjust the forage mass (FM) wanted. Was evaluated the accumulate and total forage production of the papuã aerial biomass at the experimental periods, the nutritional indices of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and also the dilution curve, efficiency of N recovery and behave of nitrogen in the soil. The Brachiaria plantaginea forage production was higher at the nitrogen intermediate level (200 kg of N.ha-1), reaching an production of 19.834 kg of DM.ha-1, 31% more then treatment without nitrogen. The N levels found in the plants that received nitrogen fertilization showed higher values than the ones recognized as deficient, resulting in adequate contents of this element in the plant and, in the other hand, the plants cultivated without nitrogen showed levels below the one recognized as sufficient, showing with that the dilution curve of N is an adequate tool to diagnose the forage nitrogen nutrition. The highest production was limited by the lack of phosphorous showed by the phosphorous indices obtained according to the pasture element levels and the absorption of K increased with the nitrogen application, showing satisfactory level of the element. The 200 level of N.ha-1 showed to be the most efficient with recovery N levels 63% higher than the 400 kg.N.ha-1. There was no inorganic (NO3 - e NH4 +) N leaching found in the soil profile and was noticed higher quantities of NO3 - and mineral-N at the lower forage mass after finishing the total N applied.

Orientador: Claudia Regina Baptista Haddad / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T15:33:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Noleto_LeonardoGoncalves_D.pdf: 8581995 bytes, checksum: 12b214dbb64d8243d691234477807b02 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Árvores e lianas possuem diferentes estratégias de alocação de recursos durante o ciclo fenológico. As lianas são componentes florísticos importantes e parte significativa das espécies de florestas tropicais, mas ainda pouco estudadas no Bioma Cerrado. A duração do ciclo de vida foliar de diferentes espécies reflete sua adaptação ao habitat, bem como as concentrações de certos compostos orgânicos nitrogenados, que influenciados por fatores ambientais estão relacionados com o crescimento vegetativo. Entre os elementos minerais o nitrogênio é um dos mais limitantes em plantas e sua conservação é dependente da sua disponibilidade no ambiente. O reaproveitamento do nitrogênio é mensurado pela eficiência de reaproveitamento do nitrogênio, pela eficiência no uso do nitrogênio e pela proficiência de reaproveitamento de nitrogênio. A baixa disponibilidade do nitrogênio no solo é determinante para sua conservação, mas muitas espécies vegetais conservam esse nutriente apresentando folhas com alta longevidade. Embora as lianas e árvores do presente trabalho ocorram no mesmo ambiente, presume-se que os índices relativos à conservação do nitrogênio sejam menores nas lianas, quando comparados aos das espécies arbóreas, já que alguns autores verificaram que lianas possuem um sistema vascular e radicular mais eficiente que os das árvores, o que pode possibilitar uma aquisição mais eficiente de nutrientes minerais. Além disso, as lianas ocorrem com freqüência em áreas florestais perturbadas, onde árvores são derrubadas, onde há abundância da quantidade de luz e serrapilheira (fonte de N disponível no solo). Compostos fenólicos normalmente são encontrados em maiores concentrações em espécies com folhas longevas. Esses compostos exercem papel de defesa contra herbívoros e patógenos. A concentração desses compostos é influenciada pelo balanço carbono/nutriente nos tecidos vegetais, bem como por fatores climáticos. A hipótese que norteia a presente pesquisa é a existência de diferentes estratégias fisiológicas apresentadas por árvores e lianas no que diz respeito aos índices de conservação do nitrogênio, investimento em estruturas vegetativas (longevidade foliar, massa foliar por área, e diâmetro basal do fuste) e concentrações de compostos fenólicos e nitrogenados. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: 1- Relacionar os índices de conservação do nitrogênio a aferições biométricas (longevidade foliar, massa foliar por área e diâmetro do fuste à altura de 30 cm) e concentração foliar de compostos fenólicos e nitrogenados nas espécies de árvores e lianas; 2- Verificar se há diferenças entre as árvores e lianas quanto aos aspectos acima mencionados e 3- Investigar o efeito da estacionalidade sobre as concentrações de compostos fenólicos e nitrogenados em folhas desses dois grupos de plantas. O trabalho foi conduzido em duas épocas distintas (seca e chuvosa) em um fragmento de cerrado denso, conhecido como Valério, na Estação Experimental de Itirapina, no estado de São Paulo. O diâmetro basal dos caules das espécies estudadas correlacionou-se negativamente com a massa foliar por área. Comparando-se os diâmetros basais de lianas e árvores verificou-se que as primeiras apresentaram caules mais finos, o que poderia indicar um maior investimento de compostos orgânicos na parte aérea dessas plantas. Apresentaram também uma menor massa foliar por área, provavelmente indicando a existência de sistemas radiculares e de transporte mais eficientes do que nas árvores, ou estratégias diferentes de distribuição de matéria orgânica nos dois grupos funcionais, ou, ainda, maior síntese de compostos estruturais de carbono nas espécies arbóreas, o que explicaria a maior concentração de compostos nitrogenados nas folhas de lianas. As lianas apresentaram o menor desempenho na conservação do nitrogênio. Esse desempenho das lianas pode estar relacionado à maior concentração desse elemento nas folhas maduras dessas plantas. Quando se compara as duas épocas analisadas, verifica-se que os compostos nitrogenados aumentaram na época chuvosa, paralelamente ao aumento de fenóis totais. Como a época chuvosa é também a época mais quente na região estudada, a combinação de maior disponibilidade de água e temperaturas mais altas pode ter propiciado um aumento no sistema de absorção e transporte de nitrato na planta, que se refletiu na maior concentração de aminoácidos. É possível que tenha havido aumento suficiente na concentração de aminoácidos precursores para sustentar os aumentos nas sínteses de proteínas e fenóis nesse período. O aumento da concentração de taninos condensados na época seca pode estar relacionado com efeitos da amplitude térmica diária sobre o metabolismo desses compostos ou com aumento de herbivoria no período seco, resultando na maior produção de taninos pelas plantas / Abstract: Trees and lianas present different strategies for allocating resources during the phonological cycle. Whereas Lianas are important floristic components and account for a significant number of rainforest species, few studies have been conducted in the Cerrado (a savanna like vegetation) biome. The duration of the leaf life span in different species reflects both its adaptation to the habitat, and the concentrations of certain organic nitrogen-containing compounds, which are influenced by environmental factors and are related to vegetative growth. Nitrogen is one of the most limiting mineral elements in plants, and its conservation depends on its availability in the environment. Nitrogen resorption is measured by nitrogen resorption efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, and by nitrogen resorption proficiency. The low availability of nitrogen in the soil is a determining factor for its conservation, but many plant species preserve this nutrient with leaves that present a long life span. Although the lianas and trees from this research work share the same environment, it is assumed that the parameters related to nitrogen conservation are lower in the lianas when compared to those of the woody species, as some authors have verified that lianas present a more efficient vascular and root system than that of trees, which might provide them with a more efficient absorption of mineral nutrients. Moreover, lianas frequently occur in disturbed forest areas where trees are torn down, and there is an abundance of light and litterfall (a N source available on the soil). Larger concentrations of phenolic compounds are normally found in species whose leaves present a long life span. Such compounds protect these species against herbivores and pathogens. The concentration of these compounds is influenced by the carbon-nitrogen balance in plant tissues, as well as by climatic factors. The hypothesis that guides this research work is the existence of different physiological strategies presented by both trees and lianas regarding nitrogen conservation mechanisms, investment in vegetative structure (leaf life span, leaf life ratio, and basal diameter of the stem), and concentrations of phenolic and nitrogencontaining compounds. This research work aimed at: 1- Relating nitrogen conservation mechanisms to biometric measurements (leaf life span, leaf life ratio, and basal diameter of the stem at 30 cm high), and to the leaf concentration of phenolic and organic nitrogen-containing compounds in tree and liana species; 2- Establish differences between trees and lianas regarding the aforementioned aspects, and; 3- Investigate the effect of seasonal changes on the concentrations of phenolic and organic nitrogen-containing compounds in the leaves of both kinds of plants. This research work was conducted in two different seasons (dry and rainy) in a fraction of a dense cerrado area known as Valério, at the Itirapina Experimental Station, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The researched species presented a negative correlation between the basal diameter of the stems and the leaf mass area. Comparison of the basal diameters of both lianas and trees showed that lianas have thinner stems and a lower leaf mass area, indicating a more efficient vascular and root system than that of trees, or different strategies for distribution of organic compounds in both kinds of plants, or a higher synthesis of structural carbon compounds in the tree species, which could explain the greater concentration of nitrogen-containing compounds in liana leaves. Lianas presented lower performance in nitrogen conservation. Such a performance may be related to the greater concentration of nitrogen in mature liana leaves. Comparison of the two analyzed seasons shows that in the rainy season there was an increase in the concentration of nitrogenous compounds, as well as an increase in the contents of phenolic compounds. Since the rainy season is also the hottest in the research area, the combination of larger availability of water and higher temperatures may have caused an increase in the absorption and transportation system of nitrate in the plants, which reflected in a greater concentration of amino acids. There may have been a sufficient increase in the concentration of precursor amino acids to sustain the increase in protein and phenol synthesis during this period. The increase in the concentration of condensed tannins in the dry season may be related to the effects of the daily temperature range on the metabolism of these compounds, or to the increase in herbivory during the dry season / Doutorado / Doutor em Biologia Vegetal

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / The heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation of dinitrogen to nitrate, NO3 and/or nitrite, no2 using peroxy species of titanium (IV) in aqueous suspensions has been investigated. The photocatalysts used were titanium peroxide and Degussa p25 TiO2 pretreated with H2O2. These photocatalysts were investigated by SEM and FTIR spectroscopy.

There is consensus that high CO2 results in enhanced growth and yield for most crop plants. However, most of these studies were carried out in the presence of adequate nutrients, which is also the case in agricultural systems (managed ecosystems). About 20% of the earth’s land mass have sufficiently low levels of nutrients to cause some kind of stress to plants. On the other hand, elevated [CO2] decreases foliar nutrient elements in plants and as a result partitioning of certain nutrient elements in plants is altered. Little data is available on the partitioning of most nutrient elements in plants, and this will definitely impact on growth and yield. To investigate this, wheat (Triticum aestivum L. c.v. Gamtoos) was grown in controlled environment cabinets at 360 and 700 µmol mol -1 CO2. The full Long-Ashton nutrient solution comprising of three-nitrogen concentrations ([N]) viz. (4,6 and 12 mM) was used to water plants everyday. The measurement of net assimilation rate (NAR), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), water use efficiency (WUE), foliar [N], nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and growth parameters (total plant biomass (TPB), total plant height (TPH), leaf area (LA), shoot and root dry weight) were made 7 days after germination (7 DAG) till the onset of flowering. The increase in nitrogen supply in the order of 4, 6 and 12mM resulted in an increase in NAR, g_s_ , WUE and a decline in E under elevated [CO2]. Under elevated [CO2] NAR was observed to increase during the first two weeks reaching its maximum at 14 DAG, thereafter followed by a decline reaching its maximum at 28 DAG. This was later followed by an increase at 35 DAG onwards. Under elevated [CO2], NAR was increased significantly between the nitrogen regimes during the first (7-14 DAG) and the last two (35-42 DAG) weeks. The response of assimilation as a function of internal [CO2] (Ci), showed a decrease with age at ages 14, 28 and 35 DAG. This negatively affected the initial slope and the CO2 saturated photosynthetic rates under all treatments. This suggest that acclimation may have been as a result of both stomatal and biochemical limitations. All the photosynthetic pigment levels (chl_a_, chl_b_, chl_(a+b)_, and C_(x+c)_ ) increased with an increase in nitrogen supply from 4 to 6mM [N]. A 12mM [N] resulted in a significant decline in the photosynthetic pigment levels compared to a 6mM [N]. Chla remained higher than chlb under all treatments. Also, NAR was seen to increase and decrease concomitantly with the photosynthetic pigment levels. Foliar [N] was seen to decrease with an increase in nitrogen supply from 4 to 6 mM [N] under elevated [CO2] and the effects were adverse under the 4mM [N]. Under the 6mM N regime foliar [N] was positively correlated to NAR for elevated [CO2] grown plants. Similarly, E was positively correlated to foliar [N] under the same conditions. Elevated CO2 and increase in nitrogen supply had a pronounced effect on total plant height (TPH), total plant biomass (TPB), leaf area (LA), shoot and root dry weight and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The effects were more pronounced under a 6mM [N] as a result of high NUE. However, under 12mM [N] growth was not as expected as a result of lower NUE. Under all treatments shoot dry weight (SDW) was positively correlated to NUE. Anatomical studies revealed that total leaf and midrib thickness was significantly increased with an increase in nitrogen supply under elevated CO2 to support the larger leaf areas. There were no significant changes in the chloroplast ultrastructure as a result of the increase in nitrogen supply and CO2 enrichment. Starch grain surface area was seen to decline with an increase in nitrogen under both ambient and elevated CO2. Elevated CO2 and increase in nitrogen supply significantly increased total grain dry weight per plant by 47 and 46% respectively under 6 and 12mM [N]. In contrast, the increase was by about 21, 61 and 67% respectively under 4, 6 and 12mM [N] between the CO2 regimes.

No description available.

Please read the abstract in the dissertation / Dissertation (MSc (Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

A folha é o principal órgão de absorção e assimilação de nutrientes dos membros epífitos com tanque da família Bromeliaceae. Pouco se conhece sobre a nutrição dessas bromélias, entretanto algumas evidências (TAKAHASHI, 2007) indicaram a possibilidade de haver uma absorção preferencial do nitrogênio na porção basal e a assimilação desse nutriente na porção apical foliar. Para se compreender melhor os mecanismos de assimilação do nitrogênio utilizados pelas bromélias epífitas com tanque, foi proposto neste trabalho dois principais objetivos: 1) verificar possíveis diferenças quanto à capacidade de assimilação do nitrogênio em diferentes porções foliares de uma bromélia epífita com tanque; 2) constatar possível preferência em assimilar fonte nitrogenada orgânica ou inorgânica, quando ambas estão disponíveis no interior do tanque. A estratégia utilizada para o primeiro objetivo foi cultivar bromélias da espécie Vriesea gigantea, cultivadas em casa de vegetação e registrar em suas folhas as variações temporais das atividades enzimáticas da urease, redutase do nitrato (NR), sintetase da glutamina (GS), desidrogenase do glutamato dependente de NADH (GDH-NADH) e arginase após o fornecimento, no interior do tanque das bromélias, de uma solução nutritiva contendo NO3-/NH4+ (3:2) ou uréia (5mM de N total), como fontes de nitrogênio. Foram analisadas as atividades enzimáticas nas porções apical e basal foliar de Vriesea gigantea nos seguintes tempos: 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 e 73 horas após a rega. Além disso, também foram quantificadas as concentrações do amônio e da uréia endógenos presentes nos tecidos foliares de ambas as porções. Os resultados mostraram que, independente do tratamento, as atividades de GS, GDH e arginase foram mais altas na porção apical em todos os tempos de coleta. Já as atividades da NR e urease, foram crescentes e mais intensas na porção basal, da mesma forma como foi visto para as concentrações endógenas de amônio durante as primeiras 24 horas. As maiores concentrações de uréia endógenas também foram registradas principalmente na porção basal foliar. Esses resultados permitem inferir que a região apical pode estar envolvida, preferencialmente, com a assimilação do nitrogênio, enquanto que a basal, com a sua absorção, redução do nitrato e hidrólise da uréia. Além disso, sugere-se também que ocorra o transporte de amônio da base para a região de sua assimilação em aminoácidos (ápice) através do xilema e apoplasto. Em relação ao segundo objetivo, a estratégia utilizada foi fornecer à bromélia Vriesea gigantea com uma solução nutritiva que continha 5mM de nitrogênio total, disponível na forma inorgânica + orgânica (NH4+/NO3- + uréia nas proporções 1:1 ou 1:3, respectivamente). Como controle foram empregados os seguintes tratamentos: ausência de nitrogênio e presença de somente fontes inorgânicas (5mM de nitrogênio total). As porções apical e basal das folhas foram coletadas 9 horas após o fornecimento das soluções nutritivas e, posteriormente, utilizadas nas análises enzimáticas referentes às atividades da urease, NR, GS, e GDH-NADH. Além disso, foram quantificados em ambas as porções os teores endógenos de amônio, uréia, amido, açúcares totais e clorofila total. Também foram determinados as densidades de tricomas e estômatos nas duas regiões foliares. Verificou-se que as maiores atividades da GS (porção apical) e GDH (porção basal) foram registradas nos dois tratamentos com uréia (1:1 e 1:3) quando comparadas com as dos dois controles. As maiores concentrações de amônio endógeno na porção basal também foram detectadas nos mesmos tratamentos com uréia (1:1 e 1:3). Já a atividade da NR apresentou os maiores valores nos tratamentos de proporção 1:1 e no controle 2 (com somente fontes inorgânicas) na porção basal foliar. De modo interessante, a GS não mostrou o mesmo desempenho nos dois tratamentos (1:1 e controle 2), sendo que, no tratamento de proporção 1:1, a atividade foi o dobro daquela registrada no controle 2. Todos esses resultados analisados em conjunto permitem inferir que a bromélia Vriesea gigantea pode ter preferência por assimilar o nitrogênio proveniente da uréia quando essa fonte se encontra disponível no interior do tanque, mesmo quando também há a presença de formas inorgânicas (nitrato e amônio). / The leaf is considered the most important vegetative organ of tank epiphytic bromeliads due to its ability to absorb and assimilate nutrients. Little is known about the nutrition of these bromeliads, but there are evidences that the basal region of the leaf may be preferentially involved with the absorption of nutrients, whereas the apical region may be involved with its assimilation (TAKAHASHI, 2007). In order to better understand the mechanisms utilized by these tank epiphytic bromeliads to optimize the nitrogen acquisition and assimilation, it was proposed in this study two main objectives: 1) verify the existence of a differential capacity to assimilate nitrogen in different leaf portions of a tank epiphytic bromeliad; 2) analyze the nitrogen assimilation preference between inorganic and organic nitrogen sources when both are available in the tank water. The experiments of the first objective were conducted using Vriesea gigantea plants, a typical specie of tank epiphytic bromeliad, cultivated in greenhouse. Nutrient solution containing NO3-/NH4+ (3:2) or urea as nitrogen source (5mM of total N) was supplied into the tank of these plants and the activities of urease, nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), NADH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH-NADH) and arginase were quantified in apical and basal leaf portions after 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 and 73 hours. The ammonium and urea present in the tissues were also analyzed. Independent of the nitrogen source utilized, GS, GDH and arginase activities were higher in the apical portions of leaves in all the period analyzed. On the other hand, the opposite was observed in relation to NR and urease activities. The highest activities were detected in the basal portion of leaves at all harvest times, with increasing values during the first 24 hours of experiment. Interestingly, this same pattern was also observed in relation to the endogenous ammonium and urea: the highest contents were detected in the basal portion of leaves, with a gradual increase of ammonium in the first 24 hours of analysis. These results suggest that the basal portion of leaves was preferentially involved in nitrogen uptake, nitrate reduction and urea hydrolysis, while the apical portion was the main responsible for nitrogen assimilation. Moreover, it was possible to infer that the ammonium may be transported from the base (uptake region) to the apex of the leaves (the main nitrogen assimilation region) through the xylem and apoplast. In order to analyze the nitrogen assimilation preference of Vriesea gigantea, a nutrient solution containing 5mM of nitrogen containing a mixture of inorganic and organic sources (NH4+/NO3- + urea in the proportion 1:1 or 1:3, respectively) were supplied into the tank of the bromeliads. As a control, a nutrient solution containing no nitrogen source (control 1) or 5mM of inorganic nitrogen sources (control 2) were used. The basal and apical leaf tissues were collected after 9 hours and the activities of urease, NR, GS and GDH-NADH were analyzed. Endogenous ammonium, urea, starch, total soluble carbohydrates and total chlorophyll were also quantified. Furthermore, the density of trichomes and stomata were also analyzed on the abaxial leaf surface of both regions. The highest activities of GS (apex) and GDH (base), as well as the endogenous ammonium content (base), were registered in both treatments with urea (1:1 and 1:3) in comparison with both controls. A different pattern was obtained analyzing NR: the highest activities were observed in plants that received nutrient solutions containing only inorganic nitrogen (control 2) or a mixture of inorganic and organic nitrogen in the proportion 1:1. Moreover, an interesting behavior was observed in relation to the GS activity: it was detected the double activity of this enzyme when Vriesea gigantea was in contact with a mixture of inorganic and organic nitrogen (1:1) in comparison to the plants in the presence of only inorganic nitrogen sources. All results suggest that Vriesea gigantea may have preference to assimilate organic nitrogen source (urea), when the inorganic nitrogen sources (ammonium and nitrate) are also available in the tank water.

The plant-soil nitrogen cycle plays a significant role in allocation of available N to plants, and improved understanding of N cycling helps sustainably increase fertilizer use efficiency. There are various processes (nitrogen mineralization and nitrification) involved in the availability and mobility of nitrogen in the soil. The primary objective of this study was to determine the NUE under contrasting nitrogen treatments over a period of five years. Additionally, we examined the effect of different N treatments on N mineralization and nitrification in conventional and organic farming systems. This project was funded by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program Grant no. 2011-67019-30178 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and by the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. We established silage corn field plots in northern Utah, and silage corn was grown using ammonium fertilizers or manure composts over five years. Nitrogen use efficiency was found to be higher in ammonium sulfate fertilizer treatments as compared to compost treated soils. Nitrogen mineralization and nitrification rates were examined for soils from the silage corn field plots and also for additional soils from certified organic field plots receiving steer compost, steer manure and crop rotations. There was a significant overall nitrogen treatment effect for both conventional and organic rotational plots. Carbon mineralization rates were found to be higher in compost under conventional plots and manure under organic rotational plots as compared to control. There was no significant treatment effect found in gross mineralization and nitrification rates in 2015 and 2016. Gross nitrification rates were found to be the higher in AS200 treatment versus compost and control in 2016. Improved knowledge of the timing and rates of nitrogen supply is vital for improving NUE and for reducing excessive use of fertilizers while maintaining an acceptable yield. The optimization of fertilizer rates according to crop demand at different stages of growth will be helpful in the efficient management of available N especially for composts and manures.