Land application of biosolids as a soil fertility amendment is an alternative to traditional disposal methods. The influence of annual Alkaline Treated Biosolids (ATB) land application on phosphorus (P) dynamics in acidic soils needs to be better understood for more efficient P management. This study examines plant uptake, plant available, soil total phosphorus (P) content and potential P accumulation as a function of rate and frequency of application of an ATB amended to an agricultural soil over four years. The results suggest that applying high rates of ATB annually can increase the soil pH, Mehlich 3 and water extractable P, and crop P uptake in an acidic agricultural soil. No significant soil P accumulation was observed and P related environmental concerns were limited in this study. Potential soil P accumulation and higher P loss needs to be considered with annual high ATB rates application over a longer period study. / N/A

Composted biosolids have been shown to enhance turfgrass establishment and growth more than fertilizer alone, but few studies have investigated the production of turfgrass using uncomposted biosolids. Increasingly employed treatment methods that generate pathogen-free, low pollutant-containing biosolids are creating alternative products for use in urban settings.  Understanding the effects of these uncomposted and alternative biosolids products on turfgrass culture and soil chemical and physical properties is essential to understanding the benefits these products may provide in sod production systems. The objectives of this study were to compare processing methods, application and N mineralization rates of two biosolids products and an inorganic fertilizer control for sod fertilization on 1) agronomic parameters related to turfgrass quality, 2) the amount of soil, C and P exported at harvest, and 3) chemical and physical properties of the soil following sod harvest as an indicator of the benefits of biosolids use. The study was conducted on a sod farm in Remington, Virginia on a silt loam Ashburn-Dulles complex from 2009 to 2012. The biosolids products were applied at estimated plant available nitrogen (PAN) rates of 98 kg N ha-1  (0.5X), 196 kg N ha-1 (1.0X) and 294 kg N ha-1  (1.5X) for a tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. \'Rebel Exeda\' \'Rebel IV\' and \'Justice\')/ Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L. \'Midnight\') mixture. One biosolids product was an anaerobically digested dewatered cake applied at 15, 30.5 and 46 wet Mg ha-1. The second biosolids product was the same cake blended with wood fines applied at 17, 34 and 51 wet Mg ha-1. The biosolids treatments were compared to an inorganic fertilizer control that supplied 196 kg N ha-1 through three applications over the production cycle. There were no differences in establishment between the cake biosolids treatments and the inorganic fertilizer control, but all of the blended biosolids were slower to establish. Only the 1.0X and 1.5X PAN rates from the cake biosolids matched the inorganic fertilizer control in producing an acceptable quality sod in ten months. Lower nitrogen uptake between the blended biosolids treatments compared to the inorganic fertilizer control and lower although acceptable sod quality ratings at harvest of the 1.0X cake biosolids indicate our PAN estimates of 30% organic nitrogen mineralization overestimated the PAN for both materials. There were no differences in sod tensile strength between the 1.5X cake biosolids and inorganic fertilizer control. There were no differences in transplant rooting strength among all treatments. After repeat applications of biosolids, the 0.5X rates did not increase soil extractable phosphorus, while the 1.0X rates steadily increased soil extractable phosphorus at. The 1.0X and 1.5X biosolids rates increased soil organic matter content, but only the 1.5X rate of cake biosolids reduced soil bulk density and mineral matter export at harvest. Overall results indicate that the cake biosolids are an acceptable fertility alternative to inorganic fertilizer, and applications of biosolids for sod production can improve soil quality. Sod growers should consider using biosolids in a rotational system to offset rising production costs and improve production field soil quality. / Master of Science

The use of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars efficient and responsive to phosphorus use is important for increase grain yield and reduce production cost. Thus, the objectives of this work were: (1) evaluate the response of common bean lines in production of dry matter, grain yield components, and accumulation of phosphorus in the plant under different phosphorus availability; (2) investigate the association between these characters; (3) evaluate the genetic variability of common bean lines as the phosphorus availability; (4) identify efficient lines in phosphorus use and responsive to application of mineral by different indexes. For this, four experiments were carried out in a greenhouse of the Plant Science Department at the Santa Maria Federal University during the years 2013 2015, in a completely randomized design in a sub-sub-divided plot. In the first two experiments the phosphorus concentration tested in the nutrient solution were from 0.5 to 2.3 mmol L-1 as part of the main plot; Perola and IPR88 Uirapurú cultivars were evaluated in the sub-plot, and the growing seasons (fall-winter and spring-summer) in the sub-sub-plot. In the third and four experiments were evaluated the efficiency of phosphorus use and 12 genotypes response the low (0.9 mmol L-1) and high (1.9 mmol L-1) phosphorus concentration in the nutrient solution in two growing seasons. Phosphorus concentration in the nutrient solution from 1.33 to 1.84 mmol L-1 provided higher dry mass of pod at pod filling stage (R8), high dry mass of grains at maturation (R9), and higher number of grains and grain yield, for Pérola and IPR88 Uirapurú cultivars. Phosphorus concentration in the nutrient solution from 1.37 to 1.96 mmol L-1 result in high phosphorus concentration in: leaves at first trifoliate leaf (V4), stem at flowering (R6);,leaves, stem and pods at pod filling (R8), grains at maturation (R9), and high grain yield and phytic acid, in growing seasons (fall-winter and spring-summer). The characters dry mass of the leaves, stem and pods at pod filling stage (R8), dry mass of grains at maturity (R9), number of grains and number of pods are promising for allowing indirect selection. The evaluation of the phosphorus concentration in plant tissues at pod filling stage (R8) is promising and allowing indirect selection for the grain yield in common bean. The L 2225, L 2632, L 2527 and L 2411 lines, stood out due to high production of dry mass of stem in low phosphorus concentration in the culture medium. There is genetic variability among common bean lines studied for dry matter production, grain yield and phosphorus accumulation in tissues. The L 2527 line proved to be efficient and responsive for phosphorus use. / O uso de cultivares de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) eficientes e responsivas a utilização de fósforo é importante para a elevação da produtividade de grãos e para a redução do custo de produção. Diante disso, os objetivos desse trabalho forma: (1) avaliar a resposta de linhagens de feijão submetidas a diferentes disponibilidades de fósforo na produção de massa seca, nos componentes da produtividade de grãos e no acúmulo de fósforo na planta; (2) investigar a associação entre esses caracteres; (3) avaliar a variabilidade genética de linhagens de feijão quanto à disponibilidade de fósforo; (4) identificar linhagens eficientes no uso de fósforo e responsivas a aplicação deste mineral por diferentes índices. Para isso, os experimentos foram desenvolvidos em casa-de-vegetação do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), durante os anos de 2013 a 2015, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado e parcela sub-sub-dividida. Nos dois primeiros experimentos foram testadas concentrações de fósforo na solução nutritiva de 0,5 a 2,3 mmol L-1 como componentes da parcela principal; as cultivares Pérola e IPR88 Uirapurú na sub-parcela e, os cultivos de outono-inverno e primavera-verão na sub-sub-parcela. No terceiro experimento foram avaliadas a eficiência no uso de fósforo e a resposta de 12 genótipos de feijão em baixa (0,9 mmol L-1) e em alta (1,9 mmol L-1) concentração de fósforo na solução nutritiva, em duas épocas de cultivo. Concentrações de fósforo na solução nutritiva entre 1,33 e 1,84 mmol L-1 proporcionam maior massa seca das vagens no enchimento das vagens (R8), dos grãos na maturação (R9), número de grãos e produtividade de grãos, para os genótipos Pérola e IPR88 Uirapurú, nos cultivo de outono- inverno e primavera-verão. Concentrações de fósforo na solução nutritiva entre 1,37 e 1,96 mmol L-1 acarretam maior concentração de fósforo: nas folhas em terceira folha trifoliada (V4), no caule em floração (R6), nas folhas, caule e vagens em enchimento de vagens (R8) e nos grãos na maturação (R9); produtividade de grãos e concentração de ácido fítico dos grãos, nos cultivos de outono-inverno e primavera-verão. Os caracteres de massa seca das folhas, caule e vagens no enchimento de vagens (R8), massa seca dos grãos na maturação (R9), número de grãos e número de vagens são promissores por permitir seleção indireta. Assim como, a avaliação da concentração de fósforo nos tecidos vegetais no estádio enchimento de vagens (R8) é promissora e permite seleção indireta para a produtividade de grãos. As linhagens L 2225, L 2632, L 2527 e L 2411, destacaram-se por apresentar alta produção de massa seca de caule em baixa concentração de fósforo no meio de cultivo. Existe variabilidade genética entre as linhagens de feijão estudadas, para produção de massa seca, produtividade e acúmulo de fósforo nos tecidos. A linhagem L 2527 mostrou-se eficiente e responsiva ao uso de fósforo para a parte aérea.