In the tropics, widespread deforestation and conversion of primary forests to agricultural and pasture lands has resulted in losses of composition, structure, and functions of forest landscapes. Deforestation in the tropics is typically preformed via slash-and-burn practices; the byproducts from combustion have been identified as the second-highest form of anthropogenically derived 'greenhouse-gases' (such as carbon dioxide) to the atmosphere, and have been linked to the warming of the earth. Landscape-scale measures of species composition and biomass structure of primary forests are important for two reasons: (i) they provide accurate, land-based measures to predict what has been lost due to land-uses, and (ii) they aid in the discovery of key factors which explain patterns in compositional and structural diversity that are useful for defining conservation objectives. In this thesis, I enumerate the landscape-level patterns in species composition and biomass and C structure for 20-0.79 ha primary tropical forest stands within the region of "Los Tuxtlas", Veracruz, Mexico. These 20 sites were selected to capture the variability in composition and structure with respect to an array of environmental variables. These variables included a wide elevational range (15-1280 m.a.s.l.), variable slopes (Range: 3-41% slope), 3 soil-types (ash derived, lava flows, and weathered soils), a gradient of mean annual temperatures (~19.5-25.7��C), a broad precipitation range (2500 - 4000 mm year�����), a rainfall frequency range (i.e. max rainfall in 24 hours; ranged 30->100 mm day�����), and 3 Holdridge Life Zones (Tropical Moist Forest, Subtropical Wet Forest, and Subtropical Lower Montane Rain Forest). Species composition was highly correlated with the environmental variables, particularly elevation. In general for plants ���10 cm dbh, site species richness declined at a rate of ~2 species per 100 m rise in elevation. Forest sites located at similar elevations were most similar in their species compositions as compared with sites separated by large elevational differences. Despite the gradual change in species richness and composition, four sub-regions, or forest environments, within Los Tuxtlas were identified that had different species compositions and distinct combinations of elevation, soil-types, and climates. These four sub-regions were described as community-types according to their geographic location: Lowland-Reserve (LR), La Perla Plateau (LP), Volcanic Upslope (VU), and Cloud Forests (CF). The LR, LP, and VU community-types were coarsely described as Tropical Evergreen Forests (TEF's; INEGI 2001). All community-types corresponded with classifications within the Holdridge Life Zone System; the LR community-type was classified as Tropical (transition to Subtropical) Moist Forest; LP and VU community-types were classified as Subtropical Wet Forest, and the Cloud Forest community-type was classified as Subtropical Lower Montane Rain Forest. These community-types and Life Zones are useful tools for conservation, as they represent unique forests that collectively capture much of the variation in the species richness and compositional diversity of the Los Tuxtlas region. Unlike species composition, the variability in forest structure among the 18 TEF sites was not associated with the environmental variables of the Los Tuxtlas landscape. On average, TEF's had a total aboveground biomass (TAGB) of 422 �� 17 Mg ha����� and 205 �� 8 Mg ha����� total aboveground carbon (C). The TAGB and C pools for Cloud Forests was ~18% lower than TEF's, and averaged 346 �� 1 and 168 �� 1 Mg ha�����, respectively. The majority of this biomass difference was due to large trees within the forest structure. Cloud Forests had generally fewer trees ���70 cm dbh, and a more even distribution of trees 30-70 cm dbh than TEF's. The biomass contribution of large trees (���70 cm dbh) accounted for most, if not all, of the variation in TAGB and C for these tropical forests. The relatively high TAGB and C pools implicates Los Tuxtlas forests as a significant pool of aboveground biomass and C within the Neotropics. / Graduation date: 2002

Many ecological systems follow a seasonal cycle affecting primary production, carbon flux, and vegetative gas emissions. The seasonal variation of ecological systems are both affected by and have effects upon climatic factors. A quantitative estimate of the seasonal variation of vegetation is required to characterize ecological systems and their interaction with climate. Monitoring the spaliotemporal variation of foliar biomass density (FBD) over one year will provide a quantitative estimate of the annual cycle and regional variation of photosynthetic activity. FBD is a quantitative measure of leafy material per unit of area produ\:ed by photosynthetically active vegetation. This seasonal variation in FBD is an important parameter for global and other large scale investigations of ecological, hydrological, and biogeochemical systems which require data and expertise from a variety of sources and disciplines. Therefore, FBD is potentially of great utility for ecologists, hydrologists, climatologists, and atmospheric scientists. Recent regional scale investigations of ecological systems concluded that the repetitive coverage and synoptic view of remotely sensed measurements provide data to monitor the seasonal variation of biomass. A method to estimate the seasonal variation of FBD at global scales has not been developed. The objective of this research is to develop a methodology that could be used to estimate the seasonal variation of FBD for the entire terrestrial biosphere. By coupling global satellite data, measured field data, and a vegetation classification, a model was developed to estimate the global spatiotemporal variation of FBD. Comparisons between literature estimates of FBD and estimated FBD from this model were made as a means of validation. A more specific comparison was conducted between grasslands based on work conducted in the Senegalese Sahel region in Africa. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed to characterize the potential propagation of error associated with the literature FBD estimates used to drive this model. / Graduation date: 1992

Many industries use, or produce, metal-containing solutions which must be treated for reuse or discharge to sewer. One such treatment is biological and both living and dead materials have been investigated for the abstraction of metal ions from solution. Studies on systems containing only a single biosorbent are well documented, and mostly involve optimisation of biosorption capacities and metal uptake rates through modification of Biological Support Particle (BSP) size and surface characteristics. Literature on dual biosorbent studies is sparse. The commercial application of biosorption technology in wastewater treatment remains largely unexplored and unexploited. The primary objective here was to assess the potential of forced-upflow packed-bed bioreactors, containing dual biological sorbents, for treating a synthetic wastewater containing copper, zinc and cadmium, at both laboratory- and pilotscale. Pine bark was selected as BSP since it is an abundant, relatively cheap, agricultural waste product in South Africa, and is known to sorb metal ions. Initial experiments aimed to optimise biofilm development on the pine bark surfaces, since microbial biomass is also known to sequester metal ions. Systems comprising either one, or both, these biosorbents were compared for their efficiency in metal removal. The effects of type, size, and state of decomposition, of the pine bark, the addition of supplementary nutrients (Voermolas) and the mixing conditions, on the metal biosorption capacity and reaction kinetics of the systems were also studied. All experiments were conducted at an initial metal concentration of 100mg.ℓ⁻¹with both composted and uncomposted pine bark as BSP. The former supported microbial colonisation and resisted biofilm sloughing, but degraded rapidly causing engineering difficulties. Uncomposted pine bark showed the same ability, but was also physically more robust. Organic compounds leached from the pine bark did not hinder microbial colonisation of the BSP; rather they served as additional nutrients. Literature studies suggest that these compounds would not significantly compromise the COD or increase the toxicity of the final effluent. Biofilms developed without supplementary nutrients, but Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were sorbed more effectively in bioreactors containing Voermolas (39% and 38% Cd²⁺ removal, 36% and 32% Zn²⁺ removal, in 0.2% and 0.1% Voermolas solutions respectively) than in unsupplemented systems (25% Cd²⁺ removal and 20% Zn²⁺ removal). Conversely, Cu²⁺ was removed most efficiently in the absence of supplementary nutrients. Based on biosorption of the target metal ions, 0.1% (v/v) Voermolas was the most effective concentration of supplementary nutrients. Raw, un-colonised pine bark nuggets (16-24mm), and plastic bioballs (commercially available, bespoke BSP), were compared in laboratory-scale bioreactors by measuring the decrease in residual metal ion concentrations over time, and changes in the solution pH. These experiments showed that the two BSPs did not differ significantly in their performance as a support matrix, or as a metal sorbent (30.6% and 32.6% of metal ion remained in solution when using bioballs and pine bark respectively). However, the presence of a biofilm on both these BSPs, improved the overall performance of the bioreactors significantly (for the bioball BSP, residual metal ion levels decreased from 30.6%, in the absence of a biofilm, to 11.0% with a biofilm present. Similarly, for the pine bark BSP, residual metal ion levels decreased from 32.6%, in the absence of a biofilm, to 7.3% with a biofilm present). A cost comparison of the two BSPs showed that raw pine bark nuggets were available at less than 0.1% of the cost of the bioballs. At pilot-scale, modelled kinetic data compared poorly with experimentally determined results, but minimum residual metal concentrations for Cu (1.7mg.ℓ⁻¹) and Zn (4.2 mg.ℓ⁻¹) were below South African (eThekwini Municipality) regulatory limits for discharge to sewer (5mg,ℓ⁻¹ for both), and sea outfall (3mg.ℓ⁻¹ Cu and 20mg.ℓ⁻¹ Zn). However, for Cd the final residual metal concentration (5.6mg.ℓ⁻¹) was above the regulatory discharge threshold for any receiving system. Although some of the effluents from the system investigated could not be legally released into the municipal sewer system without further remediation, the study showed that a system combining living and dead biomass in a single reactor is capable of significantly reducing dissolved metal concentrations in synthetic wastewaters without temperature or pH adjustment. Furthermore, such a system can operate at pilot-scale, where a pine bark matrix represents a significant cost saving over conventional plastic BSPs. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: page 256-281.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, November, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 48-49)

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, November, 2004. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 48-49)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Plant growth promoting substances (PGPS) are emerging as useful tools in the investigation of important plant growth traits. Two PGPS, smoke-water derived from burning plant material and a synthetic strigolactone analogue, GR24, have been reported to regulate a wide variety of developmental and growth processes in plants. These PGPS are beginning to receive considerable attention in the area of improving plant biomass yield and production. Variation in growth between plants is a major impediment towards the complete understanding of the intrinsic processes that control biomass production. Callus cultures of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana could overcome some of these hindrances. However, the suitability of these callus cultures as a model system for plant biomass production must be established first. This study aimed at using A. thaliana callus cultures as a platform to study the plant growth promoting activities of smoke-water and GR24. The first part of this study was conducted to develop an optimal protocol for inducing A. thaliana callus formation. Wild-type A. thaliana Col-O, as well as strigolactone deficient and insensitive mutants (max1-1, max2-1, max2-2, max3-9 and max4-1) were cultured for callus induction. Hypocotyl and leaf explants were cultured onto MS media supplemented with different hormone concentrations of 2,4-D and kinetin (2:2 mg/L 2,4-D:kinetin and 0.5:0.05 mg/L 2,4-D:kinetin). Both media proved suitable for callus induction of all genotypes, with max1-1 showing the highest efficiency (83.33% and 92.22%) of callus induction. Calli were then used as a platform for future investigations into the effects of smoke-water and GR24. Secondly, this study examined the effects of smoke-water and GR24 on wild-type A. thaliana Col-O callus. Basic physiological studies were conducted to determine if these two compounds would positively affect callus growth, as was shown in previous studies using whole plants. Calli cultivated on MS media containing the two different hormone concentrations were transferred onto the same fresh MS medium, supplemented with either smoke-water or GR24. Growth promotion by smoke-water and GR24 in calli was characterized by a significantly increased mass (biomass). Calli were additionally transferred onto MS medium containing either auxin only or kinetin only and supplemented with GR24 or smoke-water. In the auxin only system, increased mass was recorded for both GR24 and smoke-water treatments, while these two compounds seemed to reduce growth in the kinetin only system. The positive growth stimulatory effect observed for the auxin only system could be attributed to the synergistic relationship between auxin and strigolactones, whilst the reduced mass in the latter system could be due to the antagonistic interaction between strigolactones and cytokinins. Finally, this study has discovered a dual role of strigolactones in biomass accumulation and adventitious root formation for Arabidopsis thaliana callus. On an auxin- and cytokinin-free MS medium supplemented with GR24, calli of Arabidopsis thaliana strigolactone deficient mutants (max1-1 and max4-1) and the wild-type Col- O, but not the strigolactone response mutant (max2-2), showed enhanced biomass accumulation. In addition to this, the max4-1 mutant and wild-type Col-O demonstrated enhanced adventitious rooting, which was not apparent in max2-2. Together these data suggested that the biomass accumulation and the adventitious rooting activities of GR24 in Arabidopsis thaliana calli are controlled in a MAX2- dependent manner. The interaction between strigolactone, auxin and cytokinin signalling pathways in regulating these responses appears to be complex. Gene expression profiling showed regulation of stress-related genes such as B-box transcription factors, CALCINEURIN B-LIKE and RAP4.2 Genes encoding hormones associated with stress (ABA, ethylene) and defence mechanisms (JA) were upregulated. Expression of stress related genes indicated clues on some kind of stress mediation that might be involved during the regulation of the rhizogenic response. Conversely, smoke-water treatment could not enhance the biomass of the calli and nor could it induce adventitious rooting in the absence of auxin and cytokinin. This observation strongly emphasized the distinct roles of these two compounds, as well as the importance of the interaction and ratio of auxin and cytokinin in callus growth. This study has demonstrated a novel role of strigolactones in plant growth and development, i.e. enhancement of biomass production in callus cultures. Secondly the enhanced adventitious rooting ability is in agreement with recently published literature on the role of strigolactones in regulating root architecture. In vitro callus production is advantageous to plant sciences. It creates an opportunity for increasing plant material for cultivation and offers the use of cell cultures that accurately mimic specific growth responses. It could greatly contribute to the study of intricate regulatory and signalling pathways responsible for growth and development in plants. Because the regulation of plant biomass production is very complex and the molecular mechanisms underlying the process remain elusive, it is of paramount importance that further work be done in order to gain more in-depth insights and understanding of this aspect and subsequently improve efficiency and returns when applying biotechnology tools on commercially important crop plants. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verbindings wat plantgroei bevorder (PGBV) het as nuttige alternatief ontstaan om plant groei te ondersoek. Rook-water, afkomstig van verbrande plant material, en ‘n sintetiese strigolaktoon analoog, GR24, wat ‘n α, β-onversadigde furanoon funksionele groep in gemeen het, is vir die regulering van ‘n wye verskeidenheid ontwikkelings- en groei prosesse in plante verantwoordelik. Tans ontvang hierdie PGBVs aansienlik aandag in die area van die verbetering van plant biomassa opbrengs en -produksie. Die variasie in groei tussen plante is ‘n groot hindernis om die intrinsieke prosesse wat biomass produksie beheer, volledige te verstaan. Deur gebruik te maak van kallus kulture van die model plant Arabidopsis thaliana kan van hierdie hindernisse oorkom word. Tog moet die geskiktheid van kallus kulture as ‘n model sisteem vir plant groei biomass produksie eers gevestig word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om A. thaliana kallus kulture as ‘n platform vir die studie van die plantgroei bevorderingsaktiwiteite van rook-water en GR24 te gebruik. Die eerste deel van die studie is uitgevoer ten einde ‘n optimale protokol vir die induksie van A. thaliana kallus produksie te ontwikkel. Wilde tipe Col-0, asook strigolaktoon afwesige en onsensitiewe mutante (max1-1, max2-1, max2-2, max3-9 en max4-1) is vir kallus induksie gekultiveer. Hipokotiel en blaar eksplante is op MS medium wat verskillende hormoon konsentrasies van 2,4-D en kinetien (2:2 mg/L 2,4-D:kinetien en 0.5:0.05 mg/L 2,4-D:kinetien) bevat, oorgedra. Beide media was geskik vir kallus induksie van al die genotipes, met max1-1 wat die hoogste effektiwiteit (83.33% en 92.22%) van kallus induksie getoon het. Kalli is daarna as ‘n platform vir toekomstige navorsing i.v.m die effek van rook-water en GR24 gebruik. Tweedens ondersoek die studie die effek van rook-water en GR24 op wilde tipe Col-0 kallus. Basiese fisiologiese studies is uitgevoer om te bepaal of die twee verbindings ‘n positiewe effek op kallus groei toon soos aangedui in vorige studies waar intakte plante gebruik is. Kallus wat op MS medium wat die twee verskillende hormoon konsentrasies bevat gekultiveer was, is op dieselfde vars MS medium, wat addisioneel óf rook-water óf GR24 bevat, oorgedra. Die stimulering van groei van kalli deur rook-water en GR24 is deur ‘n merkwaardige toename in massa (biomassa) gekenmerk. Kallus is additioneel op MS medium wat slegs óf ouksien óf kinetin bevat (gekombineer met GR24 of rook-water behandeling), oorgedra. In die sisteem waar slegs ouksien toegedien is, is ‘n toename in massa waargeneem vir beide GR24 en rook-water behandelinge. In teenstelling hiermee, het die twee verbindings in die sisteem waar slegs kinetin toegedien is, ‘n vermindering in groei meegebring. Die positiewe groei stimulerende effek wat waargeneem is vir die sisteem waar slegs ouksien toegedien is, kan toegedra word aan die sinergistiese verhouding tussen die ouksien en strigolaktone; terwyl die verlaagde massa in die laasgenoemde sisteem aan die antagonistiese interaksie tussen strigolaktone en sitokiniene toegedra kan word. Laastens het hierdie studie het ‘n gelyktydige rol van strigolaktone vir biomassa akkumulasie en bywortelvorming in Arabidopsis thaliana kallus ontdek. Kallus van A. thaliana strigolaktoon afwesige mutante (max1-1 en max4-1) en die wilde tipe Col-0 (maar nie die strigolaktoon reagerende mutant (max2-2) het op ‘n ouksien en sitokinien vrye MS medium wat GR24 bevat ‘n verhoogde biomassa akkumulasie getoon. Die max4-1 mutant en wilde tipe Col-0 het verhoogde bywortelvorming getoon, wat nie so opmerklik by max2-2 was nie. Hierdie data het tesame voorgestel dat die biomassa akkumulasie en die bywortelvormingsaktiwiteite van GR24 in Arabidopsis thaliana kallus op ‘n MAX2-afhanklike wyse beheer word. Die interaksie tussen strigolaktoon, ouksien en sitokinien sein transduksie paaie vir die regulering van hierdie reaksies blyk kompleks te wees. Die geen uitdrukkingsprofiel het die regulering van stres verwante gene soos B-boks transkripsie faktore, CALCINEURIN B-LIKE en RAP4.2, getoon. Gene wat vir hormone wat aan stres (ABA, etileen) en verdedigingsmeganismes (JA) verwant is, is opgereguleer. Die uitdrukking van stress verwante gene dui op tekens van ‘n ander tipe stres bemiddeling wat dalk by die regulering van die risogeniese reaksie betrokke kan wees. In teenstelling, rook water behandeling kon nie die kallus biomassa verhoog nie en dit kon ook nie die bywortelingvorming in die afwesigheid van ouksien en sitokiniene induseer nie. Hierdie waarneming is ‘n sterk bevestiging vir die uitsonderlike rol van die twee verbindings, asook die belang van die interaksie en verhouding van ouksien en sitokinine vir die groei van kallus. Hierdie studie toon op ‘n nuwe rol van strigolaktoon in plant groei en ontwikkeling, d.w.s die verhoogde biomassa produksie in kallus kulture. Tweedens, die verhoogde bywortelvormingsvermoë is in ooreenstemming met literatuur wat onlangs gepubliseer is i.v.m die rol van strigolaktone in die regulering van wortel argitektuur. Die in vitro produksie van kallus is voordelig in plant wetenskappe. Dit skep ‘n geleentheid vir die vermeerdering van plant materiaal vir kultivering en bied die gebruik van selkulture wat spesifieke groei reaksies op ‘n merkwaardige wyse akkuraat namaak. Dit kan grootliks bydra tot die studie van die delikate regulatoriese en sein transduksie paaie wat vir groei en ontwikkeling van plante verantwoordelik is. Aangesien die regulering van plant biomassa produksie baie kompleks is en die molekulêre meganismes vir die proses onbekend bly is dit van grootskaalse belang dat meer werk gedoen word om ‘n meer in diepte insig en kennis van die aspekte en gevolglike verbetering van effektiwiteit en wins te kry deur die toepassing van biotegnologiese metodes op die gewas plante wat van kommersiêle belang is.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T16:53:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-10-31Bitstream added on 2015-05-14T16:58:57Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000822976.pdf: 1688695 bytes, checksum: f815699f22a22464c1f74c59c035a30d (MD5) / A estimativa de Biomassa Acima do Solo (BAS), com alta precisão, utilizando dados de sensoriamento remoto é um desafio presente. O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma função para estimar BAS em escala local e regional, através de imagens de alta resolução espacial, para Quercus rotundifolia e Eucalyptus, em uma área do Alentejo região do sul de Portugal e em Selvíria - MS, localizada na região Centro Oeste do Brasil, respectivamente. Para este fim, foram gerados alguns modelos empíricos, combinando os valores de biomassa estimada a partir de parcelas de inventário com alguns índices de vegetação baseados em imagem QuickBird e Pléiades. Analisando a área de estudo 1, o modelo que melhor se ajustou na estimativa da biomassa foi associado ao Índice de Vegetação por Diferença Normalizada (NDVI), apresentando um coeficiente de determinação (R 2 ) 75,6%. Na área de estudo 2, os modelos que melhor se ajustaram nas estimativas de biomassa fizeram uso do Índice de Vegetação Ajustado ao Solo (SAVI), apresentando um coeficientes de determinação (R 2 ) de 64,8%. Essas funções poderão ser utilizadas em outras regiões para as mesmas espécies, com clima semelhante e com as mesmas características locais. Esta abordagem pode ser usada como uma ferramenta de baixo custo para produzir estimativas de biomassa acima do solo preliminares em escala local e regional / Estimating Above Ground Biomass (BAS), with high accuracy, using remote sensing data is a current challenge. The objective of this study was to develop a function to estimate BAS in local and regional level, through images of high spatial resolution, for Quercus rotundifolia and Eucalyptus, an area in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal and Selvíria - MS, located in the region central Brazil, respectively. To this end, some empirical models were generated by combining the values of biomass estimated from inventory plots with some vegetation indices based on QuickBird image and Pleiades. Analyzing the study area 1, the model that best fit the estimation of biomass was associated with the Index Normalized Difference Vegetation index (NDVI), with a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) 75.6%. In study area 2, the models that best fit the biomass estimates made using the Soil Adjusted Vegetation (SAVI) Index, with a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of 64.8%. These functions can be used in other regions for the same species with similar climate and with the same local features. This approach can be used as an inexpensive tool to produce estimates of biomass above ground primary local and regional scale

Made available in DSpace on 2015-06-17T19:33:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-01-26. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-06-18T12:47:55Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000826132.pdf: 3046322 bytes, checksum: e3a1072166184b7a34cb1abd1e97625f (MD5) / O aumento do uso do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar para geração de energia elétrica no Estado de São Paulo tem resultado em grandes quantidades de cinzas que necessitam de manuseio e disposição adequada. O destino corrente deste resíduo em grande escala tem sido a utilização no solo de áreas plantadas com cana-de-açúcar, porém esse método não é autorizado pelas agências ambientais do país ou pelo Ministério da Agricultura e são escassas as avaliações sobre vantagens ou desvantagens de sua aplicação. Esta pesquisa foi proposta visando avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de cinza de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar (CBCA) em diferentes doses nos atributos químicos do solo. Para isso foram propostos três estudos: a) ensaio de incubação visando avaliar a biodegradação da fração orgânica da CBCA; b) ensaios em colunas de solo em casa de vegetação com estrutura preservada com o objetivo de detectar possíveis alterações em água percolada, e sua possível implicação ecológica, em solos representativos da região de Jaboticabal- SP (Latossolo) e c) ensaio de campo em duas áreas sob Argissolo com cultivo de citros com diferentes manejos da CBCA (incorporado e sem incorporação na superfície). A CBCA foi caracterizada por meio de diferentes métodos físicos químicos. Foram avaliadas nos estudos o efeito de diferentes doses de CBCA (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 e 80 Mg ha-1) quanto ao comportamento dos metais: tóxicos (Cr ) e fitotóxicos (Zn, Cu, Mn e Ni); do semimetal (Si) e dos ânions (SO42- e PO42-). Os resultados evidenciaram que a CBCA é rica em SiO2 (82,2%) com predomínio de quartzo cristalino e em menor concentração silicato de potássio. A fração de mineralização de C em C-CO2 foi menor do que 1,6 % em 182 dias de incubação. A taxa de mineralização do carbono adicionado pela cinza de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar foi alterada em função da textura do solo sendo que a inibição da respiração da microflora ... / The increased use of sugarcane bagasse for electric energy production in the State of São Paulo has resulted in large amounts of ashes that requires its proper handling and disposal. The current target of this large-scale residue has been its use in sugarcane soil areas, though this method is not authorized by the country's environmental agencies or by the Ministry of Agriculture and the assessments about advantages or disadvantages of its application are scarce. This research was proposed to evaluate the effects of sugar bagasse ashes (SBA) application in different doses on chemical soil attributes. Three studies were proposed for this: a)The incubation test to evaluate the biodegradation of the organic fraction of the SBA; b)Tests in soil columns with preserved structure using completely randomized design with 3 replications in order to detect possible changes in water percolated, and its possible implication in vegetation ecological conditions on soils, representing the region of Jaboticabal-SP (Oxisol); and c)Field trial in two areas under Ultisol with citrus cultivation with different SBA managements (incorporated and surface application) through the randomized block designs with 5 repetitions. The SBA was characterized through different physical chemical methods, to identify their organic and inorganic fraction. Were evaluated in the studies the effect of different doses of SBA (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 Mg ha-1) as regards the behavior of metals: toxic (Cr) and phytotoxic (Zn, Cu, Mn and Ni); the semimetal (Si) and anions (SO42- and PO42-). The results showed that the SBA is rich in SiO2 (82.2%) with predominance of crystalline quartz and potassium silicate in lower concentration. The mineralization fraction of C in C-CO2 was less than 1.6% in 182 days of incubation and this indicated that the SBA contributes to increase the stocks of soil organic matter. The carbon mineralization rate added by sugarcane bagasse ashes has ...

Orientador: Javier Telis Romero / Coorientador: Henry Alexander Váquiro / Banca: Ana Cristina de Souza / Banca: Marinonio Lopes Cornelio / Banca: Maria Aparecida Mauro / Banca: Renato Alexandre Ferreira Cabral / Resumo: A hidrólise do material lignocelulósico por processos não térmicos como o ultrassom de potência, oferece uma alternativa não poluente e uma oportunidade de aumentar a produção de açúcares redutores e totais na etapa de pré-tratamento, para posterior aplicação de agentes biológicos ou químicos. No entanto, as principais desvantagens desse processo são os poucos estudos documentados na literatura sobre sua aplicação na indústria de etanol e a dificuldade de estudar seu mecanismo de ação no material. Assim, o objetivo principal deste trabalho foi estudar a aplicação do ultrassom de potência no pré-tratamento do material lignocelulósico de resíduos da bananeira (pedúnculo). Primeiramente, a composição química do pedúnculo seco foi determinada através dos métodos oficiais. Análises experimentais foram realizadas para determinar o calor específico (c p, kJ/kg oC) e a densidade (ρ, kg/m3) de soluções aquosas acidificadas de pedúnculo em pó, através de calorimetria diferencial analítica (DSC) e picnometria, respectivamente. Modelos de primeira ordem em função do pH, temperatura e concentração de biomassa foram obtidos para o calor específico e a densidade, através do método "stepwise regression". Uma vez obtidos os modelos para c p e ρ, foi possível calcular os campos acústicos nas soluções aquosas de pedúnculo em pó empregando o método calorimétrico, encontrando-se uma relação inversamente proporcional entre a potência acústica e intensidade acústica transmitida ao sistema com a concentração de biomassa. Além disso, foi realizado um planejamento experimental para determinar o efeito dos fatores: concentração de biomassa (x, g/mL), potência nominal de ultrassom (U, W), pH e tempo (t, min) sobre as respostas: produção de açúcares totais (S T, mg/g) e açúcares redutores (S R, mg/g). Para isto, foi usado um processador ultrassônico que o opera a uma frequência de 24 kHz e... / Abstract: The hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material by non-thermal process as the high-intensity ultrasound provides a non-polluting method and the opportunity to increase the production of total and reducing sugars in the pretreatment process, for further use by biological or chemical agents. However, the major disadvantages of these methodologies are the little documentation about the application in the ethanol industry and the difficulty to study the action mechanism in the material. Thus, the aim of this work was to study of power ultrasound effects on the pretreatment of lignocellulosic material of banana waste (flower stalk). First, a chemical composition of dried flower stalk was determined by official methods. Experimental analyses were realized to determine the specific heat capacity (c p, kJ/kg oC) and the density (ρ, kg/m3) of the acidified aqueous solutions of flower-stalk powder, by differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and pycnometry methods, respectively. First order models as a function of pH, temperature and biomass concentration were obtained for the properties specific heat capacity and density, using the stepwise regression method. Once obtained the models for the c p and ρ, a determination of the acoustic fields in the aqueous solutions of flower-stalk powder by the calorimetric method was carried out, being found an indirect relationship between the power transferred and acoustic intensities in the system with the biomass concentration. Moreover, an experimental design was carried out to determine the effects of the factors: biomass concentration (x, g/mL) nominal power ultrasound (U, W), pH and time (t, min) under the responses: total sugars yield (S T, mg/g) and reducing sugars yield (S R, mg/g). For this, an ultrasonic processor with frequency of 24 kHz and nominal power of 1500 W was employed. Experimental results showed that the factors biomass concentration and nominal ... / Doutor