No description available.

A palha de cana-de-açúcar tem sido uma importante matéria prima para aumentar a produção de bioenergia no Brasil. Porém a dinâmica das emissões de gases de efeito estufa no campo devido à prática de remoção de palha ainda não é totalmente compreendida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar as emissões de GEE do solo devido à remoção da palha de cana-de-açúcar com e sem adição de nitrogênio. Foram realizados dois experimentos com câmaras amostrais de gás mantidas em condições naturais com quatro tratamentos: sem palha, 3, 6 e 12 Mg ha-1, os quais equivalem as intensidades de 100, 75, 50 e 0% de remoção. O primeiro foi conduzido por 180 dias sem adição de N e o segundo experimento conduzido por 100 dias, foi adicionado 80 kg ha-1 de N no sulfato de amônio e 32 kg ha-1 de N na vinhaça. Conjuntamente ao experimento 1, foi conduzido um ensaio de decomposição com as mesmas quantidades de palha limitadas por caixas plásticas sem fundo (0,3 x 0,5 m). No Experimento 1 a presença de palha aumentou 35 - 45% os fluxos acumulados N2O e CO2 em relação ao solo descoberto. O influxo de CH4 aumentou 40% na presença total de palha (12 Mg ha-1) em relação ao sem palha. O fator de emissão de N2O encontrado para a palha em decomposição foi de 0,02%. No Experimento 2 ocorreu uma intensificação das emissões devido à adubação nitrogenada, com isso as emissões em razão das quantidades de palhas não foram significantes. O fator de emissão médio foi de 0,42%. Os resultados indicam que a palha, sem N, possui um efeito na emissão de GEE e, que para manter o estoque de C do solo, é necessário a manutenção de pelo menos 6 Mg ha-1 para compensar as perdas de CO2 por respiração. Este trabalho contribuirá para os cálculos de pegada de carbono do bioetanol e na decisão da usina sobre a intensidade de remoção de palha de cana-de-açúcar para a produção de energia e etanol 2G / Sugarcane straw has been point out as an important feedstock to increase bioenergy production in Brazil However, the field greenhouse gas (GHG) emission dynamic due straw removing management is not completely understood yet. Two experiments were conducted with gas sampling chambers that was kept under natural conditions with four treatments: bare soil, 3, 6 and 12 Mg ha-1, which is approximately the equivalent of the 100, 75, 50 and 0 % intensities of removing. The first was conducted for 180 days without the N addition and the second experiment was conducted for 100 day and its was added 80 kg ha-1 N in ammonium sulfate and 32 kg ha-1 N in the vinasse. Parallely to the experiment 1, a decomposing trial was conducted with the same straw amounts in a side limited bottomless plastic boxes (0.3 x 0.5 m). In Experiment 1, the presence of straw increased 35-45% the N2O and CO2 accumulated flux compared to the bare soil. While the influx of CH4 increased by 40% in the maximum straw amount (12 Mg ha-1) compared to zero. The N2O emission factor found for the straw decomposition was 0.02%. In Experiment 2 occurred an intensification of emissions due to nitrogen fertilization which raised the average emission factor for 0.42%. Thus emission due straw quantities were not significant. The results indicate that the straw without N has an effect of GHG emissions, and in order to maintain the C stock in soil is need keep at least 6 Mg ha-1 of straw to compensate for the loss of CO2 thru respiration. This work will contribute to the bioethanol carbon footprint calculation and in the grower decision taking of straw removing intensity for energy and 2G ethanol

Chewings fescue [Festuca rubra L. subsp. fallax (Thuill.) Nyman] is a desired turfgrass with dense sod forming capabilities and superior shade tolerance. Thermal residue management (open-field burning) has traditionally been used to remove post-harvest residue and maintain seed yield over the life of the stand. However, alternative non-thermal residue management practices have been observed to produce adequate seed yields dependent upon cultivar. Strong creeping red fescue (F. rubra L. subsp. rubra) is desired for its prolific tillering capacity and creeping rhizomatous growth habit. In contrast to Chewings fescue, maintenance of seed yield in strong creeping red fescue has only been profitably produced under thermal residue management. Slender creeping red fescue [F. rubra L. var. littoralis (Vasey)] is a desired turfgrass with a compact, less rhizomatous growth habit, similar to Chewings fescue in desirable turf attributes. However, little is known about the effects of post-harvest residue management in slender creeping red fescue. The objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate seed yield and yield components among different cultivars to thermal (open-burning), and non-thermal (flail low and flail high) post-harvest residue management; 2) to evaluate harvest index and percent cleanout to thermal and non-thermal residue management in different cultivars; and 3) and to provide an economic analysis of thermal and non-thermal residue management in all cultivars based on partial budgeting. Three post-harvest residue management treatments (burn, flail low and flail high) were applied over the course of two years. Seed yield components measured included: total dry weight, fertile tiller number, spikelets per panicle, florets per spikelet, and panicle length. Final seed yield in each cultivar and residue management treatment method was determined after seed harvest and conditioning. Seed yield component analysis was conducted over three production seasons. Chewings fescue, strong creeping red fescue, and slender creeping red fescue cultivars responded differently to residue management as indicated by a residue management by cultivar interaction. In 2003 and 2004, residue management by cultivar interactions were evident in seed number, seed weight, fertile tiller number, percent cleanout, harvest index, and seed yield. Residue management by cultivar interactions occurred in spikelets per panicle in 2003, whereas in 2004 a residue management by cultivar interaction occurred in panicle length and florets per spikelet. In 2004, non-thermal flail low, and thermal residue management resulted in significantly greater spikelets per panicle in all cultivars. Thermal residue management resulted in the greatest number of spikelets per panicle. Results indicate that thermal residue management best maintained seed yield in most subspecies and cultivars across both years. However, in 2003, non-thermal flail low residue management produced profitable seed yield in only Marker slender creeping red fescue. In contrast, thermal residue management resulted in poor seed yields in Marker slender creeping red fescue and enhanced yields in Seabreeze slender creeping red fescue in 2003. However, following the second year of thermal treatment in 2004, Marker and Seabreeze both had lower seed yields, thus exhibiting the only negative impact of thermal management among the cultivars tested in this study. Moreover, upon review of an economic analysis, Marker slender red fescue was the only cultivar that produced a positive net return of $78 and $4 ha⁻¹ under non-thermal residue management in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Furthermore, in 2003, thermal residue management net return increases ranged from $104 ha⁻¹ to -$996 ha⁻¹ in Barnica and Shademark, respectively. In 2004, thermal residue management net return increases ranged from $115 ha⁻¹ and $1,332 ha⁻¹ in Seabreeze and Shademark, respectively. Poor seed yields were observed in all strong creeping red fescue cultivars under non-thermal residue management across both years of the study. This may be attributed to an observed reduction in fertile tiller number and seed yield. In addition, percent seed cleanout was increased with non-thermal residue management. In 2004, as stand age increased, thermal residue management resulted in greater seed yields in all cultivars and species, except both cultivars of slender creeping red fescue. Thus, this study provided substantial evidence that thermal residue management has the potential to maintain or increase fine fescue seed yield as stands age as well as to maintain stand profitability. / Graduation date: 2005

A two year study was initiated in 1999 at the Macdonald Campus Farm, on a 2.4 ha site consisting mainly of St-Amable sand to shallow loamy sand (Typic Endoaquent; Humic Gleysol). The site was planted to alfalfa ( Medicago sativa) prior to the establishment of the experimental design and has been planted to corn (Zea mays L.) since 1991. The experiment was set up as a randomized complete block design and consisted of three tillage levels (NT, no-till; RT, reduced tillage; and CT, conventional tillage) and two residue levels (-R, no residues; +R, with residues). This study was performed in order to ascertain the effect of these management systems on soil organic carbon (SOC), particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) levels and soil physical properties. Soil physical properties measured included bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), dry and wet aggregate stability, total porosity, macroporosity at -1 kPa and -6 kPa of matric potential, and moisture content. Crop yield was also measured. Results indicated that lower rates of mineralization of POM-C under NT+R in the surface 0--10 cm led to significantly higher SOC at the same depth. There were no significant differences between treatments at the 10--20 cm depth. The MBC was not a good indicator of the differences in soil organic matter levels between treatments. No-till treatments had higher bulk densities, reduced total porosity and macroporosity, increased moisture content, and increased constant-head measured Ksat. Differences in Ksat as measured with the Guelph permeameter, were not significant between treatments, most likely due to increased earthworm activity in NT. There were no significant differences in crop yield in 1999, but a significantly wetter year in 2000 caused lower grain yields in NT+R compared to NT-R and CT+R.

Concerns have been raised over the long-term site productivity (LTSP) of short rotation plantation forests, such as those of Eucalyptus, in South Africa. This is because diminished productivity of long rotation plantations overseas has been found to be generally due to decreases in soil porosity and organic matter. Since soil porosity and organic matter in plantations are mainly affected by soil compaction by harvesting machinery and residue management, the more frequent harvesting of short rotation plantations are of particular concern. Therefore the effects of soil compaction and residue management on soil properties at two sites, one a low organic carbon, sandy soil (Rattray), the other a high organic carbon, clay soil (Shafton) were investigated. The potential of early E. grandis productivity as an indicator of changes in soil properties at these sites was also evaluated. Three different levels of compaction (low, moderate and high) were applied to the sites by three methods of timber extraction, i.e. manual, logger and forwarder loaded by a logger, respectively. Three types of residue management, i.e. broadcast, windrow and residue removal were also applied. A factorial treatment design was used to ensure a resource-efficient study that allowed separation of main and interaction effects. Various soil physical and chemical properties were measured at intervals from before treatment implementation, until approximately 44, and 38 months after treatment implementation at Rattray and Shafton, respectively. Trees were planted at a commercial espacement at both trials, and their growth monitored over the same time period. In addition, to accelerate early growth, negate silvicultural variation, and determine changes in stand productivity with treatments, a portion of the treatment plots were planted at a very high density and harvested when these trees reached canopy closure at about six months of age. Moderate and high compaction treatments at both sites resulted in significant increases in penetrometer soil strength, and often in bulk density. Increasing residue retention decreased the compaction effects of machinery and, generally, increased the total quantity of nutrients contained in residues and soil. Changes in soil bulk density and organic matter as a result of the treatments in turn affected soil water characteristics, generally decreasing plant available water capacity with increasing compaction intensity and residue removal. Tree growth measurements showed that at both sites, tree productivity was negatively affected at some point by increasing compaction. In contrast, residue management only significantly affected tree growth at Shafton, initially increasing and later decreasing growth with residue removal. These variations in tree growth over time in response to treatments are most likely a result of changes in tree characteristics that occurred with age. In addition, trees did not always reflect changes in soil properties that may affect LTSP, most likely because these soil properties had not yet reached levels that would affect tree growth. It was therefore concluded that early tree growth is not always a good indicator of changes in LTSP, and that soil properties are a more reliable indicator. Plantation management practices that lead to soil compaction and residue removals will negatively impact LTSP in South Africa. However, variable responses of the two soils indicate that soils vary in their sensitivity to compaction and residue management. This therefore needs to be quantified across a range of major soil types in the South African forestry industry. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

In the last decades, the discussion about generation of residues related to the environmental questions has been object of study of many researches. The health service residues (HSR) represent a bit portion of urban residues, but due to their especial characteristics, they are seen as problems that involve, besides the environmental plan, other areas of society as public health, basic sanitation, quality of population life and, for that reason, they deserve especial cares from their generation to final disposal. The present work aims to propose a Model of Management of Health Service to Quarta Colônia`s hospital, in Rio Grande do Sul, starting from the diagnosis of situation accomplished in the seven hospitals in Quarta Colônia that were working in the month of march, 2007. The methodology applied was the kind exploratory descriptive quantitative and qualitative, with multicase technique. The data collect was through non-structured interview, application of questionnaire and application blank that were answered by professionals responsible for the planning of Management System of HSR in the hospitals that were diagnosticated. Aiming to confirmation and validation of the supplied information through non-structured interviews, questionnaires and application, photographic records, observations in the files were accomplished. The collected and analyzed data showed possibilities of improvement before non-conformities and necessities in the handling system of HSR used by the hospitals in Quarta Colônia. The proposed model consists on a set of actions to the management of health service residues aiming to quality and efficiency of services developed by hospitals in Quarta Colônia, as well as in other similar hospitals, Besides it promotes the social environmental sustainability, because the actions proposed in the model reflect in benefit to the institution, to the environment and to the society. / Nas últimas décadas, a discussão sobre a geração dos resíduos relacionados às questões ambientais tem sido objeto de estudo de muitas pesquisas. Os Resíduos de Serviços de Saúde (RSS) representam uma pequena porção dos resíduos urbanos, mas devido às suas características especiais são vistos como problemas que envolvem, além do plano ambiental, outras áreas da sociedade, como a saúde pública, o saneamento básico e a qualidade de vida da população e, por isto, merecem cuidados especiais, desde a sua geração até a disposição final. Este estudo teve como objetivo propor um Modelo de Gestão de Resíduos de Serviços de Saúde para os hospitais da Quarta Colônia/RS, a partir do diagnóstico situacional realizado nos sete hospitais em operação no mês de março de 2007. A metodologia utilizada foi do tipo exploratória descritiva quantitativa e qualitativa, com técnica de multicaso. A coleta dos dados se deu mediante realização de entrevista não-estruturada, aplicação de questionário e formulário, os quais foram respondidos pelos profissionais responsáveis pelo planejamento do Sistema de Gestão de RSS dos hospitais diagnosticados, compondo a amostra deste estudo. Visando a confirmação e validação das informações fornecidas através da entrevista nãoestruturada, do questionário e do formulário, foram realizados registros fotográficos, observações no ambiente hospitalar, consultas a documentos e arquivos informatizados. Os dados coletados e analisados demonstraram possibilidades de melhorias frente às não conformidades e necessidades evidenciadas no sistema de manejo dos RSS adotado pelos hospitais da Quarta Colônia. O Modelo proposto constitui-se num conjunto de ações para o gerenciamento de resíduos de serviços de saúde visando à qualidade e eficiência dos serviços desenvolvidos pelos hospitais da Quarta Colônia bem como em outros hospitais de características semelhantes. Além disso, esse modelo promove a sustentabilidade ambiental-social, pois as ações estabelecidas no modelo repercutem em benefícios para a instituição, para o meio ambiente e para a sociedade.

The rice husk production in Rio Grande do Sul, state responsible for more than half of this cereal s country production, leads to the need of an appropriate environmental management in view the impacts produced by this residue in the environment, whether they be local or global, like greenhouse effect impacts. Therefore, a rational utilization of this energetic resource in small thermal power plants may guarantee the environmental adequation of the company, filling the requirements needed to sustainable production, at the same time in which may provide financial attractiveness to necessary investments to this objective. The development of the technology known as MCT allowed existent small thermoelectrical potentials, originated from the decentralized husk production, to be attended in a satisfactory way, but needing an environmental and economical analysis. For that reason, this study had as objective the gathering of rice production and beneficiation data on the State which can provide the evaluation of the rice husk availableness and furthermore to grant a thermal electrical potential analysis current on Rio Grande do Sul. Intending to award the units which do not have this economic and environmental analysis, it has been continued the financial analysis of the MCT s investments, to power plants bellow 800 kW, including the economic impacts of the carbon credits (CC) trade. Through indicators as IRR, payback, NPV and generation cost, associated to the impacts of the environmental quality caused by the CC trade, it has been possible to prove that, for scales smaller than 400 kW, there is no economic feasibility, unless they receive tributary incentives, whether for a short period, as a diminish of the finance interest rate and/or the raise of the exceeding tradable energy selling price, as shown on the sensitivity analysis made. It has been also evaluated the operation and obtained results of the MCT installed on the city of São Pedro do Sul, which demonstrate the difficulties found in the small scale thermoelectrical biomass generation. These difficulties can be modified if they would be set as priority, by programs of incentive, the use of biomass on decentralized electric energy generation. / A produção de casca de arroz no Rio Grande do Sul, estado responsável por mais da metade da produção desse cereal no país, conduz a necessidade de uma adequada gestão ambiental, tendo em vista os impactos gerados por esse resíduo no meio ambiente, sejam eles locais ou globais, como os do efeito estufa. Assim, a utilização racional desse recurso energético em pequenas centrais termoelétricas pode garantir a adequação ambiental da empresa, preenchendo os requisitos necessários à produção sustentável, ao mesmo tempo em que pode proporcionar certa atratividade financeira aos investimentos necessários a esse fim. O desenvolvimento da tecnologia denominada MCT permitiu que os pequenos potenciais termoelétricos existentes, decorrentes da produção descentralizada de casca, fossem atendidos de forma satisfatória, porém carecendo de uma análise econômico-ambiental. Dessa forma, este estudo objetivou o levantamento de dados de produção e beneficiamento de arroz no Estado de forma a permitir a avaliação da disponibilidade de casca, de maneira a subsidiar uma conseqüente análise do potencial termoelétrico existente no Rio Grande do Sul. Com vistas a contemplar as unidades desprovidas dessa avaliação econômico-ambiental, deu-se seguimento a análise financeira de investimentos em MCT s, para potências menores que 800 kW, incluindo-se os impactos econômicos da comercialização dos créditos de carbono (CC). Através de indicadores como TIR, payback, VPL e custo de geração, em associação aos impactos de qualidade ambiental efetivados pela comercialização dos CC, foi possível comprovar que para as escalas inferiores a 400 kW não há viabilidade econômica, a menos que essas usufruam de incentivos fiscais, ainda que temporários, como diminuição da taxa de juros do financiamento e/ou aumento do valor pago pela energia elétrica excedente comercializável, como demonstrado na análise de sensibilidade realizada. Também foi avaliado o funcionamento e os resultados obtidos pela MCT instalada no município de São Pedro do Sul, comprovando as dificuldades encontradas na geração termoelétrica à biomassa em pequena escala, passíveis de alteração se priorizados por programas de incentivo ao uso de biomassa na geração descentralizada de energia elétrica.

A palha de cana-de-açúcar tem sido uma importante matéria prima para aumentar a produção de bioenergia no Brasil. Porém a dinâmica das emissões de gases de efeito estufa no campo devido à prática de remoção de palha ainda não é totalmente compreendida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar as emissões de GEE do solo devido à remoção da palha de cana-de-açúcar com e sem adição de nitrogênio. Foram realizados dois experimentos com câmaras amostrais de gás mantidas em condições naturais com quatro tratamentos: sem palha, 3, 6 e 12 Mg ha-1, os quais equivalem as intensidades de 100, 75, 50 e 0% de remoção. O primeiro foi conduzido por 180 dias sem adição de N e o segundo experimento conduzido por 100 dias, foi adicionado 80 kg ha-1 de N no sulfato de amônio e 32 kg ha-1 de N na vinhaça. Conjuntamente ao experimento 1, foi conduzido um ensaio de decomposição com as mesmas quantidades de palha limitadas por caixas plásticas sem fundo (0,3 x 0,5 m). No Experimento 1 a presença de palha aumentou 35 - 45% os fluxos acumulados N2O e CO2 em relação ao solo descoberto. O influxo de CH4 aumentou 40% na presença total de palha (12 Mg ha-1) em relação ao sem palha. O fator de emissão de N2O encontrado para a palha em decomposição foi de 0,02%. No Experimento 2 ocorreu uma intensificação das emissões devido à adubação nitrogenada, com isso as emissões em razão das quantidades de palhas não foram significantes. O fator de emissão médio foi de 0,42%. Os resultados indicam que a palha, sem N, possui um efeito na emissão de GEE e, que para manter o estoque de C do solo, é necessário a manutenção de pelo menos 6 Mg ha-1 para compensar as perdas de CO2 por respiração. Este trabalho contribuirá para os cálculos de pegada de carbono do bioetanol e na decisão da usina sobre a intensidade de remoção de palha de cana-de-açúcar para a produção de energia e etanol 2G / Sugarcane straw has been point out as an important feedstock to increase bioenergy production in Brazil However, the field greenhouse gas (GHG) emission dynamic due straw removing management is not completely understood yet. Two experiments were conducted with gas sampling chambers that was kept under natural conditions with four treatments: bare soil, 3, 6 and 12 Mg ha-1, which is approximately the equivalent of the 100, 75, 50 and 0 % intensities of removing. The first was conducted for 180 days without the N addition and the second experiment was conducted for 100 day and its was added 80 kg ha-1 N in ammonium sulfate and 32 kg ha-1 N in the vinasse. Parallely to the experiment 1, a decomposing trial was conducted with the same straw amounts in a side limited bottomless plastic boxes (0.3 x 0.5 m). In Experiment 1, the presence of straw increased 35-45% the N2O and CO2 accumulated flux compared to the bare soil. While the influx of CH4 increased by 40% in the maximum straw amount (12 Mg ha-1) compared to zero. The N2O emission factor found for the straw decomposition was 0.02%. In Experiment 2 occurred an intensification of emissions due to nitrogen fertilization which raised the average emission factor for 0.42%. Thus emission due straw quantities were not significant. The results indicate that the straw without N has an effect of GHG emissions, and in order to maintain the C stock in soil is need keep at least 6 Mg ha-1 of straw to compensate for the loss of CO2 thru respiration. This work will contribute to the bioethanol carbon footprint calculation and in the grower decision taking of straw removing intensity for energy and 2G ethanol

No description available.

Open-field burning has been an effective, economical, and widespread method of post-harvest residue management in creeping red fescue seed production in the Willamette Valley since the late 1940s. However, the use of field burning has been legislatively restricted due to air quality and safety issues. The foliar-applied plant growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl (TE), commercialized in the USA as Palisade, has been accepted by producers as a yield enhancing agent and is considered here as an alternative to open-field burning over a four-year period. The effects of open-field burning versus mechanical removal (flailing) of post-harvest residue, and spring versus fall applications of TE on seed yield, dry matter partitioning, and seed yield components were evaluated in a split-plot design. The response to the different treatment combinations differed across years. The young stand responded with a seed yield increase to spring TE applications, regardless of residue management treatment. However, as the stand aged, field burning became critical for maintaining high yields and, in 2003 and 2004, only spring TE applications resulted in seed yield increases in burned plots. The higher potential seed yield achieved in burned plots over flailed plots, as a result of a higher number of panicles per unit area and spikelets per panicle, was critical for maintaining high seed yields as the stand aged. Spring applications of TE, further increased seed yield over the untreated check by increasing the number of florets per spikelet, reducing fertile tiller height and lodging and consequently, favoring pollination and fertilization of the florets. Late spring TE applications also increased 1000-seed weight in 2003 and 2004. Although spring applications of TE were a promising alternative to open-field burning early during the life of the stand, as the stand aged they did not increase seed yield on flailed plots. Fall TE applications did not have a consistent effect on seed yield, dry matter partitioning or seed yield components, and were found not to be a viable management practice. / Graduation date: 2005