The current literature shows that global climate is changing with temperatures generally increasing, precipitation patterns becoming less predictable and extreme weather events becoming more frequent. However, the literature is often unclear not only about how changes in temperature will affect soil processes but even about how soil temperatures themselves are changing. This thesis has found that soil temperatures over recent decades have increased at rates comparable to air temperatures (average mean of 0.71 in soil and 0.93 °C in air over the total length of the data sets used). There were differences in seasonal trends between soil and air, for example, winter air temperatures increased twice as quickly as spring air temperatures whereas in soil winter and spring temperatures were increasing at similar rates. This highlights potential problems for predicting how soil functions such as biogeochemical cycling will respond to realistic temperature change. In order to assess the effects of changing soil temperatures on particular reactions involved in soil Nitrogen cycling incubation experiments, both short and longer term in the laboratory as well as soil warming in the field were carried out. Realistic warming was found to increase the rates of protease and urease activity during all tests; however, amidase activity was only measurable after the addition of labile carbon and even then showed no temperature sensitivity. This thesis also considered the effect of temperature change on the size and structure of the soil microbial community at these realistic soil temperatures. Both in the lab and the field changes in rates of soil processes (enzyme activity) as a result of temperature change are not accompanied by a change in either size or structure of the microbial community as measured by phospholipid fatty acid analysis, suggesting high levels of functional redundancy within the soil microbial community. The effects of organic matter input in the field were found to have only small effects on the rates of enzyme activity although this was more important during laboratory incubations. Organic matter quality was also important during lab incubations where lower quality organic matter provoked greater enzyme activity in accordance with q-theory; however, there was no evidence for greater temperature sensitivity of low quality organic matter. The size and structure of the microbial community, both in the field and in the lab, were not affected by either the rate of organic matter input (in the field) or they quality of organic matter (in the lab). The size of the microbial community, however, decreased over time in both situations, the ratio of bacteria to fungi in the soil seemed to increase over time also.

Mining has negative impacts on the environment, and is one of the main contributors to environmental pollution. This holds a potential hazard for ecosystems surrounding mining areas and also for public health in the surrounding communities. There is therefore a need for ecotoxicological research in order to assess these possible risks and find ways to minimize the harmful effects. One way in which to assess soil vitality are soil enzymes which are produced by plants and microorganisms and will therefore be more abundant in healthy soils. Earthworms have been proven to be useful bioindicators for metal contamination of soil, as they are able to accumulate metals from their environment into their body tissue. The aim of this study was to use earthworm bioassays, neutral red retention time analysis (NRRt), enzymatic analysis and RAPD-PCR to determine the effect of mining activity on the environment. This was done by assessing the ecotoxicity of tailings collected from three different mines, viz. gold-, opencast chrome- and coal mines. The metals chosen for analyses included four (Cr, Co, Ni and Pb) of the seven (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, Co) environmentally important trace elements as described for South African soils. Arsenic was also chosen since it is associated with gold mine tailings. Tailings and soil were collected from three sites at each of the mines which included unrehabilitated (TDF-U) and rehabilitated (TDF-R) substrates from tailings disposal facilities (TDFs) and reference soils (RS) in close proximity to TDFs. The physical and chemical properties of these different substrates were determined in terms of pH, particle size as well as metal contents. In addition to this, they were analysed for microbial community function by means of enzymatic activity, which has been proven to be useful in evaluating contamination of soil. The enzymes analysed in this study included dehydrogenase, ßglucosidase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and urease. Earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were exposed to different material for 28 days during which their biomass, reproduction, mortality and lysosomal membrane stability were monitored weekly. Hereafter, they were removed from the material while the cocoons were left behind for a further 56 days. The hatched and unhatched cocoons as well as the juvenile worms were then counted to determine reproduction patterns in the materials. Metal concentrations in the substrates and earthworm body tissues were compared to selected benchmarks. Results indicated that when comparing the different materials from each mine, enzymatic activity proved to be a very sensitive parameter. Enzymatic activity showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between RS, TDF-R and TDF-U materials. Biomass was not a sensitive parameter (p > 0.05) for the worms exposed to the gold and chrome mine tailings, but it was a sensitive parameter (p < 0.05) for the coal mine exposed earthworms, showing early differences between the worms from the different sites (RS, TDF-R and TDF-U). The NRR-t assay was very sensitive (p < 0.05), indicating clear differences between the worms from each investigated site. In terms of reproduction, the production of cocoons showed clear differences (p < 0.05) between the different sites and could therefore be considered a sensitive parameter. Hatching success however, was not a sensitive parameter. The reason being that there were so little cocoons produced that it is not possible to determine the correct percentage of juvenile worms hatching from, for example, only one or two cocoons. Mortality was also not a sensitive endpoint as it was only observed in the coal mine material. RAPD - PCR results indicated genetic differences between earthworms exposed to the control- and the tailings materials, indicating either DNA alterations due to possible genotoxic effects, or genetic variation between individuals of the same species. Since mine waste materials often contain complex mixtures of metals that might be toxic on their own or in combination with other factors, it is difficult to attribute any observed genotoxic effect to any of the specific metals. / Thesis (MSc (Environmental Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Mining has negative impacts on the environment, and is one of the main contributors to environmental pollution. This holds a potential hazard for ecosystems surrounding mining areas and also for public health in the surrounding communities. There is therefore a need for ecotoxicological research in order to assess these possible risks and find ways to minimize the harmful effects. One way in which to assess soil vitality are soil enzymes which are produced by plants and microorganisms and will therefore be more abundant in healthy soils. Earthworms have been proven to be useful bioindicators for metal contamination of soil, as they are able to accumulate metals from their environment into their body tissue. The aim of this study was to use earthworm bioassays, neutral red retention time analysis (NRRt), enzymatic analysis and RAPD-PCR to determine the effect of mining activity on the environment. This was done by assessing the ecotoxicity of tailings collected from three different mines, viz. gold-, opencast chrome- and coal mines. The metals chosen for analyses included four (Cr, Co, Ni and Pb) of the seven (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, Co) environmentally important trace elements as described for South African soils. Arsenic was also chosen since it is associated with gold mine tailings. Tailings and soil were collected from three sites at each of the mines which included unrehabilitated (TDF-U) and rehabilitated (TDF-R) substrates from tailings disposal facilities (TDFs) and reference soils (RS) in close proximity to TDFs. The physical and chemical properties of these different substrates were determined in terms of pH, particle size as well as metal contents. In addition to this, they were analysed for microbial community function by means of enzymatic activity, which has been proven to be useful in evaluating contamination of soil. The enzymes analysed in this study included dehydrogenase, ßglucosidase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and urease. Earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were exposed to different material for 28 days during which their biomass, reproduction, mortality and lysosomal membrane stability were monitored weekly. Hereafter, they were removed from the material while the cocoons were left behind for a further 56 days. The hatched and unhatched cocoons as well as the juvenile worms were then counted to determine reproduction patterns in the materials. Metal concentrations in the substrates and earthworm body tissues were compared to selected benchmarks. Results indicated that when comparing the different materials from each mine, enzymatic activity proved to be a very sensitive parameter. Enzymatic activity showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between RS, TDF-R and TDF-U materials. Biomass was not a sensitive parameter (p > 0.05) for the worms exposed to the gold and chrome mine tailings, but it was a sensitive parameter (p < 0.05) for the coal mine exposed earthworms, showing early differences between the worms from the different sites (RS, TDF-R and TDF-U). The NRR-t assay was very sensitive (p < 0.05), indicating clear differences between the worms from each investigated site. In terms of reproduction, the production of cocoons showed clear differences (p < 0.05) between the different sites and could therefore be considered a sensitive parameter. Hatching success however, was not a sensitive parameter. The reason being that there were so little cocoons produced that it is not possible to determine the correct percentage of juvenile worms hatching from, for example, only one or two cocoons. Mortality was also not a sensitive endpoint as it was only observed in the coal mine material. RAPD - PCR results indicated genetic differences between earthworms exposed to the control- and the tailings materials, indicating either DNA alterations due to possible genotoxic effects, or genetic variation between individuals of the same species. Since mine waste materials often contain complex mixtures of metals that might be toxic on their own or in combination with other factors, it is difficult to attribute any observed genotoxic effect to any of the specific metals. / Thesis (MSc (Environmental Sciences))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Resumo: A escória de aciaria como um material corretivo, fonte de silício e sua interação com a adubação nitrogenada poderá beneficiar a nutrição e a produção da cultura do arroz. Entretanto, poderá afetar a atividade biológica do solo, devido à presença de metais pesados na sua composição química. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a escória de aciaria como material corretivo e como fonte de silício e a sua interação com a adubação nitrogenada na nutrição e na produção da cultura do arroz. Para isso instalou-se experimento em casa de vegetação na UNESP/Campus Jaboticabal, com a cultura do arroz (cv IAC 202) em vasos, preenchidos com um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por duas fontes de material corretivo (calcário dolomítico e escória de aciaria), três doses em ECaCO3 (1,3; 2,6 e 5,2 g dm-3) e três doses de N (80, 160 e 320 mg dm-3). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, analisado em esquema fatorial 2x3x3+1, com quatro repetições. Após 90 dias de incubação do solo avaliaram-se as características químicas do solo e após 120 dias do transplantio das plântulas de arroz, a atividade enzimática e teor de Si do solo, o estado nutricional (teores de nutrientes e de silício na planta) e o crescimento e a produção do arroz. Os resultados indicaram que a maior produção de grãos ocorreu com a aplicação de calcário na dose de 2,6 ECaCO3 (V= 50%) e de nitrogênio na dose de 160 mg dm-3. O uso da escória de aciaria foi semelhante ao do calcário na neutralização da acidez do solo e, ainda, aumentou a disponibilidade de silício no solo. As doses de nitrogênio diminuíram o teor de Si na parte aérea (colmo+folhas) do arroz. A adubação nitrogenada aumentou a absorção de nitrogênio, favoreceu o acúmulo de silício e nitrogênio na planta e promoveu maior produção de massa seca... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Slag as a corrective material and silicon source could benefit the nutrition and yield in rice cultivation due to its interaction with nitrogen fertilization. However, the slag could affect the biologic activity of the soil because of the presence of heavy metals in its chemical composition. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate slag as a corrective material and as silicon source as well as its interaction with nitrogen fertilization in the nutrition and the production of rice crops. For this reason an experiment with the culture of rice (cv IAC 202) in pots filled with acid dystrophic Red Latosol was carried out in a greenhouse in UNESP/Jaboticabal. The treatments which were applied were constituted of two corrective sources (dolomitic limestone and slag), three doses of correctives in ECaCO3 (1,3; 2,6 and 5,2 g dm-3) and three doses of nitrogen (80, 160 e 320 mg dm-3). The experimental design was in randomized blocks with a factorial scheme 2x3x3+1 with four replications. Ninety days after incubation, the characteristics of the fertility of the soil were evaluated and one hundred and twenty (120) days after planting the rice, the enzymatic activity and the silicon content of the soil, the nutritional status (content of the nutrients and silicon in plants) and the growth and the production of the rice were also evaluated. The results show that the greatest production of grains occurred with the application of limestone in the dose of 2,6 ECaCO3 (V= 50%) and of nitrogen in the 160 doses of mg dm-3. The result of the application of the slag was similar to that of the limestone in the neutralization of the acidity of the soil, moreover, it increased silicon availability. The doses of nitrogen diminished the content of Si in the rice (stem and leaf). Nitrogen fertilization also increased the absorption of nitrogen, favored the accumulation of silicon and nitrogen in the plants... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Renato de Mello Prado / Coorientadora: William Natale / Banca: Dirceu Maximino Fernandes / Banca: Gaspar Henrique Korndörfer / Banca: Arthur Bernardes Cecílio Filho / Banca: Jairo Osvaldo Cazetta / Doutor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Os microrganismos sÃo peÃas chave nos processos de transformaÃÃo da matÃria e interagem com todos os organismos vivos, respondem rapidamente as mudanÃas no ambiente e por isso sÃo considerados em avaliaÃÃes das condiÃÃes do meio, inclusive do solo. Tem-se por hipÃtese que a microbiota à afetada pela sazonalidade, e que os microrganismos sÃo bons indicadores das mudanÃas provocadas nÃo sà pela sazonalidade, mas pelo manejo adotado em diferentes culturas. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os parÃmetros microbiolÃgicos e enzimÃticos do solo sob diferentes culturas perenes e uma mata nativa no semi-Ãrido de Trairi, estado de Cearà (Brasil). Foram monitoradas as populaÃÃes de fungos, bactÃrias e actinomicetos, o teor de carbono orgÃnico, a biomassa microbiana, a respiraÃÃo basal, os quocientes metabÃlico e microbiano e a atividade das enzimas desidrogenase, fosfatase Ãcida e urease do solo. Amostras compostas do solo foram coletadas na profundidade de 0â10 cm em dois perÃodos: chuvoso (abril 2009) e seco (outubro 2009) em diferentes cultivos: cajueiros jovens (Ãrea A) e velhos (Ãrea B), coqueiros e gravioleiras, as quais foram comparadas com uma Ãrea de mata nativa. Verificou-se que o teor de carbono orgÃnico foi similar entre todas as Ãreas nos dois perÃodos, enquanto a biomassa microbiana apresentou algumas diferenÃas entre as Ãreas cultivadas. A respiraÃÃo basal teve padrÃo de variaÃÃo temporal semelhante entre as Ãreas avaliadas para um mesmo perÃodo, mas diferiu entre perÃodos para todas as Ãreas, confirmando a influÃncia da sazonalidade. O qCO2 nÃo apresentou variaÃÃes significativas entre as Ãreas cultivadas e entre os perÃodos estudados. Maiores valores de qMIC foram constatados na Ãrea de mata, em ambos os perÃodos, e na Ãrea com cajueiros velhos no perÃodo chuvoso, enquanto que um menor qMIC foi verificado para as Ãreas ocupadas pelas demais culturas em ambos os perÃodos. As densidades populacionais de microrganismos foram similares nas Ãreas ocupadas pelas fruteiras e na mata, bem como entre os perÃodos, onde as Ãreas apresentaram maiores quantidades de microrganismos com relaÃÃo à mata. A enzima desidrogenase juntamente com a fosfatase Ãcida e urease diferiram entre as Ãreas e os perÃodos avaliados, reforÃando a hipÃtese de que a sazonalidade altera as condiÃÃes microbiolÃgicas e enzimÃticas do solo. As atividades das enzimas fosfatase Ãcida e urease foram similares, detectando-se maior valor nas Ãreas cultivadas e menor atividade na mata. Por sua vez, a desidrogenase indicou comportamento inverso, apresentando maior atividade na mata. Pela anÃlise de similaridade da microbiota e da atividade de enzimas observou-se que a mata divergiu das demais Ãreas, sendo mais prÃxima da Ãrea com cajueiros jovens. Com base nos resultados deste estudo conclui-se: a) a sazonalidade influenciou os parÃmetros microbiolÃgicos e enzimÃticos avaliados; b) o manejo adotado nas Ãreas sob cultivo alterou a atividade da microbiota do solo; c) os quocientes metabÃlico e microbiano foram importantes para conferir relaÃÃes que nÃo podiam ser detectadas com anÃlises isoladas; d) as anÃlises isoladas nÃo conferiram bom indicador de qualidade do solo; e) o cultivo de microrganismos do solo refletiu as condiÃÃes microbiolÃgicas no que diz respeito à diversidade e abundÃncia e f) as atividades das enzimas foram boas indicadoras das condiÃÃes metabÃlicas do solo, sendo especÃficas / Microorganisms are key pieces in transformation of organic matter, interacting well with all living organisms, responding quickly to changes in environment, and therefore, being considered in many assessments of environmental conditions, including soil. As hypothesis microbiota is seasonally affected, and the microorganisms are good indicators of seasonable changes as well as for the management adopted in different crop systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological and enzymatic parameters of soil under different crops and native vegetation in a semi-arid area of Trairi, state of Cearà (Brazil). The populations of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes, the content organic carbon, the microbial biomass, the basal respiration, the metabolic quotient, microbial quotient and the activity of enzymes dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and urease were monitored. Composite soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-10 cm in two periods: rainy season (April 2009) and dry season (October 2009) in different crop systems: young cashew crop (area A) and old cashew crop (area B), soursop trees and an area of native forest. It turned out that the organic carbon content of soil was similar in all areas in both periods, nevertheless the microbial biomass showed significant differences between cultivated areas. The basal soil respiration showed a pattern similar to temporal variation between the areas assessed at the same period, but differed between periods for all areas, confirming the influence of season. The qCO2 did not show significant variations between crops and between the periods studied. Higher values of qMIC were found in the forested area in both periods and in the area with old cashew trees in the rainy season, while a smaller qMIC was observed in areas with other crops in both periods. Population densities of microorganisms were similar in the soil under cultivation of fruit trees and in forest area, and between periods, where areas had higher amounts of microorganisms in relation to the forest. A dehydrogenase enzyme with acid phosphatase and urease differ between the areas and periods, reinforcing the idea that season changes the microbiological and enzymatic conditions of the soil. The activities of the enzymes acid phosphatase and urease were similar, detecting increased activity in cultivated areas and lower activity of enzymes in the native vegetation area. In turn, the dehydrogenase showed an opposite trend, with higher value in the forest. For the similarity analysis of the microflora and enzyme activity was observed that the forest has diverged from other areas, being closest to the area with young cashew trees. The results obtained allowed to conclude: a) the season influenced the enzymatic activity and microbiological parameters assessed; b) the management adopted in the cropped areas affected the activity of soil microbes; c) the microbial and metabolic quotients were important to check that relations what can not be detected on individual evaluations; d) the individual evaluations did not give a good indicator of soil quality; e) populations of soil microorganisms reflected on the microbiological conditions in respect of the diversity and abundance; f) and activities of enzymes were considered good indicators of the metabolic conditions of the soil, being specific

The main goals of this study were to document the structural and functional recovery of differently restored areas, to understand better the relationship between the two, and to determine which types of measurements are best for assessing restoration success. To address these questions, an experimental system was created through topsoil removal and subsequent restoration in a blocked, completely randomized design using two levels of soil amendment (with or without 10 kg of leaf mulch per m2) and three levels of seeding treatment (no seed, a standard reclamation mix, and an alternative, wildflower dominated reclamation mix). All measurements were designed to document responses due to restoration treatment in comparison to adjacent, undisturbed, reference sites. Vegetation structure in amended sites, as measured by total vegetation cover and species richness, recovered to levels similar to references within the two years of the study. Plant community composition did not develop similarity to references in any experimental treatments. Both soil amendment and seeding type affected cellulose decomposition rates, with amended plots showing higher decomposition rates than unamended, and seeded plots exhibiting higher rates than unseeded. Enzyme activities were largely determined by soil amendment, but the reference plots consistently had higher enzymatic activity. Amended sites exhibited significant increases over time in soil respiration, reaching or surpassing the rates observed in reference areas. Methane oxidation rates were generally increased in disturbed plots compared to undisturbed references due to increased atmospheric diffusion into the soil. Amended areas exhibited depressed rates relative to unamended, and seeding level had no significant effect on methane oxidation. Over all measurements, restoration of ecosystem function was most facilitated by the addition of the soil amendment. Seeding treatment significantly altered the resultant plant community, which may have substantial, long-term consequences for succession. The inclusion of functional parameters into restoration assessment provides for better overall information concerning ecosystem performance and may add to the ability to predict long-term success of restoration efforts. / Ph. D.

Dviejų veiksnių eksperimentas atliktas 2010 m. Lietuvos žemės ūkio universiteto Pomologiniame sode. Dirvožemis – karbonatingas giliau glėjiškas ištplaužemis – Calc(ar)i-Endohypgleyic Luvisol. Eksperimento variantai: Veiksnys A – mulčiai: 1) nemulčiuota; 2) smulkinti žieminių kviečių šiaudai; 3) žemapelkių durpės; 4) šviežios pjuvenos; 5) smulkinta vejų žolė. Veiksnys B – mulčio sluoksnio storis: 1) 5 cm; 2) 10 cm. Tyrimų tikslas – įvertinti įvairių organinių mulčių ir jų skirtingo storio sluoksnio liekamąjį poveikį dirvos biologinėms savybėms. Įvairių organinių mulčių naudojimas turėjo liekamąjį poveikį sliekų skaičiui ir masei. Laukeliuose, kurie buvo mulčiuoti žole, nustatytas esmingai didesnis sliekų skaičius ir masė, palyginus su nemulčiuotais. Sliekų masė buvo esmingai mažesnė 10 cm storio mulčio sluoksniu 2004–2009 m. mulčiuotuose laukeliuose palyginus su 5 cm storio sluoksniu mulčiuotais laukeliais. Nustatytas liekamasis organinių mulčių poveikis dirvožemio fermentų sacharazės ir ureazės aktyvumui. Didžiausią teigiamą ir esminį liekamąjį poveikį sacharazės aktyvumui turėjo žolės mulčias. Didžiausią teigiamą liekamąjį poveikį ureazės aktyvumui darė mulčiavimas pjuvenomis ir žole. Mulčio sluoksnio storinimas turėjo tendenciją didinti ureazės aktyvumą. Durpių ir pjuvenų mulčiai turėjo teigiamą esminį liekamąjį poveikį organinės anglies kiekiui dirvožemyje. Mulčio sluoksnio storio poveikis taip pat esminis. Didžiausią teigiamą esminį liekamąjį poveikį svogūnų derliui... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Experiment was carried out at the Pomological Garden of Lithuanian University of Agriculture. The soil type – Calc(ar)i–Endohypogleyic Luvisol. The residual effect of organic mulches on earthworm population was investigated in 2010. The influence of different organic mulches on agrocenosis was investigated in 2004–2009. Scheme of the experiment: Factor A – mulches: 1) no mulching; 2) winter wheat straw; 3) peat; 4) sawdust; 5) grass. Factor B – thickness of mulch layer: 1) 5 cm; 2) 10 cm. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the residual effect of different organic mulches and different thickness of mulch layer on earthworm population. The residual effect of different organic mulches on amount and mass of earthworms was established. Amount and mass of earthworms in plots which were mulched with grass was significantly highercompared with plots without mulch. Significantly lower mass of earthworms was established in plots mulched with 10 cm layer of mulch in 2004–2009 compared with plots mulched with 5 cm layer of mulch. The residual effect of organic mulches on the activity of soil enzymes saccharase and urease was established. Grass mulch has the greatest positive and signifficant residual effect on saccharase activity. Mulching with sawdust and grass has the greatest residual effect on activity of urease. Tendency of stronger effect of the thicker mulch layer on urease activity was established. Peat and sawdust mulches significantly positively affected the amount... [to full text]

A dinâmica do C e do N dentro do ecossistema engloba os processos fisiológicos que ocorrem na planta e no solo. Utilizando o sistema Trop-T-FACE no campus da USP de Ribeirão Preto, que combina os sistemas FACE (Free-air carbon dioxide enrichment) e T-FACE (Temperature free-air controlled enhancement), para enriquecimento e controle do CO2 e da elevada temperatura (aquecimento), respectivamente, foram realizados dois experimentos com duas forrageiras tropicais, Stylosanthes capitata Vogel (leguminosa C3) e Panicum maximum Jacq. (gramínea C4). O primeiro experimento envolveu o aquecimento de 2°C no dossel de plantas S. capitata Vogel e resultou em uma intensificação do ciclo do N em curto prazo provavelmente devido à uma maior fixação biológica de N2 pela leguminosa, além de maiores taxas respiratórias do solo e reduzidas taxas de atividade enzimática do solo. No segundo experimento, plantas de S. capitata e P. maximum foram submetidas a quatro tratamentos: controle, com condições de CO2 e temperatura ambiente; aquecimento de 2°C e concentração de CO2 ambiente (eT), temperatura ambiente e concentração de CO2 elevada em 600 µmol mol-1 (eC) e aquecimento de 2°C e concentração de CO2 elevada em 600 µmol mol-1 (eC+eT). Os resultados da respiração do solo indicaram um efeito do aquecimento sobre os processos biológicos do solo devido ao aumento das temperaturas do solo. Análises isotópicas das plantas mostraram, a partir do 3° dia de experimento, o decréscimo do 13C em ambas espécies nos tratamentos com elevado CO2 como consequência da incorporação do C novo assimilado. Quanto ao 15N, este apresentou apenas valores positivos nas C3, enquanto nas C4 houve tanto valores negativos como positivos, mas ambos não indicaram um padrão muito claro quanto a diferenças entre tratamentos. Análises enzimáticas não revelaram alterações específicas no metabolismo do C no solo, mas foram encontradas alterações no metabolismo do N que indicam uma influência direta deste nutriente no potencial do solo em armazenar C. / The C and N dynamics may be interpreted as a flow within the ecosystem that encompasses the physiological processes that occur in plants and soil. In this study, we used of a new combined FACE and T-FACE system, to allow plants of Stylosanthes capitata Vogel (C3) and Panicum maximum Jacq. (C4) to be exposed to higher CO2 concentrations and temperatures, respectively. The system named Trop-T-FACE was established at the Ribeirão Preto campus of the University of São Paulo (USP). Two experiments were conducted using this system; the first involved the warming of 2° C in the plant canopy of Stylosanthes capitata Vogel and resulted in an intensification of N short term cycle probably due to greater biological N2 fixation by legumes, plus larger soil respiration rates and reduced rates of soil enzymatic activity. In the second experiment, plants of S. capitata and P. maximum were exposed to 4 treatments: a control (ambient temperature and ambient CO2); eT (ambient CO2 concentration and a canopy temperature of 2 °C greater than the ambient temperature), eC (600 µmol mol-1 CO2 and ambient temperature), and eC + eT (600 µmol mol-1 CO2 and a canopy temperature of 2 °C greater than the ambient temperature). Results from soil respiration indicated an effect of warming on soil respiration by effect of increment in soil temperature. Isotopic analysis showed, from the third day of the experiment, the decay of 13C values in both species in the treatments with elevated CO2 as a result of assimilation of the new C. Whereas 15N showed only positive values in C3, in C4 we found negative and positive values, but both did not indicate a clear pattern among treatments. Enzymatic analyzes revealed no specific changes in C metabolism in the soil, but changes in N metabolism might indicate a direct influence of this nutrient in the potential of the soil to store C.

Tyrimų tikslas – nustatyti organinių mulčių ir jų skirtingo storio sluoksnio poveikį dirvožemio savybėms, segetinei florai ir augalų derlingumui. Ginamieji disertacijos teiginiai: 1. Organiniai mulčiai mažina dirvožemio temperatūrą apsaugo dirvožemį nuo staigių temperatūrinių pokyčių, palaiko didesnį dirvožemio drėgnumą, mažina šlyties pasipriešinimą. 2. Organiniai mulčiai gerina dirvožemio agrochemines savybes. 3. Organinai mulčiai nevienodai veikia dirvožemio biologines savybes. 4. Mulčiavimas organinais mulčiais mažina agrocenozių piktžolėtumą. 5. Organiniai mulčiai nevienodai įtakoja žemės ūkio augalų derlingumą. 6. Žolės mulčio įtaka įvairių augalų pasėliams pagal integruoto vertinimo rodiklius yra didesnė negu šiaudų, durpių, bei pjuvenų. / The experimental objective. The study was designed to establish the impact of organic mulches and different mulch layer thickness on segetal flora and crop productivity. Statements to be defended: 1. Organic mulches reduce soil temperature, protect the soil from sharp temperature changes, maintain higher soil moisture content, and reduce shear strength. 2. Organic mulches improve soil agrochemical properties. 3. Organic mulches exert different effects on soil biological properties. 4. Organic mulching reduces weed incidence in crops. 5. Organic mulches have different effects on agricultural crops productivity. 6. According to integrated assessment parameters, the effect of grass mulch on various crop stands was greater than that of straw, peat and sawdust.

En Afrique de l'Ouest, les sols de savanes humides se caractérisent par des concentrations extrêmement basses de matières organiques, d'azote minéral, de phosphore et de cations basiques, ce qui limite la production primaire. Ce travail a analysé comment des changements particuliers dans les utilisations des terres peuvent influencer le fonctionnement et la fertilité des sols, pour in fine soutenir la production des agroécosystèmes dans cette zone de savane. Six différents types d'utilisation des terres sur 9 parcelles expérimentales répartis à l’échelle du paysage du centre-sud de la Côte d’Ivoire ont été comparé : (i) le brûlis comme pratique traditionnelle ; (ii) la fertilisation chimique comme pratique conventionnelle ; et le mulching comme pratique innovante, testé (iii) sans insertion de légumineuses ou (iv et v) avec insertion de haricot ou soja dans des cycles de rotations culturales ; (vi) le sol nu était considéré comme une situation de référence (le témoin). Le sol a été prélevé dans 54 sous-parcelles, avant et 3 fois après la mise en place des traitements. Sept activités enzymatiques (activités dénitrifiante, nitrifiante, β glucosidase, N-acétyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, phosphatase acide et alcaline, déshydrogénase) du sol, les principales variables du sol (humidité, carbone organique, azote total, pH et Phosphore assimilable), l'abondance et la diversité des communautés microbiennes impliquées dans le cycle de l’azote (bactéries et archées oxydatrices de l’ammonium ; les genres Nitrobacter et Nitrospira qui jouent un rôle clé dans la production de nitrate ; les bactéries réductrices du nitrite porteuses des gènes nirS ou nirK ; et les bactéries réductrices du N2O porteuses de gènes nosZI ou nosZII). Les résultats ont montré que (i) le C. org, le K, le Mg et les activités enzymatiques du sol ont diminué avec la profondeur du sol, indiquant un faible taux d’accumulation des nutriments dans les profondeurs les plus importantes du sol. Par ailleurs, les durées de jachère (0 à 10 ans) n’ont pas significativement affecté la majorité des propriétés du sol, à l'exception de l’Ntot et du K du sol qui étaient élevés dans les vieilles jachères. De plus, le C. org a diminué en fonction de la durée de la jachère tandis que le Mg a suivi une tendance inverse ; (ii) le type d'utilisation des terres a affecté fortement la plupart des activités enzymatiques du sol et les communautés microbiennes impliquées dans le cycle de l’azote; (iii) les pratiques de mulching pourraient avoir un impact positif sur les caractéristiques du sol et les communautés microbiennes, avec pour conséquence le renforcement du maintien de la fertilité des sols et la durabilité de la production agricole à long terme. D’après les résultats obtenus, la pratique de paillage, possiblement avec insertion de légumineuses, pourrait être moins onéreuse et plus adaptée pour augmenter progressivement et de façon durable la disponibilité en azote dans ces agroécosystèmes / In West Africa, humid savanna soils are characterized by extremely low concentrations of organic matter, mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and basic cations, which limit primary production. We analyzed how particular changes in land-uses can influence the functioning and fertility of soils, to support the production of agroecosystems in this savanna zone. We compared six land-use types at 9 experimental plots across a landscape: traditional slash-and-burn; conventional chemical fertilization; and innovative use of mulching (tested with or without inserting legumes in the crop rotation). Bare soil was also considered as a reference situation. Soil was sampled on the 54 sub-plots, before and 3 times after treatment inception. We surveyed seven soil enzyme activities (denitrification, nitrification, β glucosidase, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase), key soil variables (moisture, organic C, mineral and total N, pH, and available P) and the abundances and diversity of microbial communities involved in the N cycle (bacterial and archaeal ammonia oxidizers; Nitrobacter; Nitrospira; and nirS-, nirK- and nosZ-like denitrifiers). Our results showed that (i) C. org, K, Mg and soil enzymes activities decreased with soil depth, reflecting a low rate of nutrient accumulation in soil depth. In contrast, fallow periods (0 to 10 years) did not significantly affect the majority of soil properties, excepted soil Ntot and K, which were high in old fallows. In addition, C. org decreased as a function of the fallow period, but Mg follow-up an inverse trend; (ii) the land use type strongly affects most soil enzymatic activities and the microbial communities involved in nutrient cycling; (iii) innovative mulching practices have a positive impact on soil characteristics and microbial communities, thereby maintaining the maintenance of soil fertility and the sustainability of agricultural production in the long term. According to our results, the practice of mulching, possibly with the insertion of legumes, could be less expensive and more appropriate to progressively and sustainably increase nitrogen availability in these agro-ecosystems