In recent years, the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere (SPA) continuum has faced unprecedented challenges due to anthropogenic modifications and climate change. Understanding the complex dynamics of this system in response to such changes is crucial for addressing contemporary environmental concerns. Albert Einstein's famous quote, "The measure of intelligence is the ability to change", resonates deeply throughout this doctoral thesis. This thesis aims to address the complex issue of SPA interactions by developing a comprehensive set of models capable of representing the intricate dynamics of this system. At the core of this research lies the integration of sophisticated descriptions of hydrological and plant biochemical processes into a novel ecohydrological model, GEOSPACE-1D (Soil Plant Atmosphere Continuum Estimator model in GEOframe). Through a combination of theoretical exploration, engineering methodologies, and empirical experiments, this thesis aims to advance our understanding of SPA interactions. The development of adaptable models, represents a significant contribution to the field. The thesis emphasizes the practical implications of employing models to analyze experimental data, thereby enhancing our comprehension of various phenomena. In conclusion, this thesis provides valuable insights into SPA interactions and lays the groundwork for future research and applications. By embracing the challenge of understanding and modeling the SPA continuum, this work contributes to the ongoing efforts to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable practices.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a influência de diferentes doses e períodos de aplicação de CO2, via água de irrigação por gotejamento, no desenvolvimento e no estado nutricional da alface, na produtividade, avaliando também os efeitos na solução e no fluxo de CO2 do solo, no pH da água de irrigação e na concentração na atmosfera. Os experimentos foram realizados em diferentes períodos durante dois anos (1999 e 2000), no Horto do Departamento de Ciências Biológicas da ESALQ/USP, localizado em Piracicaba-SP à latitude de 22º 42' 30' S e longitude de 47º 30' 00'. A primeira etapa constituiu de testes preliminares para determinação da concentração de CO2 que refleti-se em resposta à fotossíntese da cultura da alface. A segunda e a terceira etapa foram representadas por quatro experimentos com a finalidade de testar as doses de CO2, determinadas na primeira etapa, e observar os efeitos provocados pela sua aplicação via água de irrigação na alface, na atmosfera, no solo e na água de irrigação. Nestas etapas os experimentos foram conduzidos sob túneis plásticos, e em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualisado. Os tratamentos foram compostos por diferentes doses de CO2 - 0, 52, 155 e 310 kg ha-1 e distintos períodos de aplicação - TT, T3/4, T1/2, T1/4 referentes, respectivamente, ao total e aos ¾, ½ e ¼ finais do ciclo da cultura. Em um dos experimentos foi aplicado CO2 no ambiente, na dose de 155 kg ha-1. As irrigações foram realizadas diariamente com base na evaporação do tanque classe A, corrigidas pelo coeficiente da cultura e do tanque. O monitoramento do CO2 atmosférico foi realizado nos tratamentos que receberam CO2 via água e via ar. A concentração de 600 micromol de CO2 mol-1 aumentou a fotossíntese da cultura da alface. A aplicação de CO2 via água de irrigação modificou o desenvolvimento das plantas de alface. As doses de 52 e 155 kg ha-1 de CO2 aplicadas via água promoveram aumentos na produtividade para as duas cultivares (Elisa e Verônica), atingindo valores de até 26%, quando comparado à testemunha, de forma diferente à aplicação da dose de 310 kg ha-1 que não proporcionou resposta positiva no desenvolvimento das plantas. As análises do solo mostraram alterações pela aplicação do CO2 através da água, sendo que o íon potássio foi modificado na solução do solo e na parte área da planta, o fluxo de CO2 no solo cresceu com o aumento da dose de CO2 aplicada e o pH do solo mostrou uma tendência ao abaixamento, juntamente com o pH da água da irrigação. A aplicação de CO2 via água não alterou a concentração do CO2 ambiente. Com a aplicação via ar, o aumento do CO2 foi simultâneo à aplicação, retornando ao normal, após finalizada à operação. O período mais adequado para aplicação do CO2, durante o ciclo da cultura, foi verificado no ¼ final do ciclo de cultivo. A análise econômica mostrou a viabilidade da aplicação de CO2 via água de irrigação para a cultura da alface, nas condições em que os experimentos foram conduzidos. / The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of different CO2 application rates and periods via drip irrigation water on the development and nutritional state of lettuce plants, its productivity, further to the effects on the solution and CO2 flow in the soil, irrigation water pH and on the concentration in the atmosphere. The experiments were carried out in different periods for two years (1999 and 2000), at the Garden of the Biological Sciences Department of ESALQ/USP, in Piracicaba-SP, at 22º 42' 30' S latitude and 47º 30' 00' longitude. The first stage included preliminary tests to determine the CO2 concentration whose response would reflect the photosynthesis of the lettuce crop. The second and third stages were represented by four experiments to test the CO2 rates, determined at the first stage, and to observe the effects provoked by its application via irrigation water on the lettuce crop, on the atmosphere, on the soil and on the irrigation water. At these stages the experiments were conducted under plastic tunnels in a completely randomized block design. The treatments included CO2 rates - 0, 52, 155 and 310 kg ha-1 and distinct application periods - TT, T3/4, T1/2, T1/4 referring to the total and final ¾, ½ and ¼ of the crop cycle, respectively. CO2 was also applied to the environment in one of the experiments at a 155 kg ha-1 rate for comparative analysis with the CO2 applied via irrigation water. The irrigation was daily performed based on a class A evaporation tank, amended by the crop and tank coefficient (Kc and Kp, respectively). The CO2 monitoring was performed in the treatments receiving CO2 via irrigation water and via air. The 600 micromol CO2 mol-1 provided increased photosynthesis in lettuce. The CO2 application via irrigation water modified the development of the lettuce plants. The 52 and 155 kg ha-1 CO2 rates applied via water promoted an increased productivity for both cultivars studied, reaching values of up to 26% in comparison with the control plant, differently from the 310 kg ha-1 application rate, which failed to provide a positive response in the development of the plants. The soil-related analyses showed changes after the CO2 was applied through irrigation water, and the potassium ion was modified in the soil solution and in the aerial part of the plant, the CO2 flow in the soil increased with the higher applied CO2 rate, and the soil pH tended to decrease, together with the irrigation water pH. The application of CO2 via water did not change the concentration of the environmental CO2. With the CO2 application via air the atmospheric CO2 increased simultaneously with the application, returning to the normal concentration when the operation was completed. The most adequate period for CO2 application during the development cycle of the crop was verified at the last quarter of the cultivation cycle. The economical analysis indicated the viability of CO2 application via irrigation water for the lettuce crop under the conditions in which these experiments were conducted.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a influência de diferentes doses e períodos de aplicação de CO2, via água de irrigação por gotejamento, no desenvolvimento e no estado nutricional da alface, na produtividade, avaliando também os efeitos na solução e no fluxo de CO2 do solo, no pH da água de irrigação e na concentração na atmosfera. Os experimentos foram realizados em diferentes períodos durante dois anos (1999 e 2000), no Horto do Departamento de Ciências Biológicas da ESALQ/USP, localizado em Piracicaba-SP à latitude de 22º 42' 30' S e longitude de 47º 30' 00'. A primeira etapa constituiu de testes preliminares para determinação da concentração de CO2 que refleti-se em resposta à fotossíntese da cultura da alface. A segunda e a terceira etapa foram representadas por quatro experimentos com a finalidade de testar as doses de CO2, determinadas na primeira etapa, e observar os efeitos provocados pela sua aplicação via água de irrigação na alface, na atmosfera, no solo e na água de irrigação. Nestas etapas os experimentos foram conduzidos sob túneis plásticos, e em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualisado. Os tratamentos foram compostos por diferentes doses de CO2 - 0, 52, 155 e 310 kg ha-1 e distintos períodos de aplicação - TT, T3/4, T1/2, T1/4 referentes, respectivamente, ao total e aos ¾, ½ e ¼ finais do ciclo da cultura. Em um dos experimentos foi aplicado CO2 no ambiente, na dose de 155 kg ha-1. As irrigações foram realizadas diariamente com base na evaporação do tanque classe A, corrigidas pelo coeficiente da cultura e do tanque. O monitoramento do CO2 atmosférico foi realizado nos tratamentos que receberam CO2 via água e via ar. A concentração de 600 micromol de CO2 mol-1 aumentou a fotossíntese da cultura da alface. A aplicação de CO2 via água de irrigação modificou o desenvolvimento das plantas de alface. As doses de 52 e 155 kg ha-1 de CO2 aplicadas via água promoveram aumentos na produtividade para as duas cultivares (Elisa e Verônica), atingindo valores de até 26%, quando comparado à testemunha, de forma diferente à aplicação da dose de 310 kg ha-1 que não proporcionou resposta positiva no desenvolvimento das plantas. As análises do solo mostraram alterações pela aplicação do CO2 através da água, sendo que o íon potássio foi modificado na solução do solo e na parte área da planta, o fluxo de CO2 no solo cresceu com o aumento da dose de CO2 aplicada e o pH do solo mostrou uma tendência ao abaixamento, juntamente com o pH da água da irrigação. A aplicação de CO2 via água não alterou a concentração do CO2 ambiente. Com a aplicação via ar, o aumento do CO2 foi simultâneo à aplicação, retornando ao normal, após finalizada à operação. O período mais adequado para aplicação do CO2, durante o ciclo da cultura, foi verificado no ¼ final do ciclo de cultivo. A análise econômica mostrou a viabilidade da aplicação de CO2 via água de irrigação para a cultura da alface, nas condições em que os experimentos foram conduzidos. / The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of different CO2 application rates and periods via drip irrigation water on the development and nutritional state of lettuce plants, its productivity, further to the effects on the solution and CO2 flow in the soil, irrigation water pH and on the concentration in the atmosphere. The experiments were carried out in different periods for two years (1999 and 2000), at the Garden of the Biological Sciences Department of ESALQ/USP, in Piracicaba-SP, at 22º 42' 30' S latitude and 47º 30' 00' longitude. The first stage included preliminary tests to determine the CO2 concentration whose response would reflect the photosynthesis of the lettuce crop. The second and third stages were represented by four experiments to test the CO2 rates, determined at the first stage, and to observe the effects provoked by its application via irrigation water on the lettuce crop, on the atmosphere, on the soil and on the irrigation water. At these stages the experiments were conducted under plastic tunnels in a completely randomized block design. The treatments included CO2 rates - 0, 52, 155 and 310 kg ha-1 and distinct application periods - TT, T3/4, T1/2, T1/4 referring to the total and final ¾, ½ and ¼ of the crop cycle, respectively. CO2 was also applied to the environment in one of the experiments at a 155 kg ha-1 rate for comparative analysis with the CO2 applied via irrigation water. The irrigation was daily performed based on a class A evaporation tank, amended by the crop and tank coefficient (Kc and Kp, respectively). The CO2 monitoring was performed in the treatments receiving CO2 via irrigation water and via air. The 600 micromol CO2 mol-1 provided increased photosynthesis in lettuce. The CO2 application via irrigation water modified the development of the lettuce plants. The 52 and 155 kg ha-1 CO2 rates applied via water promoted an increased productivity for both cultivars studied, reaching values of up to 26% in comparison with the control plant, differently from the 310 kg ha-1 application rate, which failed to provide a positive response in the development of the plants. The soil-related analyses showed changes after the CO2 was applied through irrigation water, and the potassium ion was modified in the soil solution and in the aerial part of the plant, the CO2 flow in the soil increased with the higher applied CO2 rate, and the soil pH tended to decrease, together with the irrigation water pH. The application of CO2 via water did not change the concentration of the environmental CO2. With the CO2 application via air the atmospheric CO2 increased simultaneously with the application, returning to the normal concentration when the operation was completed. The most adequate period for CO2 application during the development cycle of the crop was verified at the last quarter of the cultivation cycle. The economical analysis indicated the viability of CO2 application via irrigation water for the lettuce crop under the conditions in which these experiments were conducted.

A three-dimensional computational tool was developed that simulates the heat and mass transfer interaction in a soil-root-stem system (SRSS) for a tree in a seasonally varying deciduous forest. The development of the SRSS model involved the modification and coupling of existing heat and mass transport tools to reproduce the three-dimensional diurnal internal and external temperatures, internal fluid distribution, and heat flow in the soil, roots, and stems. The model also required the development of a parallel Monte-Carlo algorithm to simulate the solar and environmental radiation regime consisting of sky and forest radiative effects surrounding the tree. The SRSS was tested, component-wise verified, and quantitatively compared with published observations. The SRSS was applied to simulate a tree in a dense temperate hardwood forest that included the calculations of surface heat flux and comparisons between cases with fluid flow transport and periods of zero flow. Results from the winter simulations indicate that the primary influence of temperature in the trunk is solar radiation and radiative energy from the soil and surrounding trees. Results from the summer simulation differed with previous results, indicating that sap flow in the trunk altered the internal temperature change with secondary effects attributed to the radiative energy from the soil and surrounding trees. Summer simulation results also showed that with sap flow, as the soil around the roots become unsaturated, the flow path for the roots will be changed to areas where the soil is still saturated with a corresponding increase in fluid velocity.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Exchanges of water in the soil-plant-atmosphere are controlled by physical-hydric soils, which in turn are highly variable in space and very sensitive to the use and soil management, especially in an agroecosystem. Precipitation, runoff, soil water storage and exchange of water vapor between the surface-atmosphere obtained from the eddy covariance and hydro-physical properties of soil were analyzed during the growing season (2009/2010) for no-till systems (NT) and conventional tillage (PC) in the cycle of soybean, in Cruz Alta, northwest of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Most models that describe the interaction biosphere - atmosphere in agroecosystems has not efficiently represent physical differences for different soil management. In this sense, the study also will examine the response of the dynamic exchanges of water in the Agro-IBIS model when the soil physical properties in a system of management of PD (without revolution planting soil) and PC (with planting soil Revolution) are implemented. For this purpose, are used to soil properties of a long-term experiment in southern Brazil 2009/2010. Moreover, mathematical adjustments in leaf area index (LAI) is suggested to better represent the stage of leaf senescence. The results of the dynamics of soil water and evapotranspiration in the Agro-IBIS model for soybeans, when the implementation of soil properties and setting the IAF are compared with experimental data and with a simulation in which the soil property are described through the global database. The model represents satisfactorily the dynamics of soil water and evapotranspiration for both management systems, especially for wet periods. The results presented for the conventional management system are best correlated with the simulations, when the physical properties of this system are implemented and leaf senescence is corrected. Of the major changes that have been added, such as setting physical properties of soil, definition of the retention curve coefficients, and phenology of the crop, the main one was the consideration of a new factor of decline in leaf area index during senescence which greatly reduced the error in water balance components of the surface of soybean. / As trocas de água no sistema solo-planta-atmosfera são controladas pelas características físico-hídricas dos solos, que por sua vez são altamente variáveis no espaço e muito sensíveis ao uso e manejo do solo, principalmente em um agroecossistema. Precipitação, escoamento, armazenamento de água do solo e trocas de vapor de água entre superfície-atmosfera obtido a partir da covariância turbulenta e propriedades físico-hídricas do solo foram analisados durante a estação de cultivo (2009/2010) para os sistemas de plantio direto (PD) e plantio convencional (PC) no ciclo da cultura da soja, no município de Cruz Alta, região noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). A maioria dos modelos que descrevem a interação biosfera - atmosfera em agroecossistemas ainda não representam de forma eficiente às diferenças físicas para diferentes manejos do solo. Neste sentido, o estudo, também analisará a resposta da dinâmica das trocas de água no modelo Agro-IBIS quando as propriedades físicas do solo em um sistema de manejo de PD (plantio sem revolução do solo) e PC (plantio com revolução do solo) são implementadas. Para tanto, são usados às propriedades do solo de um experimento de longo prazo no sul do Brasil 2009/2010. Além disso, ajustes matemáticos no índice de área foliar (IAF) são sugeridos para melhor representar o estágio de senescência foliar. Os resultados da dinâmica da água no solo e evapotranspiração no modelo Agro-IBIS para a soja, quando da implementação das propriedades do solo e do ajuste no IAF são comparados com os dados experimentais e com uma simulação em que as propriedade do solo são descritas através do banco de dados globais. O modelo representa satisfatoriamente a dinâmica da água no solo e evapotranspiração para ambos os sistemas de manejo, especialmente para períodos úmidos. Os resultados apresentados para o sistema de manejo convencional estão melhores correlacionados com as simulações, quando as propriedades físicas deste sistema são implementadas e a senescência foliar é corrigida. Das principais mudanças que foram adicionadas, tais como o ajuste de propriedades físicas do solo, definição de coeficientes da curva de retenção, e fenologia da cultura, a principal foi à consideração de um novo fator de declínio do índice de área foliar na fase de senescência que reduziu sobremaneira o erro nas componentes do balanço de água da superfície de soja.

The main objective was to set up models of the soil-plant-atmosphere system for the growing of Grape Leaves with drip irrigation in the Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. The computer software tool CoupModel was used in this modelling process. The focus of the model was the systems soil hydraulics and the water balance between its components. When running several 21 years simulations it could be seen that slight variations in soil texture inputs resulted in relatively big output changes. For example, by either using the soil texture laboratory results or the soil water retention inputs gained from tensiometers and moisture meters in the field, gave an annual irrigation amount difference of 100 mm. However, it can be questioned if the models reached the goal of simulating an  efficient irrigation schedule  due to the soil evaporation output being high throughout the year.  For further research, longer time series of field measurements together with more knowledge about the plant would be preferable in order to validate and improve the model. / MÂlet med denna studie var att uppr‰tta modeller ˆver mark-v‰xt-atmosf‰r-systemet i programmet CoupModel. Modellerna skulle anpassas fˆr odlingen av vinblad med hj‰lp av droppbevattning i Binh Thuan-provinsen i Vietnam. Fokus i denna studie var vattenflˆden och vattenbalansen mellan systemets komponenter. Efter att ha kˆrt flera 21 Âr lÂnga simuleringar var det tydligt att sm variationer i indata resulterade i relativt stora skillnader i utdata. Om till exempel  v‰rden  angÂende jordartens struktur  erhÂllna  frÂn laboratoriet anv‰ndes ist‰llet fˆr f‰ltm‰tningar frÂn tensiometrar och fuktm‰tare blev det en Ârlig bevattningsskillnad p 100 mm. Det kan ifrÂgas‰ttas huruvida mÂlet att simulera en vatteneffektiv bevattning blev nÂtt d jordavdunstningen var hˆg Âret runt. Fˆr vidare studier skulle l‰ngre tidsserier av f‰ltm‰tningar tillsammans med mer kunskap om plantan vara nyttigt fˆr att kunna validera och fˆrb‰ttra modellen.