A. Helmi ir kt. (2006 m.) ieškojo praeityje vykusių akrecinių įvykių pėdsakų Paukščių Tako galaktikoje naudodami B. Nordström ir kt. (2004 m.) katalogą, kuriame yra pateikti tikslūs 13240 F, G, K spektrinės klasės nykštukių kinematiniai duomenys, temperatūra (Teff., K) ir metalingumas [Fe/H]. Pagal koreliaciją tarp apocentro (A), pericentro (P) ir kampinio judesio kiekio momento z kryptimi Lz, buvo identifikuotos trys kinematinės žvaigždžių grupės, kurios, manoma, yra įkritusių palydovinių galaktikų liekanos. Šio darbo tikslas buvo ištirti žvaigždžių, kurios priklauso trečiajai kinematinei grupei, pagrindinius fizikinius atmosferų parametrus ir cheminę sudėtį. Aukštos kokybės spektrai gauti Šiaurės šalių optiniu teleskopu naudojant didelės skiriamos gebos (R≈68000) spektrografą FIES. Iš 10 žvaigždžių spektrų nustačiau jų atmosferų pagrindinius fizikinius parametrus: efektinę temperatūrą Teff, laisvojo kritimo pagreičio logaritmą log g, mikroturbulencijos greitį vt ir alfa proceso, geležies piko ir s proceso elementų gausas. Spektrus normalizavau ir cheminių elementų sugerties linijų ekvivalentinius pločius išmatavau naudodama Helsinkio observatorijoje sukurtą programinį paketą 4A. Tolimesnę spektrų analizę atlikau diferencialiniu atmosferos modelių metodu, naudojant Upsalos Astronomijos Observatorijoje (Švedija) sukurtą programinį paketą EQWIDTH. Ši programa pagal pateiktus fizikinius parametrus apskaičiuoja teorinius linijų ekvivalentinius pločius ir nustato cheminių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Helmi et al. (2006) have used a homogeneous data set of 13240 nearby F- and G-type stars from the Nordström et al. (2004) catalogue, containing accurate spatial and kinematic information as well as metallicity and age parameters to search for signatures of past accretion events in the Milky Way Galaxy. From correlation between orbital parameters: apocentre (A), pericentre (P) and z-angular momentum (Lz) so called APL space, they identified tree new coherent groups of stars, that might correspond to the remains of disrupted satellites. The aim of this research is to study chemical composition of one of this stellar group. Using high-resolution spectra (R≈68000) I have derived the chemical composition of 10 F-G-K spectral type stars. High resolution spectra of stars been obtained by the FIES spectrograph on the Nordic Optical Telescope. From these stellar spectra I determined the basics stellar atmosphere parameters: effective temperature Teff [K], surface gravities log g, microturbulent velocities vt [km/s], and abundances of iron, α and s-process elements. The continuum was defined and the equivalent widths of the line measured with the 4A software package. The spectra were analysed using a differential model atmosphere technique with EQWIDTH program package. Models of stellar atmospheres was computed using MARCS code (http://marcs.astro.uu.se). The effective temperature were taken from Nordström et al. (2004). All temperatures were checked so that equal abundance results... [to full text]

The root epidermis, being the outermost cell layer of the organ, is in contact with the soil environment. The position of the epidermis determines its important roles, such as taking up water and ions from the surrounding soil, and defending against harmful microorganisms. What is the chemical composition of the walls in this layer? The chemical nature of the soybean epidermal wall modifying substance was investigated in this study with the use of histochemical tests coupled with electron microscopy, and chemical depolymerizations in combination with chromatography. Soybean (<em>Glycine max</em>) was used as a test species in the present studay. Results of histochemical and electron microscopical studies indicated that the epidermal walls are modified with suberin. The suberized epidermal walls were permeable to apoplastic tracers, differing from those of cells with suberized Casparian bands, possibly due to the spatial distribution or chemical components of the suberin. Suberin may occur in a diffuse form linked with other wall components in the epidermis. What is the chemical nature of this modification, and does it play a role in pathogen resistance? The root epidermal wall compositions of two soybean cultivars were compared; one (cv. Conrad) is resistant to <em>Phytophthora sojae</em> and the other (cv. OX 760-6) is susceptible to this root-rot oomycete. Their epidermal walls were isolated enzymatically and subjected to two different degradation methods, i. e. BF₃-MeOH transesterification and nitrobenzene oxidation. The compositions of depolymerisates of the cell walls determined by GC-MS indicated four dominant suberin monomers varying in chain length from C16 to C24. In all epidermal cell walls, &omega;-hydroxycarboxylic acids were more abundant than diacids, carboxylic acids and alcohols. Two of the monomers detected (hydroxycarboxylic acid and a,&omega;-dicarboxylic acid) are known to be characteristic suberin markers. The quantitative chemical compositions significantly differed in the epidermal cell walls of the two soybean varieties. Walls of the resistant cultivar (Conrad) had a greater quantity of both the aliphatic and aromatic components of the polymer than the susceptible cultivar (OX760-6), providing evidence to support the hypothesis that preformed suberin plays a role in plant defense.

Aerosol particles, especially in the high Arctic are still not very well represented in climate models. Particle size and number concentrations are strongly under-predicted and temporal variations of aerosol composition and size are still not very well understood, mainly due to the sparsity of observations. The main objective of this thesis is the characterization of the high Arctic summer aerosol by means of electron microscopy in order to extend the existing data set from previous expeditions by size resolved data on aerosol number, morphology and chemical composition and to gain a better understanding of the evolution of the aerosol in the atmosphere. Ambient aerosol was collected over the pack ice during the Arctic Summer Cloud and Ocean (ASCOS) campaign to the high Arctic in summer 2008. Aerosol particles were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy and subsequent digital image processing to assess particle size and morphology. More than 3900 aerosol particles from 9 sampling events were imaged with scanning electron microscopy and merged into groups of similar morphology which contributed to different degrees to the total aerosol: single particles (82%), gel particles (11%) and halo particles (7%). Single particles were observed over the whole size range with a maximum at 64 nm in diameter, gel particles appeared &gt; 45 nm with a maximum in number at 174 nm, halo particles appeared &gt; 75 nm with a maximum in number at 161 nm. The majority of particles showed the morphology of marine gels, no sea salt or otherwise crystalline particles were observed. Transmission electron microscopy enabled more subtle insights into particle morphology and allowed further subdivision of gel particles into aggregates, aggregates with film and mucus-like particles. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of individual particles revealed a gradual transition in the content of Na+/K+ and Ca2+/Mg2+ between particle morphologies. Single particles and aggregate particles preferentially contained Na+/K+ whereas aggregate with film particles and mucus-like particles mainly contained Ca2+/Mg2+ suggesting a connection between particle morphology and ion content. Back-trajectory analysis was used to identify aerosol sources and to understand the evolution of the aerosol as a function of the synoptic weather situation. Particle numbers, size and morphology changed with the days the air mass spent over the pack-ice. A morphological descriptor applied to gel particles showed a clear trend suggesting that the contour of the particles becomes sharper and more distinct with increased time spent over the pack-ice. For a very long time over the pack-ice, however, we observed a morphology comparable to freshly emitted particles suggesting aerosol sources over the inner pack-ice. Size resolved aerosol chemical composition measurements were utilized to investigate the inorganic composition of laboratory generated nascent sea spray aerosol particles and ambient aerosol samples collected during ASCOS. A significant enrichment of Ca2+ was observed in submicrometer particles in either case with a tendency for increasing Ca2+ enrichment with decreasing particle size. This has strong implications for the alkalinity of sea spray aerosol particles with consequences for the sulfur chemistry in the marine boundary layer, the hygroscopicity and thus the potential of sea spray aerosol particles to act as cloud condensation nuclei. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

III Summary This thesis is focused on crystal chemistry and crystal structure of apatites from alkaline rock of the Bohemian Massif. Fifteen samples of volcanic rocks, mostly of the Cenozoic age was selected for the study. Sample No. 5 is of the Silurian age. Sample No. 15 originates from volcanic rock of the Cenozoic age from the Slovak Western Carpathians. This sample was chosen for this study due to its substantially different chemical composition. The contents of major and minor elements in apatites were measured on an electron microprobe, the contents of some minor and trace elements were determined by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Selected samples were investigated by cathodoluminescence (CL) spectrometry. Crystal structure of studied apatites was characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that dominant anion at position X is fluorine. The OH content calculated on the basis of the fully occupied position X is significant in some samples. The amount of Cl is generally low. The exception is the sample No. 15 where Cl reached up to 0.6 apfu (Z = 2). Studied apatites contain many substitutions but they are generally of minor extent. Strontium, iron and REE at position M belong to the most common and most important substituents for calcium in...

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Zhijian Pei / Donghai Wang / Renewable fuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass could reduce our dependence on fossil fuel resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Big bluestem is an ecological-dominant warm-season (C4) perennial native grass that comprises as much as 80% of the plant biomass in prairies in the Midwestern grasslands of North America. Its high cellulosic content and low agricultural input recently have made big bluestem a promising feedstock for ethanol production. The overall goals of this study are to evaluate the potential of big bluestem in terms of ethanol production comparing with other native grasses by diluted sulfuric acid pretreatment and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation and to understand the effects of ecotype and planting location on the chemical and elemental compositions and thermal properties as well as fermentable sugar yield of big bluestem along the Great Plains precipitation gradient. A total conversion efficiency of 79.2% and an ethanol concentration of 9.4 g/L were achieved after 72 h fermentation. About 0.262 kg (~0.332 Liters) ethanol could be produced from one kilogram dry mass of big bluestem under the present condition. Planting location had significant effects on chemical and elemental as well as specific heat, thermogravimetric parameters, high heating value and glucan mass yield. Ecotype had significant effects on glucan, xylan, lignin, and ash contents, and C, O, and H elemental fractions as well as specific heat, high heating value and glucan mass yield, whereas planting location significantly affected all measured variables. The ecotype-location interaction had significant effects on glucan, lignin, hydrogen contents and specific heat. Up to 97%, 88% and 80% of the variation in compositions can be explained by annual precipitation, growing degree days and potential evapotranspiration in 2010 respectively. Among all environmental factors, potential evapotranspiration had the most significant effect on thermal properties. Planting location had a stronger influence than ecotype and interaction between location and ecotype. Precipitation in 2010 possibly played a more significant role in divergence of glucan mass yield of the big bluestem.

Aerosol particles are one of the major pollutants in outdoor and indoor air. Particulate matter (PM) can be harmful for works of art by causing soiling and chemical damage, depending on particle size and chemical composition. This study includes indoor/outdoor monitoring of air quality in five archives in the CR, representing different outdoor environments: Zlatá Koruna (rural), Třeboň (small town), Teplice (industrial area), and two archives (National Library - NL and National Archives - NA) in Prague (large city with traffic). The NL and the archives in Zlatá Koruna, Třeboň and Teplice are only naturally ventilated, while NA in Prague is equipped with ventilation and filtration system. The measurements were performed during 4 intensive campaigns in different seasons of the year at every location. The measurements included particle number/mass concentrations, size distributions and chemical composition. Additional measurements were carried out in 2 museums, a depository, and a church. The aim of this study is to investigate concentrations, sources, and chemical composition of PM in the indoor environment, and to establish the relationship between the indoor and outdoor environment. The results showed that concentrations of fine particles in the indoor environment of the NA in Prague were...

O trabalho, realizado na FZEA/USP/Pirassununga, visou avaliar doses de NaCl e de N, em idades de corte, em coastcross (Cynodon dactylon), em relação à sua composição bromatológica e química e digestibilidade "in vitro". O delineamento foi de blocos inteiramente casualizados, num fatorial de 4x2x2 (doses NaCl x doses N x idades de cortes), em canteiros de 3x3m, com 4 repetições, cortados a 5cm, de 30 e 60d para primavera, verão e outono e 45 e 90d para o inverno. A adubação foi: 0, 20, 40 e 60 Kg NaCl/ha/corte e 20 e 40 Kg N/ha/corte (uréia). Realizaram-se análises de MS, FDN, FDA, PB, DIVMS, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na e de fertilidade do solo inicial e final (0-20 e 20-40cm). Sem considerar as interações, o sal não foi significativo para as variáveis MS, FDN, FDA e PB, porém observou-se uma melhor atuação de jan/maio/2002, para todas as variáveis consideradas. Foi observada uma pequena redução nos teores de Ca e Mg, de acordo com o aumento nos tratamentos com NaCl, de set-dez/2001. A utilização do sal variou em função da época de corte para o Mg (jan/maio/2002), para o P (jul/2002) e para a DIVMS (inverno/2001, verão 2001/02 e outono/2002), e variou em função do N apenas no inverno/2002, para a DIVMS. A época de corte influenciou quase todas as variáveis, em todos os períodos. As doses de N foram significativas em função da PB (set-dez/2001). Foi observada interação tripla para a MS, FDA e DIVMS (nov/2001-maio/2002). Concluiu-se que: as doses de Na e N não influenciaram a produção e a composição química e bromatológica, influenciando a DIVMS. A planta não apresentou evidências de ter sido afetada pela utilização do Na. / The trial was developed in FZEA/USP/Pirassununga, to evaluate levels of NaCl and N, in two cutting ages, coast-cross (Cynodon dactylon), to observe the response in bromatologic composition and "in vitro" digestibility. As design, was used casualizated blocks applied in fatorial 4x2x2 (levels NaCl x level N x cutting ages), in seedbeds of 3x3 m, with 4 repetitions. The cutting were conducted, in 5 cm, in 30 and 60 days during the times of the spring, summer and autumn, and in 45 and 90 days for winter. Analyses from DM, NDF, ADF, CP, IVDDM, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na were conducted. Analyze from the soil fertility in the beginning and final of the project (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm), to evaluate if had accumulative effect of the salt. Without the interaction, the salt didn’t show significant statistical for variables as DM, NDF, ADF and CP. But was observed a better situation in the jan-may/2002. A little reduction in the levels of Ca and Mg , with the increase from the levels of the NaCl, was observed in Sep-Dec/2001. In the case of Mg (jan-may/2002), P (jul/2002) and IVDDM (winter/2001) showed variation in the different cutting ages correlated with the levels of NaCl. Different levels of N related some variations for IVDDM in winter 2002. The cutting time influenced almost every variable in all times. The levels of N were significated for levels of CP (set-dec/2001). For the variables DM, ADF and IVDDM, during nov/2001-may/2002 these were observed a triple interaction. Data collected the following conclusions: level of Na and N didn’t influence the production and chemical composition, but influenced IVDDM. The plant didn’t show evidence that was affected by Na treatment.

Os solos brasileiros, assim como aqueles localizados em regiões tropicais, possuem elevada capacidade de sorver fósforo (P) devido ao alto grau de intemperismo e consequente composição mineralógica da fração argila. Os fertilizantes solúveis possuem baixa eficiência em função da rápida adsorção aos minerais presentes nestes solos, como também precipitação com cátions em solução. Um componente do solo que pode diminuir a sorção de P é a matéria orgânica que atua na formação de complexos organominerais, inativando os sítios de adsorção dos minerais. Assim, a adição de biocarvão, um composto orgânico recalcitrante, mas que possui grupos reativos de superfície, pode contribuir na redução da sorção de P no solo. O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar o efeito de diferentes temperaturas de pirólise nas características químicas e adsortivas do biocarvão e disponibilidade e aproveitamento de fósforo do fertilizante aplicado no solo. Os biocarvões foram produzidos por pirólise do bagaço de cana-de-açúcar a 250, 450, 650 ºC e um carvão comercial de eucalipto foi utilizado como controle. Os biocarvões foram caracterizados quimicamente e agitados com soluções contendo diferentes doses de P para verificar o comportamento da adsorção de P (isoterma de adsorção). Após filtragem, os biocarvões retidos no filtro foram submetidos à espectroscopia no infravermelho médio. Foram realizados: (i) Um experimento de incubação, fatorial 4 x 2 x 2 + controle, utilizando um solo contendo 70 g kg-1 de argila, com os tratamentos: 4 tipos de biocarvão aplicados na dose de 10 g kg-1; dois níveis de pH (4,8 e 5,8) e dois níveis de adubação fosfatada (0 e 50 mg kg-1). As análises realizadas no solo foram pH em solução de CaCl2 e SMP, P disponível e P remanescente. (ii) Um experimento em casa-de-vegetação, fatorial 4 x 3 x 4, com cultivo de plantas de feijão avaliando os 4 tipos de biocarvão produzidos, 3 doses de cada biocarvão (0, 450 e 900 mg kg-1) aplicados na linha de semeadura e 4 doses de P (0, 25, 50 e 100 mg kg-1) aplicadas contato com o biocarvão na linha. Não houve adsorção de P pelos biocarvões avaliados. Os espectros de infravermelho e análise química mostram que o aumento da temperatura causa diminuição da acidez total, porém aumenta aromaticidade e superfície específica dos materiais. No experimento de incubação os solos que receberam biocarvões produzidos com bagaço de cana apresentaram maior P disponível e remanescente, por mecanismos diferentes. Enquanto o biocarvão produzido à 250 ºC promove a redução da adsorção por interações promovidas por grupos ácidos, os biocarvões com estruturas aromáticas formam complexos de ligações não covalentes com os minerais. O biocarvão pode ser um material importante na redução da sorção de fósforo e economia de fertilizantes, porém pesquisas adicionais devem ser realizadas a fim de estudar a influência da matéria-prima e forma de produção nas potencialidades de uso do produto obtido. / The Brazilian soils, as those from tropical environment, have high phosphorus (P) sorption capacity as a result of their weathering degree and consequently the mineralogical composition in the clay fraction. Soluble fertilizers have low efficiency since the fast adsorption occurs in mineral surfaces, as well as precipitation with cations in the soil solution. The organic matter acts decreasing P sorption in the soils after form organomineral complexes with minerals, by inactivation of adsorption sites. In this way, biochar that is a recalcitrant organic compost; however, contains surface reactive functional groups, can contribute decreasing soil P sorption. The aim of this work was to study the effect of different pyrolysis temperatures in biochar adsorption characteristics, P availability in the soil and plant P absorption from phosphate fertilizer. Biochars were produced by pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse at 250, 450, 650 ºC and eucalyptus biochar was used as control treatment. Biochars were chemically characterized, and after mixed with solutions containing different P concentrations to study the P sorption behaviour (adsorption isotherm). After filtering, the biochars retained in the filters were undergoing to medium infrared spectroscopy. Were performed: (i) Incubation experiment, factorial 4 x 2 x 2 + control in a soil containing 70 g kg- 1 of clay, with the following treatments: the 4 biochar types cited above, applied at 10 g kg-1 rate; 2 pH levels (4,8 and 5,8) and 2 levels of phosphate fertilizer (0 and 50 mg kg-1). The soil pH (CaCl2 salt and SMP), available and remaining P were analysed. (ii) Greenhouse experiment was performed in 4 x 3 x 4 factorial scheme, with cultivation of common bean plants to evaluate the produced biochars; 3 biochar rates (0, 450 and 900 mg kg-1) were applied at the sowing line and 4 P rates (0, 25, 50 and 100 mg kg-1) added in the same line. The evaluated biochars do not adsorb P. Infrared spectroscopy and chemical analysis showed that increasing temperature resulted in a decreasing in the total acidity. However, occurred an increase in the aromaticity and specific surface of materials. Incubation experiment revealed that the soils which received biochar produced by sugarcane bagasse have greater available and remaining P, these influenced by different mechanisms. While biochar produced at 250 ºC promote adsorption reduction by interactions between biochar acid functional groups and mineral adsorption sites, biochars produced at high temperatures contain aromatic structures can complex minerals by noncovalent bonding. Biochar can be an important tool to reduce P sorption and increase the economy of fertilizers. However, further researches must be carried out to study the influence of feedstocks and pyrolysis technology in the potentiality of use of each biochar.

[pt] O Observatório Pierre Auger é um detector de raios cósmicos ultra-energéticos (E maior ou igual 1018 eV) com características híbridas, que combinam detectores de superfície e de fluorescência. A determinação da composição química primária destes raios cósmicos é um dos seus principais objetivos. Há indícios de que os primários dos raios cósmicos com E maior que 1018.5 eV tem massa maior, conclusão baseada nos resultados recentes sobre a evolução dos chuveiros atmosféricos extensos (cascatas de partículas formadas quando da colisão do raio cósmico primário no topo da atmosfera com moléculas de N2 ou O2). Encontrar parâmetros, que caracterizam o chuveiro, no processo de sua reconstrução e que forneçam informações associadas a este resultado, são essenciais para validar esta conclusão. Nesta tese estuda-se a evolução como função da energia, de parâmetros que caracterizam os chuveiros, que sejam sensíveis à sua composição primária. Mais especificamente aqueles determinados pelo detector de superfície, pois há uma estatística de chuveiros detectados significativamente maior. Damos especial atenção às flutuações intrínsecas – chuveiro-a-chuveiro – do parâmetro de inclinação (beta) da Função de Distribuição Lateral, que descreve a variação da densidade de partículas ao longo da direção perpendicular ao eixo do chuveiro, como função da distância a esse eixo. Os resultados indicam que a flutuação intrínseca em beta, para eventos inclinados (45-60 graus) com E maior que 1018.5 eV, possui uma tendência de diminuição com a energia até valores em torno de 1019.8 eV. Este resultado é consistente com o encontrado anteriormente em análises de composição química sobre a evolução com a energia da profundidade de máximo (Xmax) dos chuveiros atmosféricos extensosmedida pelos detectores do Auger em modo híbrido, em que em energias acima de 1018.5 eV, observase que os chuveiros tendem a atingir seu máximo numa região mais bem definida da atmosfera, levando, por conseguinte, a flutuações menores no sinal no solo. / [en] The Pierre Auger Observatory is an ultra high energy cosmic ray detector (E more than or equal as 1018 eV) which has hybrid characteristics combining surface and fluorescence detectors. Determining the cosmic rays chemical composition is one of its most important challenges. There are evidences that cosmic ray primaries with energy above 1018.5 eV are heavy and this conclusion is based on recent results on the evolution of extensive air showers (cascades of particles formed by the collision of primary cosmic rays in the top of the atmosphere with nitrogen and oxygen molecules). Therefore, it is mandatory to find additional parameters supporting that conclusion. In this thesis, the evolution with energy of parameters characterizing the shower and with sensitivity to chemical composition are studied. More specifically, parameters determined by the surface detector are analyzed due to the high statistics in this operation mode. Special attention is given to the instrinsic - shower to shower - fluctuations of the slope parameter (beta) of the Lateral Distribution Function which describes the particles density variation in the plane perpendicular to the shower axis as a function of distance to that axis. The results show that the intrinsic fluctuation of Beta, for inclined showers (45-60 degrees) with energy above 1018.5 eV, where the detector resolution is small compared to the total fluctuation, has a trend to decrease with energy up to 1019.6 eV. This result is consistent with recent results on the energy evolution of the depth of shower maxima (Xmax) of extensive air showers, where above 1018.5 eV, the distributions of Xmax show less fluctuations, leading, in turn, to less fluctuations on the ground level.

A soja (Glycine max (L.) Merril) é a principal fonte de óleo para a produção de biodiesel e de proteína para ração animal. Contudo, a composição química das sementes e a produtividade de grãos pode ser afetada pela disponibilidade de nutrientes à planta, principalmente de potássio. Diante disto, objetivou-se estudar a divergência genética e a eficiência do uso do potássio em cultivares de soja, quanto aos teores de óleo e proteína, visando à produção de biocombustível. Assim, no ano agrícola 2013/14, foram realizados quatro ensaios de competição de cultivares de soja em Palmas -TO, os quais foram distribuídos em duas épocas de plantio, cujas cultivares foram conduzidas sob alto e baixo potássio (40kg de K2O ha-1 e 200 kg de K2O.ha-1, respectivamente). O delineamento experimental utilizado nos ensaios foi de blocos casualizados com sete tratamentos e três repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pelas cultivares M9144RR, BRS33871RR (Sambaiba), TMG1288RR, BRS333RR, P98Y70RR, TMG 1180RR e M8766RR. A eficiência do uso de potássio pelas cultivares foi realizada através da metodologia adaptada de Fischer (1983) e a divergência genética por meio de procedimentos multivariados: distância generalizada de Mahalanobis e método de agrupamento de otimização de Tocher. No estudo da divergência genética, cada ensaio representou uma variável distinta no modelo multivariado. As cultivares M8766RR e BRS333RR são promissoras para produção de biodiesel e eficientes no uso do potássio. A cultivar P98Y70 é indicada para produção de proteína e eficiente quanto ao uso de potássio. As hibridações M8766RR x TMG1180RR e M8766RR x TMG1180RR, são promissoras para teor de óleo, e P98Y70 x TMG1180RR, para teor de proteína. / Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merril) is the principal source of oil for the production of biodiesel and protein for animal feed. However, the chemical composition of seeds and grain yield may be affected by the availability of nutrients to the plant, particularly potassium. Given this, the objective was to study the genetic diversity and potassium use efficiency in soybean cultivars for the levels of oil and protein, aimed at producing biofuel. Thus, in the agricultural year 2013/14, were performed four soybean cultivars competition trials in Palmas - TO, which were distributed in two growing seasons, whose cultivars were conducted under high and low potassium (40kg of K2O ha-1 and 200 kg de K2O.ha-1, respectively – 88,18 lb of K2O ha-1 and 440,92 lb of K2O.ha-1, respectively). The experimental design used in the trials was randomized blocks with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of cultivars M9144RR, BRS33871RR (Sambaíba), TMG1288RR, BRS333RR, P98Y70RR, TMG 1180RR and M8766RR. Was determined the efficiency of the use of potassium by crops, through the methodology adapted from Fischer (1983) and the genetic divergence by multivariate procedures: Mahalanobis distance and clustering method optimization Tocher. In the study of genetic diversity, each test represented a distinct variable in the multivariate model. The M8766RR and BRS333RR cultivars are promising for biodiesel production and efficient use of potassium. Cultivar P98Y70 is indicated for protein production and efficient in the use of available potassium in the soil. Hybridizations M8766RR x TMG1180RR and M8766RR x TMG1180RR are promising for oil content, and P98Y70 x TMG1180RR for protein content.