A recomendação de doses de nitrogênio (N) para a cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) com base em testes de solo é essencial para o aumento da sustentabilidade desse agroecossistema. Além disso, pouco se conhece sobre as reações do N orgânico dissolvido (NOD) na zona de transição palha-solo nos canaviais. A influência das formas minerais de N (N-NH4+ e N-NO3-) na mineralização de carbono (C) nessa região transitória também é desconhecida. Desse modo, os objetivos do estudo foram: i) correlacionar diversos métodos para a predição do N mineralizável do solo com parâmetros de resposta da cana-de-açúcar ao N; ii) quantificar os processos de mineralização de C e sorção de compostos do NOD aplicados em palha e solo (ambos amostrados na zona de transição); e iii) determinar a mineralização C e o conteúdo de N mineral em palha e solo de cana-de-açúcar (provenientes da zona de transição) pela adição de 14C-glicose associada ou não à fontes minerais de N. Entre 2006 e 2013 foram instalados 21 experimentos de curva de resposta da cana-de-açúcar ao N no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, para correlacionar métodos de natureza biológica, química, microbiológica e isotópica (15N), com a produtividade de colmos (PCC) e extração de N (ENC) no tratamento controle, produção relativa da cultura (PRC) e com a dose de N necessária para obtenção de 90% da PRC (DN 90% PRC). As amostragens de solo foram realizadas nas camadas de 0-20 e 20-40 cm. Foram detectadas fracas correlações entre a incubação anaeróbia e a PCC, e o N extraível por KCl a quente por 4 h e o N extraível por tampão fosfato-borato a pH 11,2 com a ENC. Os métodos não se correlacionaram com a PRC e a DN 90% PRC. Nenhum método é recomendado no ajuste de doses de N para aplicação em soqueiras de cana-de-açúcar no Estado de São Paulo. Para o estudo das reações do NOD e do N mineral, amostras de palha e solo foram coletadas na região de transição entre os dois materiais, em dois sítios experimentais localizados no Estado de São Paulo. A mineralização de C e sorção de mistura de aminoácidos, peptídeos, ureia e proteína (todos marcados em 14C) foi determinada pela aplicação dos compostos em palha e solo. A mineralização de C e conteúdo de N mineral pela adição de 14C-glicose com ou sem as formas de N mineral (N-NH4+ e N-NO3-) também foi avaliada. Existem diferenças acentuadas entre a palha e solo relacionadas à dinâmica do NOD, perfil da comunidade microbiana e imobilização de N. Em geral, o conteúdo de 14C restante dos compostos do NOD foi maior no solo em relação à palha. Os peptídeos e a ureia apresentaram rápida mineralização de C, enquanto que a sorção da proteína foi maior no solo em comparação com a palha. A associação da 14C-glicose com N-NO3- resultou em maior mineralização de 14C na palha de ambos os sítios. Ocorreu intensa imobilização de N-NH4+, sobretudo no resíduo de cana-de-açúcar. / Recommendation of nitrogen (N) rates for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) based upon soil testing is essential for increasing the sustainability of this agroecosystem. In addition, little is known about the dynamics of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in the straw-soil transition zone in sugarcane fields. The influence of mineral N forms in the carbon (C) mineralization in this transitional region is also unknown. Thus, the objectives of this study were: i) correlate several methods to predict the soil mineralizable N with sugarcane N response parameters; ii) quantifying the C mineralization and sorption processes of DON compounds applied to straw and soil (both sampled in the transition zone); and iii) determine the C mineralization and mineral N content in straw and soil (from the transition zone) by addition of 14C-glucose with or without mineral sources of N. Between 2006 and 2013, 21 sugarcane N response trials were performed in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, to correlate biological, chemical, microbiological and isotopic (15N) methods with stalks yield (SYC) and total N uptake (NUC) in the control treatment, relative stalks yield (RSY) and the N rate required to achieve 90% of the RSY (NR 90% RSY). Soil sampling was performed at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths. Weak correlations were detected between anaerobic incubation and the SYC, and the hot KCl extractable N and phosphate-borate buffer at pH 11.2 extractable N with NUC. Methods did not correlate with RSY and the NR 90% RSY. No method is recommended for adjusting N fertilizer rates for application on sugarcane ratoons in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. To study the reactions of DON and mineral N, straw and soil samples were collected in the transition region between the two materials, in two experimental sites located in the State of São Paulo. The C mineralization and sorption of 14C-labelled amino acids mix, peptides, urea and protein was performed by addition of the compounds in straw and soil. The C mineralization and mineral N content by the addition of 14C-glucose with or without mineral N forms (NH4+-N and NO3--N) was also checked. There are marked differences between straw and soil regarding to the DON dynamics, microbial community profile and N immobilization. In general, the 14C remaining of the applied DON compounds in the soil was higher when compared to the straw. Peptides and urea had a rapid C mineralization, while the protein sorption was higher in the soil than the straw. The use of 14C-glucose with NO3--N intensified 14C mineralization in the straw of both sites. There was an intense immobilization of NH4+-N, mainly in the sugarcane residue.

A recomendação de doses de nitrogênio (N) para a cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum spp.) com base em testes de solo é essencial para o aumento da sustentabilidade desse agroecossistema. Além disso, pouco se conhece sobre as reações do N orgânico dissolvido (NOD) na zona de transição palha-solo nos canaviais. A influência das formas minerais de N (N-NH4+ e N-NO3-) na mineralização de carbono (C) nessa região transitória também é desconhecida. Desse modo, os objetivos do estudo foram: i) correlacionar diversos métodos para a predição do N mineralizável do solo com parâmetros de resposta da cana-de-açúcar ao N; ii) quantificar os processos de mineralização de C e sorção de compostos do NOD aplicados em palha e solo (ambos amostrados na zona de transição); e iii) determinar a mineralização C e o conteúdo de N mineral em palha e solo de cana-de-açúcar (provenientes da zona de transição) pela adição de 14C-glicose associada ou não à fontes minerais de N. Entre 2006 e 2013 foram instalados 21 experimentos de curva de resposta da cana-de-açúcar ao N no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, para correlacionar métodos de natureza biológica, química, microbiológica e isotópica (15N), com a produtividade de colmos (PCC) e extração de N (ENC) no tratamento controle, produção relativa da cultura (PRC) e com a dose de N necessária para obtenção de 90% da PRC (DN 90% PRC). As amostragens de solo foram realizadas nas camadas de 0-20 e 20-40 cm. Foram detectadas fracas correlações entre a incubação anaeróbia e a PCC, e o N extraível por KCl a quente por 4 h e o N extraível por tampão fosfato-borato a pH 11,2 com a ENC. Os métodos não se correlacionaram com a PRC e a DN 90% PRC. Nenhum método é recomendado no ajuste de doses de N para aplicação em soqueiras de cana-de-açúcar no Estado de São Paulo. Para o estudo das reações do NOD e do N mineral, amostras de palha e solo foram coletadas na região de transição entre os dois materiais, em dois sítios experimentais localizados no Estado de São Paulo. A mineralização de C e sorção de mistura de aminoácidos, peptídeos, ureia e proteína (todos marcados em 14C) foi determinada pela aplicação dos compostos em palha e solo. A mineralização de C e conteúdo de N mineral pela adição de 14C-glicose com ou sem as formas de N mineral (N-NH4+ e N-NO3-) também foi avaliada. Existem diferenças acentuadas entre a palha e solo relacionadas à dinâmica do NOD, perfil da comunidade microbiana e imobilização de N. Em geral, o conteúdo de 14C restante dos compostos do NOD foi maior no solo em relação à palha. Os peptídeos e a ureia apresentaram rápida mineralização de C, enquanto que a sorção da proteína foi maior no solo em comparação com a palha. A associação da 14C-glicose com N-NO3- resultou em maior mineralização de 14C na palha de ambos os sítios. Ocorreu intensa imobilização de N-NH4+, sobretudo no resíduo de cana-de-açúcar. / Recommendation of nitrogen (N) rates for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) based upon soil testing is essential for increasing the sustainability of this agroecosystem. In addition, little is known about the dynamics of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in the straw-soil transition zone in sugarcane fields. The influence of mineral N forms in the carbon (C) mineralization in this transitional region is also unknown. Thus, the objectives of this study were: i) correlate several methods to predict the soil mineralizable N with sugarcane N response parameters; ii) quantifying the C mineralization and sorption processes of DON compounds applied to straw and soil (both sampled in the transition zone); and iii) determine the C mineralization and mineral N content in straw and soil (from the transition zone) by addition of 14C-glucose with or without mineral sources of N. Between 2006 and 2013, 21 sugarcane N response trials were performed in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, to correlate biological, chemical, microbiological and isotopic (15N) methods with stalks yield (SYC) and total N uptake (NUC) in the control treatment, relative stalks yield (RSY) and the N rate required to achieve 90% of the RSY (NR 90% RSY). Soil sampling was performed at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths. Weak correlations were detected between anaerobic incubation and the SYC, and the hot KCl extractable N and phosphate-borate buffer at pH 11.2 extractable N with NUC. Methods did not correlate with RSY and the NR 90% RSY. No method is recommended for adjusting N fertilizer rates for application on sugarcane ratoons in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. To study the reactions of DON and mineral N, straw and soil samples were collected in the transition region between the two materials, in two experimental sites located in the State of São Paulo. The C mineralization and sorption of 14C-labelled amino acids mix, peptides, urea and protein was performed by addition of the compounds in straw and soil. The C mineralization and mineral N content by the addition of 14C-glucose with or without mineral N forms (NH4+-N and NO3--N) was also checked. There are marked differences between straw and soil regarding to the DON dynamics, microbial community profile and N immobilization. In general, the 14C remaining of the applied DON compounds in the soil was higher when compared to the straw. Peptides and urea had a rapid C mineralization, while the protein sorption was higher in the soil than the straw. The use of 14C-glucose with NO3--N intensified 14C mineralization in the straw of both sites. There was an intense immobilization of NH4+-N, mainly in the sugarcane residue.

Return liquor from thermal hydrolysis process (THP) can significantly add to the nitrogen load of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and introduce UV quenching substances to the wastewater stream when recycled. While there are mature technologies in place to handle the inorganic nitrogen produced due to the thermal pretreatment, organic nitrogen remains a parameter of concern for utilities employing THP pretreatment. The impact of operating conditions of the THP on dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and UV absorbance in return liquor was investigated. Operating conditions studied were (1) operating temperature (2) solids retention time (SRT) in the anaerobic digester (3) THP flash pressure (4) the effect of co-digestion of sewage sludge with food waste and, (5) polymer conditioning. Operating temperature and polymer dose had the most significant impact on DON and UV quenching. It was found that an increase in operating temperature resulted in an increase in DON, which was primarily contributed by the hydrophilic fraction. An increase in temperature also resulted in increased UV254 absorbance. However, this trend was not linear and the increase was more pronounced when the temperature was increased from 150 C to 170 C. Increasing flash pressure from 25 psi to 45 psi did not have a significant impact on the return liquor. However, increasing the flash pressure to 75 psi increased the DON and UV254 absorbing compounds. Co-digesting the sludge with food waste resulted in a slight increase in DON and a decrease in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and UV quenching compounds. Increasing the SRT from 10 days to 15 days resulted in a slight decrease in DON but did not have any impact on UV254 absorbance. Overall, it can be concluded that optimizing operating conditions of thermal hydrolysis process can result in decreased DON and UV quenching compounds in the recycle stream. / Master of Science

Many Best Management Practices (BMPs) have been developed to reduce excessive nutrients in stormwater runoff and mitigate harmful algal blooms in downstream receiving water bodies. This study demonstrates a new BMP by comparing two green sorption media (i.e., specialty adsorbents) for nutrient removal in cascade upflow biofiltration systems operated in parallel. The proposed filtration technology can control hydraulic gradients, prevent clogging and settlements, and increase hydraulic loading while removing more nutrients in an integrated physicochemical and microbiological treatment process. The two green sorption media being tested in this study include zero-valent-iron and perlite-based green sorption media (ZIPGEM) and biochar, iron, and perlite-integrated green sorption media (BIPGEM). BIPGEM or ZIPGEM was installed in two identical upflow bioreactors operated in sequence within each biofiltration system compared mainly for nitrate removal at three influent conditions for process reliability assessment. In addition, kinetics studies were conducted and analyzed to improve the understanding of reactor design. Dissolved organic nitrogen was monitored by using FT-ICR MS (Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer) whereas population dynamics of nitrifiers and denitrifiers were quantified by using RT-PCR (real time polymerase chain reaction). The process reliability was compared and confirmed based on the nitrate removal efficiencies, microbial population, and oxidation-reduction potential variations across the two biofiltration systems with different green sorption media. Results indicated that ZIPGEM performed slightly better than BIPGEM and the two identical upflow bioreactors operated in sequence within each biofiltration system exhibited steady operation with higher hydraulic loading relative to the downflow settings in the literature.

No description available.