Devido ao seu elevado teor de nutrientes e potencial de neutralização da acidez do solo, a utilização de lodos de curtume em áreas agrícolas pode ser uma alternativa para disposição e reciclagem desses resíduos. Por outro lado, o acúmulo no solo de altas concentrações de alguns elementos, como o nitrogênio, sódio e o crômio, geralmente contidos nos lodos de curtume, podem proporcionar impactos negativos ao meio ambiente. Foram conduzidos experimentos utilizando-se três solos: Nitossolo Vermelho eutroférrico típico (NVef) com textura muito argilosa, Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo distrófico típico (LVAd) com textura argilosa e Neossolo Quartzarênico órtico típico (RQo) com textura arenosa. O lodo de curtume empregado nos experimentos foi composto de uma mistura na proporção de 1:1 de lodo do caleiro, mais o lodo primário da estação de tratamento de efluentes, resultante da precipitação dos efluentes gerados no processo, com exceção dos efluentes que contém crômio, sendo as doses aplicadas (base seca) no NVef e LVAd equivalentes a 0, 6, 12, 24, 36 Mg ha-1 e 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 Mg ha-1 para o RQo. Os experimentos conduzidos em laboratório tiveram por objetivo avaliar a cinética de degradação da fração orgânica do lodo após aplicação em doses crescentes nos solos. O delineamento experimental, para cada solo, foi inteiramente casualizado, em fatorial 5 x 21 (5 doses e 21 épocas de avaliação), com três repetições. Cada dose de lodo foi aplicada em 200 g de terra que foram colocados em frasco respirométrico de 1,5 L, hermeticamente fechado. A mineralização da fração orgânica do lodo foi determinada pela captura do CO2 liberado durante um período de 105 dias. Os dados de CO2 acumulado foram ajustados ao modelo de cinética química de primeira ordem e determinação da taxa de degradação. A taxa de degradação do carbono variou de 101,28 a 57,87%. Taxas de degradação mais elevadas podem estar relacionadas com a estimulação de decomposição de material orgânico pré-existente, decorrente da aplicação de lodo de curtume, que estimula a atividade microbiana edáfica. Já as menores taxas de degradação, que ocorreram apenas nas doses mais altas, podem estar relacionadas com tal aumento do conteúdo orgânico adicionado, que tenha suplantado a capacidade de degradação dos microrganismos contidos nos solos. Os experimentos conduzidos em casa de vegetação tiveram por objetivo avaliar as alterações microbiológicas e químicas nos solos após a aplicação de doses crescentes de lodo de curtume e seu efeito sobre a cultura da soja. O delineamento experimental, para cada solo, foi inteiramente casualizado, em fatorial 5 x 4 (5 doses e 4 épocas de avaliação) com quatro repetições. Cada parcela experimental foi constituída por um vaso plástico contendo duas plantas cultivadas em 4 kg de solo. A mineralização do nitrogênio orgânico foi mais intensa até 44 dias. As doses de 17, 23 e 6 Mg ha-1, respectivamente para o NVef, LVAd e RQo, proporcionaram ganhos de produtividade de grãos de 370, 247 e 72% em relação às testemunhas (dose 0). As doses que prejudicaram o desenvolvimento das plantas foram acima desses valores, causando a morte de algumas plantas.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-04-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:02:00Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 morais_tps_dr_jabo.pdf: 2309839 bytes, checksum: 569e9c63fdd407d8d6572edfd8cbcf0f (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A retirada da cobertura vegetal original e a implantação de áreas de pastagem e canade- açúcar, com práticas de manejo inadequadas, acarretam modificações nas propriedades químicas, físicas e biológicas dos solos, com limitações na utilização agrícola e susceptibilidade à erosão. Assim, estudos dos processos físicos e químicos são importantes para avaliar as mudanças de origem natural ou antrópica sobre os meios. O estudo teve como objetivos avaliar os atributos químicos e físicos de um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo em três microbacias hidrográficas, em áreas de vegetação nativa, pastagem e cana-de-açúcar bem como analisar a ocorrência das áreas de maior escoamento superficial e, consequentemente, maior predisposição ao processo erosivo nas microbacias. A área de estudo compreendeu a microbacia hidrográfica do Córrego da Fazenda Glória, Município de Taquaritinga, Estado de São Paulo. Para a amostragem do solo foi realizada a caracterização do volume superficial, e essas amostras foram coletadas na superfície das vertentes das microbacias e em cada uso/ocupação selecionado. Os resultados obtidos foram avaliados por meio da comparação de médias para o teste de Tukey a 5%. A partir das curvas de nível da carta topográfica e dos pontos levantados com receptor geodésico de navegação com metodologia diferencial foi gerado uma malha de pontos georreferenciados em cada microbacia, para gerar o modelo numérico do terreno a partir da incorporação dos divisores de água e da rede de drenagem. As avaliações dos atributos físicos e químicos dos solos nas microbacias hidrográficas e em diferentes tipos de uso e ocupação demonstraram uma diferença significativa entre as áreas. O manejo do solo alterou os atributos químicos e físicos com impacto nas camadas superficiais do solo. A matéria orgânica foi um dos atributos mais sensíveis... / The removal of original vegetation cover and the deployment of pastures and sugarcane, with inadequate management practices, cause changes in the chemical, physical and biological properties of soils, with limitations on agricultural use and susceptibility to erosion. Thus, studies of physical and chemical processes are important to assess changes of natural development or anthropic on the means. The study was conducted to evaluate the physical and chemical attributes of a Ultisol in three watersheds, in areas of native vegetation, pasture and sugarcane, as well as, analyze the occurrence of the areas of greatest runoff and, consequently, greater predisposition to erosive processes in watersheds. The study area was the Córrego da Fazenda Glória watershed, Municipality of Taquaritinga, State of São Paulo. Soil sampling was performed to characterize the superficial volume, and these samples were collected on the surface of the watersheds and in three different land use selected. The results obtained were evaluated by the comparison of averages for the Tukey test at 5%. From the curves in a topographical map and from points collected with geodetic navigation receiver in a differential methodology was generated a digital elevation method in each watersheds. The assessments of physical and chemical attributes of soils in hydrographic watersheds and different land uses demonstrated a significant difference between the areas. Soil management altered the chemical and physical attributes impact in the soil superficial layers. The organic matter was one of the attributes more sensitive to changes due to agricultural practices. The digital terrain model showed a great potential, considering the scale of study of watersheds; and can help in spatial planning, urban and regional planning and zoning

Os fertilizantes fosfatados (FF) mais utilizados na agricultura são solúveis em água, e requerem enxofre elementar e concentrados apatíticos de elevada qualidade para produção, conduzindo à subutilização dos depósitos de fosfato (perdas elevadas de P no beneficiamento). Conseqüentemente, é necessário estudar as fontes alternativas de P. Neste trabalho foram estudadas quanto à: (i) revisão de literatura que tenta mostrar a situação atual no Brasil e no mundo; (ii) produção alternativa de fonte de P que integra matéria orgânica e RF (Humifert); e (iii) utilização de software para predizer a eficiência agronômica (EA) de RF, relativamente às fontes de P solúveis em água. Na revisão da literatura foram enfatizados: tratamento térmico, acidulação parcial, compactação ou mistura com FF solúveis em água, tratamentos com resíduos orgânicos e/ou microrganismos. Outros aspectos apontaram: (i) condições gerais para utilizar fontes de P de elevada solubilidade em água e alternativas; (ii) manejo de solos prevendo solubilização de formas de P nativo e aumento na EA de fontes de P através de cultivos precedentes ou microrganismos; (iii) calcinação de RFs do tipo Ca-Al-P (crandallita); e (iv) necessidade de pesquisas com fontes alternativas de P em condições de casa-de-vegetação e campo. Quanto ao processo Humifert, um reator foi construído para trabalhar em escala de bancada. Os objetivos foram gerar informações sobre produção dos fertilizantes "Humifert" e testar a EA dos mesmos. Diversos testes foram conduzidos quanto às condições de operação do equipamento, como tempo de reação e solubilidade dos materiais produzidos. Dois experimentos agronômicos foram conduzidos em casa-de-vegetação, relacionando os resultados dos produtos obtidos no equipamento com fonte padrão de P. Esse processo conduz a desempenho agronômico superior da RF quando comparada a mesma sem submissão às reações. Embora algumas vantagens em aumento de produção devido ao Humifert, a solubilidade e os resultados agronômicos indicam necessidade de mais pesquisas para adequar as reações, para obter fontes de P de melhor qualidade. O software para predizer a eficiência das RFs denomina-se "Phosphate Rock Decision Support System" (PRDSS) e foi desenvolvido com colaboração entre "IFDC" e "IAEA". O objetivo final é predizer a EA de RF específica relativamente a fontes de P de elevada solubilidade em água, considerando solo, características da RF, manejo do solo e clima na localidade. O experimento foi conduzido em Rondonópolis, em um LV com pH em água de 5,2, teor muito baixo de P e capacidade média de adsorção de P. As fontes de P utilizadas foram superfosfato simples, RF de Araxá e de Gafsa, aplicadas a lanço e incorporadas em 15 cm de solo, nas doses 60, 120 e 240 kg ha-1 de P2O5 total. Um controle foi adicionado para cada fonte de P. Os resultados de EAR para soja no campo foram de 100%, 51% e 97% para o SSP, RF Araxá e Gafsa, respectivamente. Os valores de EAR preditos pelo PRDSS foram de 33% e 100% para a RF Araxá e Gafsa, respectivamente, sendo consideradas boas estimativas da EAR real em condições brasileiras, inicialmente comprovando a aplicabilidade deste software para uso futuro. / The most utilized phosphate fertilizers (PF) in agriculture are the water-soluble sources, that require elemental sulfur and high quality apatite concentrates for the production, leading to the subutilization of phosphate deposits (high losses of P during the beneficiation). Consequently, it is necessary to study the alternative sources of P. In this work they were studied as related to: (i) literature review trying to show the present situation in Brazil and worldwide, (ii) alternative production of a P source combining organic matter and PR (Humifert), and (iii) utilization of software to predict the agronomic effectiveness (AE) of PR, related to water-soluble P sources. For the literature review were emphasized: thermal treatment, partial acidulation, compaction with high water-soluble PF, organic residues and/or microrganisms treatments. Other aspects targeted: (i) general conditions to utilize high water-soluble P sources and alternatives, (ii) management of soils foreseeing the solubilization of forms of native P and increase in AE of P sources through previous crops or microrganisms, (iii) calcination of PRs of the type Ca-Al-P (crandallite), and (iv) requirement for research with different sources of P in greenhouse and field conditions. As related to the Humifert process a reactor was built to work in bench scale. The objectives were to generate information relative to the production of the "Humifert" fertilizers and test the AE of them. Several tests were applied as related to the operating conditions of the equipament, as reaction time and solubility. Two agronomic experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, relating the results of the products obtained in the equipament with a standard source of P. The process lead to higher agronomic performance of the PR, when comparing it without submission to the reactions. Although some advantages in increase of production due to the Humifert, the solubility and agronomic results indicate that more research is necessary to adequate the reaction to obtain better quality P sources. The software to predict PR effectiveness is called "Phosphate Rock Decision Support System (PRDSS)" and was developed in collaboration between "IFDC" and "IAEA". The final objective is to predict the RAE of a specific PR, as related to WSP sources, taking into consideration soil, PR characteristics, soil management and clima at locality. Our experiment was conducted in Rondonopolis, in an Oxisol with pH 5.2 in water, very low content of P and medium P adsorption capacity. The P sources utilized were the single superphosphate, the Araxa PR and Gafsa, all applied broadcasted to the soil into the 15 cm soil layer, in rates 60, 120 and 240 kg ha-1 of total P2O5. A control was added for each P source. The results for RAE for soybean at field condition were 100%, 51% and 97% for the SSP, Araxa PR and Gafsa, respectively. The RAE predicted by the PRDSS were of 33% and 100% for Araxa PR and Gafsa, respectively, which can be considered good estimates of the real RAE at Brazilian conditions, initially attesting the feasibility of this software for future use.

Apesar da preocupação atual com a contaminação do ambiente, pelo uso agrícola de resíduos industriais e urbanos, metais pesados podem ser incorporados ao solo por práticas agrícolas tradicionais como uso de fertilizantes e defensivos. Objetivando avaliar o comportamento do cobre aplicado ao solo através de calda bordalesa foram conduzidos ensaios nos quais o fungicida foi aplicado ao solo acondicionado em colunas, bem como consideradas amostras de solo sob cultura de frutíferas. A mobilização do Cu foi estudada em experimento com colunas de lixiviação, feitas de tubos de cloreto de polivinil (PVC), utilizando dois tipos de solos: Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico (LVef) e Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo distrófico típico (LVAd). O cobre aplicado por um material alcalino como a calda bordalesa é relativamente imóvel no solo, mas pressupõe-se que poderá ser mobilizado pela ação de compostos orgânicos que atuam como complexantes. Desta forma, foram aplicados como compostos orgânicos: dois materiais de uso generalizado na agricultura (esterco de galinha e torta de filtro); um material sintético de elevado poder complexante (NaH2EDTA) e citrato de amônio para representar os agentes quelantes de ocorrência natural no ambiente. Em adição ao experimento em colunas, para determinar as frações de cobre presente no solo, foram coletadas amostras de solo na profundidade de 0-20 cm, no município de Louveira, Estado de São Paulo, em pomares de frutíferas onde se usa rotineiramente calda bordalesa como fungicida. Nesses locais, o teor de Cu do solo extraído por DTPA variou entre 6,5-34,3 mg Cu kg-1, enquanto que o teor de Cu total variou entre 40,8-108,8 mg kg-1. Para avaliar a disponibilidade do Cu nos solos de Louveira e nos solos do experimento em colunas foi escolhido o método de Neubauer, pela vantagem de ser um método biológico de determinação da quantidade disponível de elementos no solo. A lixiviação na coluna do solo LVAd, onde foi aplicado o EDTA, conseguiu mobilizar 436,5 µg de Cu, massa que representa uma fração muito pequena do cobre total aplicado ao solo por meio da calda bordalesa. Trata-se, entretanto, de um valor bastante significativo frente ao que foi removido nos demais tratamentos. Embora quase não tenha sido mobilizado cobre para fora das colunas, os resultados da análise química do solo indicaram a movimentação do cobre dos segmentos superiores para os inferiores, sob a ação dos tratamentos, na faixa de 5,0-48,2 mg Cu. Quanto à absorção de cobre pelas plantas no experimento de Neubauer, observou-se que a aplicação do EDTA favoreceu a absorção do cobre pelas plantas de arroz em ambos os solos estudados, entretanto não influenciou na massa seca das plantas. Já nas amostras dos solos de Louveira a absorção de cobre diminuiu a massa seca das plantas, tanto quando se considerou a concentração de cobre no tecido vegetal como a massa total de cobre absorvido. O Cu absorvido pelas plantas também se correlacionou com teores de cobre trocável, cobre ligado a carbonato e cobre ligado a óxidos de Fe e Mn, obtidos no estudo de fracionamento. O extrator DTPA mostrou ainda ser um bom indicador da disponibilidade de cobre aplicado pela calda bordalesa. / Despite the current concerns regarding the environment contamination by the agricultural use of industrial and urban wastes, heavy metals can be incorporated to the soil through traditional fertilizers and defensives. Aiming to evaluate the behavior of copper applied to the soil through the Bordeaux mixture, trials were carried out in which the fungicide was applied to the soil packed in columns, as well as samples of soil under fruit cultures were considered. The mobilization of Cu was studied in experiments with leaching columns, which consisted of polyvinyl chloride tubes (PVC), using two types of soil: Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico (LVef) e Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo distrófico típico (LVAd). Copper applied through an alkaline material such as the Bordeaux mixture is relatively immobile in the soil but it is expected to be mobilized by the action of organic complexing compounds. This way they were applied as organic compounds, two materials generally used in agriculture: poultry manure and filter cake; a synthetic material with high affinity for metals (NaH2EDTA) and ammonium citrate in order to represent the ligants of wide spread occurrence in the environment. In addition to the experiment in columns and to determine the fractions of copper present in the soil, 0-20 cm samples of soil were collected in grape and fig orchard located in the city of Louveira , SP, where the Bourdeaux mixture is commonly used as a fungicide. Is these places the total copper content of the soil extracted by DTPA varied between 40,8-108,8 mg kg-1. To evaluate the availability of copper in the soil of Louveira, and in the soils of the column experiment, the Neubauer method was chosen due to the advantage of being a biological method of determination of the available amount of elements in the soil. The leaching in the LVAd soil column, where EDTA was applied was able to mobilize 436,5 µg of cu, mass that represents a very small fraction of the total copper applied to the soil through the Bordeaux mixture. It refers to, subconsequently to a very significant amount when compared to the quantity obtained through other methods. Although almost no copper was removed out of the columns, the results of the chemical analysis indicated the movement of copper from the upper segments to the lower segments, under the action of treatments, the range of 5-48,2 mg of copper. Regarding the absorption of copper by plants in the Neubauer experiment it was observed that the application of EDTA favored the absorption of copper by the rice plants, in both studied soil, however it didn’t influence the dry mass of plants. In the soil samples from Louvreira, the copper absorption diminished the total dry mass of the plants, when considered the copper concentration in the vegetal tissue, as well as the total content of copper absorbed. The copper absorbed by the plants was correlated to exchangeable copper content as well as copper linked to carbonate and copper linked to oxides of Fe and Mn, obtained through the fractioning study. The DTPA extractor proved to be a good indicator of the availability to plants of copper applied through the Bordeaux mixture.

Por muitos anos, os dejetos brutos de suínos foram inadequadamente destinados em áreas vizinhas às granjas, havendo pouca informação quanto aos danos causados pela elevada carga orgânica, patógenos e outros contaminantes como N, K, Na, Cu e Zn. Contudo, o uso agrícola do efluente tratado pode promover o uso racional da água e de insumos, melhorias na fertilidade do solo e na produtividade. Nesse contexto, avaliou-se o tratamento dos dejetos em biodigestor anaeróbio e os efeitos da irrigação de dois cultivos de milho com os efluentes tratados. Os dejetos brutos (EB) foram peneirados e tratados no biodigestor, gerando o efluente tratado (EBL) que foi diluído (1:50, v:v) (EBLD), simulando etapas posteriores do tratamento. Periodicamente, caracterizaram-se os efluentes e avaliou-se a eficiência do tratamento. Para avaliar a depuração da carga orgânica dos efluentes em um solo argiloso e outro arenoso, realizou-se teste de respirometria, quantificando o C-CO2 liberado ao longo de 172 dias. Conduziu-se ensaio de campo delineado em blocos casualizados, avaliando os seguintes tratamentos ao longo dos cultivos do milho safra e safrinha: T1-controle; T2-fertilização mineral sem irrigação, T3-irrigação com EBL, T4-irrigação com EBLD, T5-fertilização mineral com irrigação com água. Utilizaram-se tensiômetros para avaliar a necessidade de irrigação. Avaliaram-se os efeitos sobre a qualidade e fertilidade do solo, volatilização de nitrogênio, nutrição e produtividade da cultura. O EB não se enquadrou aos limites estabelecidos para uso agrícola de resíduos. O EBL enquadrou-se a esses limites, apresentando menores valores de DBO, DQO, sólidos, teores de P, Ca, Cu, Zn, Fe e Mn, e ausência de coliformes fecais e Salmonella. Contudo, apresentou valores elevados de CE, Na e N. No teste de respirometria, obteve-se maior taxa de degradação do material orgânico adicionado ao Argissolo em comparação ao Latossolo, verificando a ocorrência do efeito \"priming\" no Argissolo. As maiores perdas por volatilização de N ocorreram de 2 a 3 dias após a aplicação de 33,3 mm do EBL, as quais foram baixas e menores em relação às obtidas para fertilizantes nitrogenados. A irrigação com EBL aumentou a condutividade elétrica nas duas camadas de solo no primeiro cultivo, e no segundo cultivo houve sua redução. Os efluentes não alteram os teores disponíveis e totais de Cu e Zn no solo. Houve aumento nos teores de K trocável e na solução do solo da camada superficial, em função do uso do EBL. Após o segundo cultivo, os teores de N-NH4+ e N-NO3- foram maiores na camada subsuperficial de T3 (EBL). Para a safrinha, o uso do EBL aumentou os teores de N na folha e no grão. Já para safra, o uso do EBL aumentou apenas o teor de N no grão. Não houve alteração nos teores de micronutrientes no tecido vegetal. As produtividades de T3 (EBL) foram iguais a 6,7 t ha-1 para a safrinha e a 13,1 t ha-1 para a safra. Além disso, o uso do EBL no solo aumentou o teor de matéria seca e o comprimento de espiga, indicando suprimento de água e nutrientes para os dois cultivos de milho / For several years, the swine manures were improperly applied in soil of areas near to swine farms, without previous treatment. Additionally, there is little information about the contamination level caused by high organic load, pathogens, and high concentrations of N, K, Na, Cu and Zn present in swine waste. However, the treated swine wastewater use can promote the rational use of water and agricultural inputs, improving soil fertility and crop productivity. In this context, it aimed to evaluate the swine liquid waste treatment through the anaerobic biodigester and the irrigation effects of two maize cultivations with treated effluents. The liquid swine waste (EB) was sieved and, after, it was treated in biodigester, generating the treated efluente (EBL). The EBL was diluted (1:50, v:v) (EBLD), in order to simulate subsequent phases of treatment. Periodically, the effluents were characterized in order to evaluate the treatment efficiency. For evaluate the organic load depuration in a clayey and sandy soils, it was performed the respirometry test, quantifying the C-CO2 released during 172 days. It was conducted the field experiment designed in randomized blocks, evaluating the following treatments during winter and summer maize cultivations: T1- control; T2-mineral fertilization without irrigation; T3-irrigation with EBL; T4-irrigation with EBLD; T5-mineral fertilization with water irrigation. It was used tensiometers for evaluate the irrigation needs. It was evaluated the effects about soil fertility and quality, nitrogen loses by volatilization, culture nutrition and productivity. The EB didn\'t presented limits in accordance to legislations about agricultural use. The EBL presented reduced values of BOD, COD, volatile solids, contents of P and Ca, and absence of fecal coliforms and Salmonella, they being in accordance to limits established by these legislations. However, the values of CE and Na were higher than these limits. In respirometry test, it was observed higher organic material degradation for Ultisol in comparison to Oxisol and, verifying the \"priming\" effect for Ultisol. The higher losses by N volatilization occurred between 2 and 3 days after application of 33.3 mm of EBL, those were lower in relation to losses obtained from mineral fertilizers. In soil, the EBL irrigation increased the CE in first cultivation, which reduced after the second cultivation. There were not changes in available and total contents of Cu and Zn in soil. There were increases in exchangeable K contents and in soil solution of superficial soil depth. After the second cultivation, the contents of N-NH4+ e N-NO3- were higher in subsuperficial depth of T3 (EBL). For winter cultivation, the EBL increased the N contents in leaf and grains. Already for summer cultivation, the EBL increased only the N contents in grains. There were not changes in micronutrients contents of vegetal tissues. The productivities of T3 (EBL) were equals to 6.7 t ha-1 for winter maize and 13.1 t ha-1 for summer maize. Furthermore, the EBL increased the dry matter and length of ear, verifying that EBL supplied nutrients and water need to maize cultivations

This research aims to understand the organization of activities across a prehispanic urban center at the Formative period site of Tlalancaleca (800 BC- AD 100), located in Puebla, Mexico. This study analyzes soil samples at the central civic-ceremonial complex of Cerro Grande in an attempt to understand the use of space. This work is a part of the larger Proyecto Arqueológico Tlalancaleca, Puebla (PATP), which is focused on understanding the socio-political organization at Tlalancaleca that led to this site of early urbanism. Soil samples from Tlalancaleca are analyzed using three chemical methods to perform a cross-comparison of analytical methods. These three methods are inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), Mehlich 3 soil phosphorus colorimetry, and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry. The final results of this soil analysis confirm that the Cerro Grande Complex was an actively used space, with areas maintained for specific uses and areas where activities changed over time. In the comparison of methods, ICP-OES was found to be the most comprehensive, precise, and accurate method to use, while pXRF and Mehlich colorimetry were found to show differing information with regards to available and natural concentrations of the different elements. An analytical examination of phosphorus, strontium, calcium, and barium revealed evidence of construction of monumental buildings, a cache, and possible separate feasting areas, indicating that physical spaces and constructions were likely attached to social and political organizations.

Forensic taphonomy is concerned with investigation of graves and grave sites. The primary aim of forensic taphonomy is development of accurate estimations of postmortem interval (PMI) and/or postburial interval (PBI). Soil has previously been largely ignored, therefore this thesis is designed to investigate changes in decomposition as imparted by the soil. Furthermore the impact of cadaver interment on the surrounding soil may offer prospects for identification of clandestine graves. A series of laboratory controlled decomposition experiments using cadavers (Mus musculus) and cadaver analogues (skeletal muscle tissue (SMT); Sus scrofa, Homo sapiens, Ovis aries and Bos Taurus) were designed to investigate decomposition in burial environments. Sequential destructive harvests were carried out to monitor temporal changes during decomposition. Analyses conducted included; mass loss, microbial activity (CO2 respiration) and soil chemistry (pH, EC and extractable NH4 +, NO3 -, PO4 3- and K+). Several experimental variables were tested; frozen-thawed versus refrigerated SMT, different mammalian sources of SMT, different soil type and contribution of soil versus enteric microbial communities. Mass loss measurements for SMT experiments demonstrated a sigmoidal pattern of mass loss, however, larger cadavers (Mus musculus, 5 weeks) did not. The inhumation of SMT (frozen, unfrozen, different mammalian sources) or cadavers leads to an increase in microbial activity (CO2 respiration) within 24 hours of burial. A peak of microbial activity is attained within a week, followed by a decrease and eventual plateau. The rapid influx in microbial activity is matched by corresponding increases in pH and NH4 + concentration. pH and NH4 + are strongly correlated in soils with acidic basal pH, by comparison highly alkaline soil demonstrated no relationship. NH4 + concentration also appeared to be related directly to NO3 - concentration and cadaver or SMT mass. A decrease in NH4 + corresponds with an increase in NO3 -, however, nitrification was unpredictable. Rapid nitrification was observed in sand systems when SMT was interred, but was not noted when cadavers were interred. By comparison both sandy clay loam and loamy sand soils demonstrated rapid nitrification after inhumation of a cadaver. When cadaver or cadaver analogue mass was larger, so were NH4 + and NO3 - concentrations in systems that experienced nitrification.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2010. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 31-39). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Plazas and patios were important spaces for expressing power and social identity in prehispanic Mesoamerica. However, plazas can be analytically problematic, because they were often kept clean of material debris. Previous geoarchaeological studies of anthropogenic soils and sediments have shown that specific activities leave characteristic chemical signatures on prepared earthen surfaces. The research presented here uses soil chemical residue analysis and excavation data to examine use patterns in the North Plaza of Palmarejo, Honduras during the Late Classic period. The goal is to determine whether the plaza was used for residential or ceremonial purposes. The chemical results indicate that activities in the northern half of the plaza were distinct from those that occurred in the southern half. These results, along with the artifact assemblage recovered from excavations, suggest ceremonial use. Additionally, this research compares various soil properties, including pH and organic matter, from the North Plaza to broaden our reach in prospecting for activity loci using soil chemistry. Recent studies tend to rely on spatial differences in elemental concentrations for identifying activity patterns in the archaeological record. However, other related soil properties sometimes correlate with chemical residues, especially phosphates. The research presented explores these interconnections with the greater goal of identifying the ways and extent to which various soil properties are linked in the formation and preservation of ancient activity loci. Results suggest that the deposition and adsorption of chemical residues in anthropogenic soils at Palmarejo are generally too variable to be accurately characterized by either pH or organic matter. Chemical elements may best reveal the use of the North Plaza in antiquity.

A study of the interactions of the specifically interacting organic compound pyridine with a model soil organic matter sorbent (Pahokee peat) was carried out from different nonaqueous organic liquid media, including neat n-hexadecane, acetonitrile, acetone and nhexadecane mixtures with either acetone or acetonitrile. Kinetic and equilibrium studies using an activity-based comparison of the organic compounds in solution was used to study the interactions of soil organic matter (SOM) and pyridine sorption capability in the various non-aqueous organic liquid media. Quantification and qualification of pyridine and the other co-solvents were done using Gas Chromatography (GC). Sorption of pyridine from neat organic solvents was not masked by sorption of the organic solvent. The apparent sorbed amount calculated from the change in solute concentration and reported on a dry weight basis was considered to represent the true sorbed concentration of pyridine in the sorbent phase. Pyridine sorption was found to be non-linear and distribution coefficients decreased with solute concentration, by approximately three times in n-hexadecane, more than five times in acetonitrile, and by ten times in acetone over the experimental concentration range. Pyridine sorption from nhexadecane was also found to be comparable with sorbed amounts from acetone, but much lower in comparison to sorption from acetonitrile. Sorption of pyridine from n-hexadecane mixtures with acetonitrile or acetone demonstrated the solvent assisted effect of pyridine sorption. Sorption uptake of pyridine increased as initial acetonitrile concentration increased, this acetonitrile assisted trend for pyridine sorption was found in the presence of a large excess of n-hexadecane. Sorbed concentrations of pyridine measured in the presence of high concentrations of acetonitrile (close to it's solubility limit) were found to be very similar to pyridine sorption from neat acetonitrile. Sorption behaviour of pyridine in n-hexadecane-acetone mixtures showed that increasing acetone concentrations had no effect on pyridine sorption. Pyridine sorbed from n-hexadecane, n-hexadecane-acetonitrile, and n-hexadecaneacetone mixtures showed a hysteretic desorption to n-hexadecane. After a series of repeated solvent extractions with solvents of increasing solvating power(1,4-dioxane, ethanol, dimethylsulfoxide), a fraction of pyridine remained bound to the peat. This nonrecoverable fraction was approximately the same for the different organic media (OA5± 0.09 in n-hexadecane suspensions, 0.57±O.12 in n-hexadecane-acetonitrile mixtures, and OA6±0.07 in n-hexadecane-acetone mixtures). Acetonitrile sorption by peat from nhexadecane was found to be very non-linear and hysteretic. The acetonitrile sorbed was almost fully recoverable, around 90%, for the initial acetonitrile concentration range varying from 0.14-0.7% by volume. However in the presence of pyridine a significant portion of acetonitrile was not recovered even after multiple extractions of polar organic solvents. Pyridine irreversible binding was not induced by acetonitrile additions and was found to occur to the same extent in both neat n-hexadecane and n-hexadecane-acetone mixtures. The solubilities of acetonitrile and acetone were determined by the flask method at 25°C using GC analysis. Solubility in volume percent for acetonitrile in n-hexadecane, 0.9±0.07, 0.57±0.02 for n-hexadecane in acetonitrile, 24.0±OA for acetone in nhexadecane, and 13 A±O.2 for n-hexadecane in acetone, were found. Log Ostwald coefficient (1.63±O.02) for acetonitrile in n-hexadecane was measured at 25°C using head space analysis and was found to be constant in the acetonitrile concentration range 0.10.8% by volume. Log Ostwald coefficient for pyridine in hexadecane used was 3.02, for the pyridine concentration range 50 mgIL-500 mg/L, this value was constant even with 0.5% by volume additions of acetonitrile. Analyses of sorption isotherms were reported on an activity basis to eliminate the effect of differential solute interactions in the solvent, calculated using the solute equilibrium concentration, the concentration of saturated vapour, and the Ostwald coefficient. Dissolution of peat components into n-hexadecane are known to be negligible. Peat components extracted after 12 hours and 3,5 months acetonitrile and acetone treatment (solid liquid ratio 1: 10) Showed 15 to 20 times less visible absorbance respectively (A. 465, 620, and 665, E4:E6 ratios using DV-Visible Spectroscopy), than the 12 hours aqueous peat extract. Quantification of the dissolved humic materials in the aqueous extract was followed using a Total Organic Carbon analyser. The study found the degree of humification to be much lower in non-aqueous organic solvent extracts (2.5 for acetone extracts, and 3 for acetonitrile extracts) than in aqueous solution extracts (8.2). / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002. / The Moshe Greidinger Scholarship Fund.