ABSTRACT The addition of organic residues to agricultural soils has been used as a practical alternative to improve crop quality and health. The objective of this work was to evaluate maize physiological and nutritional responses to the application of compost and biochar combined with urea (N) and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT). The experiment was performed in plastic pots with 3 kg of soil under greenhouse conditions for 30 days. The compost and biochar were applied at the rate of 0.3 ton ha-1, using an amount of nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) demanded by crop growth. The physiological responses of maize were monitored by measuring the plant height, stalk diameter, leaf chlorophyll content, shoot dry weight and root dry weight. The nutritional responses of maize were assessed by using the nutrient concentration and the total nutrient assimilation by the plants. The results showed that the addition of compost or biochar did not alter the maize physiological response compared to the addition of mineral fertilizer used under the same conditions. However, a difference occurred in the maize nutritional responses to the compost and biochar amendments combined with urea and NBPT. The greatest N concentration in maize was observed in the treatment consisting of biochar combined with urea + NBPT. All the treatments in which compost or biochar was applied in combination with urea and NBPT presented greater total N assimilation compared to the treatment with conventional fertilization. The results of this survey showed that the combination of urea and NBPT improved the nitrogen-use efficiency of maize.

Uma linahgem de Gordonia sp. (linhagem Lc), proveniente de águas subterrâneas contaminadas por chorume, foi caracterizada por taxonomia polifásica e estudada quanto à produção de exopolissacarídeos (EPS). As células, bastonetes agregados, isolados ou aos pares em formato de V, típico de bactérias corineformes, apresentaram reação Gram positiva, catalase positiva, oxidase negativa, não apresentaram motilidade. O organismo cresceu em aerobiose e em ambiente anóxico na presença de NaNO3. A linhagem apresentou características morfológicas, bioquímicas e propriedades quimiotaxônomicas típicas do gênero Gordonia e perfil de ácidos micólicos e ácidos graxos correspondentes aos de G. polyisoprenivorans DSM44302T. A análise do seqüenciamento dos primeiros 500 pares de bases do rDNA16S da linhagem mostrou 100% de similaridade com Gordonia polyisoprenivorans DSM44302T. Experimentos conduzidos em condições anaeróbias em meio E com sacarose ou glicose como principal fonte de carbono, mostraram que a linhagem não cresceu quando cultivada com sacarose. Entretanto, utilizando-se glicose, a velocidade específica máxima de crescimento foi 0,17h-1, o tempo de geração de aproximadamente 4 horas e o máximo de produção de EPS total ocorreu durante a fase exponencial (126,17 ± 15,63 g l-1). A produção de EPS livre excedeu à de capsular e a relação EPS livre/EPS capsular aumentou de 1,9, durante a fase exponencial para 7,8 durante a fase estacionária. Até então, foram isoladas seis linhagens de G. polyisoprenivorans de diferentes ambientes. A linhagem Lc é a sexta linhagem de G. polyisoprenivorans descrita, a segunda detectada nas águas subterrâneas em questão e a primeira cuja produção de EPS está sendo estudada.

A strain of Gordonia sp. (strain Lc), from landfill leachate-contaminated groundwater was characterized by polyphasic taxonomy and studied for exopolysaccharide (EPS) production. The cells were Gram-positive, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and non-motile. The organism grew both aerobically and, in anoxic environment, in the presence of NaNO3. Rods occured singly, in pairs or in a typical coryneform V-shaped. The organism had morphological, physiological and chemical properties consistent with its assignment to the genus Gordonia and mycolic and fatty acid pattern that corresponded to those of G. polyisoprenivorans DSM 44302T. The comparison of the sequence of the first 500 bases of the 16S rDNA of strain Lc gave 100% similarity with the type strain of Gordonia polyisoprenivorans DSM 44302T. Experiments conducted in anaerobic conditions in liquid E medium with either glucose or sucrose as the main carbon source showed that sucrose did not support the growth of Lc strain and that on glucose the maximum specific growth rate was 0.17h-1, representing a generation time of approximately 4 hours. On glucose, a maximum of total EPS was produced during the exponential phase (126.17 ± 15.63 g l-1). The production of free EPS exceeded that of capsular and the free/capsular EPS ratio increased from 1.9 during the exponential phase to 7.8 during the stationary phase. At present, six strains of G. polyisoprenivorans have been isolated from various environments. Lc is the sixth strain of G. polyisoprenivorans described, the second strain detected in the landfill leachate-contaminated groundwater and the first that is being studied for EPS production.

Foi feita a análise das populações microbianas na água subterrânea da região sob a influência do aterro controlado da cidade de São Carlos, São Paulo, Brasil (poço L12) e sem a influência do mesmo (poço L5). As bactérias heterotróficas foram enumeradas pelo método de espalhamento em placa e o número de protozoários foi estimado pelo método do número mais provável. Observou-se um maior número de organismos no poço L12, com uma média de bactérias de 15,76 x 104 UFC/ml e 9,7 NMP/ml de protozoários. No poço L5 foi detectada uma média de bactérias de 2,88 x 104 UFC/ml e 3,4 NMP/ml de protozoários. A maior abundância encontrada no poço L12 pode estar relacionada à influência do chorume do aterro controlado sobre as populações microbianas, evidenciada também pela desoxigenação e pelos altos valores de condutividade (3530 µS/cm) quando comparados ao poço L5 (2,47mg/L de oxigênio dissolvido e 42 µS/cm de condutividade). Os protozoários mais comumente observados foram as amebas e os flagelados. A incubação de protozoários flagelados em condições microaerofílicas foi mais favorável, dando uma densidade 10 vezes maior do que em aerobiose.

The microbial populations of groundwaters were analyzed in a region under the influence of a landfill (piezometer L12) in the town of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, and in an area not influenced by the landfill (piezometer L5). Heterotrophic bacteria were counted by spread plate method and the number of protozoa was estimated by the most probable number method. There was a larger number of organisms in well L12, with a mean value of 15.76 x 104 CFU/ml for bacteria and 9.7 MPN/ml for protozoa, whereas the mean values for piezometer L5 were 2.88 x 104 CFU/ml for bacteria and 3.4 MPN/ml for protozoa. The greater abundance detected in piezometer L12 may be related to the influence of the leachate through the landfill on the microbial populations, also demonstrated by deoxygenation and by the high conductivity values (3530 µS/cm) compared to piezometer L5 (2.47 mg/L dissolved oxygen and 42 µS/cm conductivity). The most commonly detected protozoa were amoebae and flagellates. The density of flagellate protozoa determined under microaerophilic conditions was 10 times higher than that determined under aerobic conditions.