Laser-induced fluorescence of organic matter from a Brazilian Oxisol under sewage-sludge applications

Fluorescência induzida por laser da matéria orgânica de um Latossolo brasileiro tratado com lodo de esgoto

Abstracts

Sludge applications have been used to maintain fertility of agricultural soils without damaging the natural ecosystem. The aim of this study was evaluating the influence of sewage-sludge addition on the quality of organic matter (OM) of a Brazilian Oxisol by Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF). LIF was used to analyze OM of whole soil and different soil fractions separated by chemical and physical methods. The high fluorescence contribution of humin fraction to the fluorescence of whole soils was shown, stressing the importance of studying OM associated to mineral matrix of soil. Spectra with different shapes were obtained for every particle size fraction, indicating differences in organic compounds bounded to them. The fraction with the higher carbon content was the 2-20 µm, that contains ~5% C and represents only 10% in soil, but stores 34-39 % of total C and shows the highest fluorescence intensity. The spectrum of this fraction shows its heterogeneity and a higher concentration of compounds which fluorescence is centered at 510 nm. This indicates a higher concentration of unsaturated bond systems capable of high degree of resonance, increased conjugation of the electron pi system, and higher aromaticity comparing with other fractions. No differences were detected for treatments of sewage-sludge applications. LIF spectroscopy is a promising technique for OM studies in whole soils, allowing to study spatial distribution of OM within the soil's mineral matrix, including Oxisols.

tropical soil; spectroscopy; particle size fraction; chemical fractions

A aplicação do lodo de esgoto é utilizada como alternativa de conservação e manutenção da fertilidade dos solos sem prejudicar o ecossistema. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a influência da aplicação de lodo de esgoto sobre a matéria orgânica (MO) de um Latossolo vermelho amarelo brasileiro, através da fluorescência induzida por laser (LIF). A LIF foi utilizada para analisar a fluorescência do solo intacto e suas frações químicas e físicas. Houve grande contribuição da fração humina à fluorescência do solo intacto, remarcando a importância de estudar a matéria orgânica (MO) associada à matriz mineral do solo. Para cada fração granulométrica foram obtidos espectros com diferentes perfis, indicando diferenças nos compostos orgânicos a elas ligados. A fração 2-20 µm, que apresentou maior conteúdo de carbono (~5%), representa somente 10% do solo mas acumula 34-39 % do conteúdo total de carbono do mesmo e mostrou a maior intensidade de fluorescência. O espectro desta fração mostra sua heterogeneidade e alta concentração de compostos cuja fluorescência é centrada nos 510 nm, o que indica alta concentração de sistemas com ligações insaturadas, com alto grau de ressonância e maior conjugação do sistema de eletrons pi, indicando maior aromaticidade quando comparado as outras frações. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos de lodo de esgoto. A LIF é uma técnica promissora para caraterizar a MO de solos intatos, permitindo estudar sua distribuição na matriz mineral do solo, inclusive nos Latossolos.

solos tropicais; espectroscopia; frações granulométricas; frações químicas

SOILS AND PLANT NUTRITION

Laser-induced fluorescence of organic matter from a Brazilian Oxisol under sewage-sludge applications

Fluorescência induzida por laser da matéria orgânica de um Latossolo brasileiro tratado com lodo de esgoto

Martha González Pérez^{I, II}; Débora Marcondes Bastos Pereira Milori^I; Ladislau Martin-NetoI, ^*; Luiz Alberto Colnago^I; Otávio Antonio de Camargo^III; Ronaldo Berton^III; Wagner Bettiol^IV

^IEmbrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária - C.P. 741 - 13560-970 - São Carlos, SP - Brasil

^IIUSP/IQSC - C.P.780 - 13560-250 - São Carlos, SP - Brasil

^IIIIAC - C.P. 28 - 13020-902 - Campinas, SP - Brasil

^IVEmbrapa Meio Ambiente - C.P. 69 - 13820-000 - Jaguariúna, SP - Brasil

ABSTRACT

Sludge applications have been used to maintain fertility of agricultural soils without damaging the natural ecosystem. The aim of this study was evaluating the influence of sewage-sludge addition on the quality of organic matter (OM) of a Brazilian Oxisol by Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF). LIF was used to analyze OM of whole soil and different soil fractions separated by chemical and physical methods. The high fluorescence contribution of humin fraction to the fluorescence of whole soils was shown, stressing the importance of studying OM associated to mineral matrix of soil. Spectra with different shapes were obtained for every particle size fraction, indicating differences in organic compounds bounded to them. The fraction with the higher carbon content was the 2-20 µm, that contains ~5% C and represents only 10% in soil, but stores 34-39 % of total C and shows the highest fluorescence intensity. The spectrum of this fraction shows its heterogeneity and a higher concentration of compounds which fluorescence is centered at 510 nm. This indicates a higher concentration of unsaturated bond systems capable of high degree of resonance, increased conjugation of the electron p system, and higher aromaticity comparing with other fractions. No differences were detected for treatments of sewage-sludge applications. LIF spectroscopy is a promising technique for OM studies in whole soils, allowing to study spatial distribution of OM within the soil's mineral matrix, including Oxisols.

Key words: tropical soil, spectroscopy, particle size fraction, chemical fractions

RESUMO

A aplicação do lodo de esgoto é utilizada como alternativa de conservação e manutenção da fertilidade dos solos sem prejudicar o ecossistema. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a influência da aplicação de lodo de esgoto sobre a matéria orgânica (MO) de um Latossolo vermelho amarelo brasileiro, através da fluorescência induzida por laser (LIF). A LIF foi utilizada para analisar a fluorescência do solo intacto e suas frações químicas e físicas. Houve grande contribuição da fração humina à fluorescência do solo intacto, remarcando a importância de estudar a matéria orgânica (MO) associada à matriz mineral do solo. Para cada fração granulométrica foram obtidos espectros com diferentes perfis, indicando diferenças nos compostos orgânicos a elas ligados. A fração 2-20 µm, que apresentou maior conteúdo de carbono (~5%), representa somente 10% do solo mas acumula 34-39 % do conteúdo total de carbono do mesmo e mostrou a maior intensidade de fluorescência. O espectro desta fração mostra sua heterogeneidade e alta concentração de compostos cuja fluorescência é centrada nos 510 nm, o que indica alta concentração de sistemas com ligações insaturadas, com alto grau de ressonância e maior conjugação do sistema de eletrons p, indicando maior aromaticidade quando comparado as outras frações. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos de lodo de esgoto. A LIF é uma técnica promissora para caraterizar a MO de solos intatos, permitindo estudar sua distribuição na matriz mineral do solo, inclusive nos Latossolos.

Palavras-chave: solos tropicais, espectroscopia, frações granulométricas, frações químicas

INTRODUCTION

One of the agricultural priorities is to sustain and maintain fertility levels of soil without damaging the natural ecosystem. Alternatives such as sludge applications have been recommended to achieve this objective (Melo & Marques, 2000). Sludge is a significant source of supplementary nitrogen, phosphorus and other essential nutrients for plant growth. Once it also incorporates high quantities of organic matter (OM) that improve fertilization level and some physical-chemical properties of soils in land restoration (Melo & Marques, 2000; Piccolo et al., 1992), their disposal on agricultural soils has been strongly promoted. In addition to these agricultural benefits, the incorporation of organic amendments and crop residues into the soil, in some situations, can reduce emissions of CO₂ due to carbon fixation, with meaningful implications for mitigation of the greenhouse effect (Bayer et al., 2000).

A simple and sensitive techniques used for structural and functional characterization of humic substances is the fluorescence spectroscopy (Senesi et al., 1991; Zsolnay et al., 1999; Kalbitz et al., 2000; Milori et al., 2002). Recently, Milori et al. (2006) show that Laser Induced Fluorescence spectroscopy (LIF) can be also used in whole soil for OM structural characterization.

In this study, LIF was used to characterize structural changes in OM of whole Typic Hapludox (Latossolo vermelho amarelo) amended with sewage-sludge, and its particle size fractions. Our aim was to analyze the influence of sewage-sludge addition on soil OM and to evaluate the humification degree of OM through fluorescence behavior of whole soils and different fractions separated by chemical and physical methods.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Soil samples were collected from the superficial layer (0 - 20cm) of a Typic Hapludox (Haplic Ferralsol, FAO classification) of the experimental Station in Jaguariuna, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The soil contained 430 g kg^-1 clay, 70 g kg^-1 silt and 500 g kg^-1 sand. Organic matter content determined by Walkley-Black method (Nelson & Sommers, 1996) was 32 g kg^-1. The experimental Station is located at the geographic coordinates 22°41'S, 47°W in 570 m altitude, in a subtropical region with a mean annual temperature of 22°C, humid summers and dry winters.

The 2-year field experiment evaluated rates of sewage sludge from urban wastes, treated at the sewage-sludge treatment station at city of Franca, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in soil amendment. Soil treatments were: control (non-cultivated soil under natural vegetation (NC)), control soil amended with NPK (conventional corn fertilization) and four sewage-sludge applications (N1, N2, N4 and N8). Treatment N1 was equivalent to the dose of nitrogen applied as conventional mineral fertilization in corn (3.5 Mg ha^-1); the other doses were 2, 4 and 8 times the quantity of sewage sludge of treatment N1, respectively 7, 14 and 28 Mg ha^-1 of sewage sludge (dry matter).

Chemical fractionation

The IHSS method was used for the extraction of humic substances from soil: extraction with 0.1 mol L^-1 NaOH, precipitation with 6 mol L^-1 HCl, dialyses and freeze-drying as last step (Stevenson, 1994).

Particle size fractionation

After soil samples were air-dried at room temperature, roots and visible plant remains were manually removed and samples. Were divided into four particle size fractions by a combination of wet sieving and sedimentation (Tanner & Jackson, 1947). The sand fraction > 53 µm was separated by wet sieving after 8 minutes dispersion with ultrasonic treatment. The other three fractions were separated using sedimentation cylinders into one clay fraction (< 2 µm) and two silt fractions (2-20; 20-53 µm).

Hydrofluoric acid treatment

All samples of whole soils were treated with 10% HF (hydrofluoric acid) solution according to Gonçalves et al. (2003) using a 1:8, soil to acid ratio, and changing acid solution at least six times every two hours.

Elemental analysis

Elemental composition (C, H, N, S) of humic acid (HA) was determined using a Fisons Instruments Elemental Analyzer EA 1110.

Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) experiments

LIF emission spectra were recorded using pellets of soils and powder particle size fractions, in an experimental setup developed and described by Milori et al. (2006). To excite soil fluorescence, an argonium laser equipment syntonized at 351 nm with exit power of 400 mW was used. A prism was placed in front of the laser exit to remove background gas fluorescence. The back scattering fluorescence emitted by excited samples was collected through a convergent lens and focused on the slit of a monochromator (focal distance 240 mm, 1200 g mm^-1, and blaze 500 nm - CVI). Signals were multiplied by a Hamamatsu photomultiplier, adjusted to the maximum sensitivity in the visible region (530 nm), and filtered and amplified by a lock-in amplifier. System operation and data acquisition were controlled by specific software. The spectral resolution was adjusted to 4 nm.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

LIF of whole soils

Soil carbon contents determined before and after 10% HF treatment are shown in Table 1. Carbon contents of soils was circa 2% and similar for all treatments. The 10% HF treatment increased the carbon content to 5.8-11.0% in samples, as a consequence of dissolution of iron oxides and minerals.

Emission spectra of some whole soil samples are shown in the Figure 1a. The comparison among different spectra was made possible though the normalization by the carbon percentage. All spectra show broad bands (350 to 650 nm), resulting from overlapping of at least two bands centered at 452 and 507 nm. These bands are associated with more conjugated compounds. No significant differences were observed among different soil treatments, probably the heterogeneity of soils is interfering and averaging the fluorescence and the carbon determination, as the fraction that has the lowest carbon content constituted 50% of the soil.

Treatment of the whole soil with 10% HF was aimed to reduce contents of paramagnetic materials. This is the standard procedure, in many cases, for studying whole soils or humic acids (Schmidt et al., 1997; 2000, Dai & Johnson, 1999; Skjemstad et al., 1994; Gonçalves et al., 2003).

Comparing normalized spectra, before and after 10% HF treatment, shows that the shape of the spectrum changes as consequence of HF treatment (Figure 1b). The maximum of the spectrum before HF treatment at 452 nm shifts 20 nm towards a lower wavelength, and the intensity of the shoulder centered at 507 nm decreases, so that this band is almost disappearing for all treatments. Exchangeable cations, in this case specifically iron, act as a bonding link among carbonyl and carboxyl groups of organic matter and clay minerals (Varadachari et al., 1997). The HF 10% treatment did not only dissolve iron oxides, but also caused the loss of compounds bounded to them, as a result of either the removal of labile compounds soluble in water or the diminution of the extension of conjugation of the electron p system, as consequence of breaking the organo-mineral complex. The quality of results obtained through magnetic resonance techniques is better, but on the other hand structural information is lost. The affected compounds should be aromatic rings with a high degree of conjugation of the electron p system and/or highly substituted by carbonyl and carboxyl groups (McGarry & Baker, 2000; Senesi et al., 1991).

LIF of chemical fractions: humin and humic acids

Figure 2 shows the spectra of humin and humic acid fractions resulting from chemical fractionation. All spectra were compared at the same reflectance level, after equalizing the fluorescence intensity of the 351 nm laser line. Humin shows much higher fluorescence intensity than the HA fraction (Figure 2). The same result was obtained for all treatments. Therefore, the contribution of humin fraction to fluorescence intensity of whole soils is meaningful.

Many researchers study soil OM through humic or fulvic acid characteristics. However, only about 70% OM is insoluble. The humin fraction, especially, contains high amounts of only slightly altered lignin and polysaccharides (Zech et al., 1997). In Figure 2a the area of spectrum of the humin fraction represents 69% of the area of whole soil, while the area of the spectrum of HA represents only 18%. Figure 2a also shows the spectrum of the organic fraction separated by 10% HF treatment from humin. The latter fraction is more fluorescent than whole soil and humin. Comparing the normalized spectrum of whole soil to the spectra of other fractions (Figure 2b), it is observed that the shoulder centered at 515 m is less intense for the fractions extracted chemically from soil, being this decrease higher for HAs, thus indicating changes that OM suffer during the extraction of HAs. Also, the effect of HF treatment under chemically extracted humin is very small, in comparison to whole soils (Figure 1b). It is observed only an enlargement in the lower wavelengths region of the spectrum. There are no losses of labile soluble compounds, the separation of organic part from mineral soil matrix decrease of the extension of conjugation.

Humin contains high concentrations of conjugated systems (probably aromatics) and/or a high degree of carbonyl and carboxyl substitution (McGarry & Baker, 2000; Senesi et al., 1991). Reported results agree with those of other reports. Martin-Neto et al., (2000) describe the humin fraction as the main fraction of wetlands from the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They reported that humin has high concentration of semiquinone-type free radicals, that is, it is more humified than humic or fulvic acids. Derenne et al. (2000) report that resistant organic residues are composed mostly of melanoidins and black carbon. The latter is composed of two types of polyaromatics components that can only be poorly detected by ¹³C NMR or pyrolysis, but is detectable by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM).

LIF of particle size fractions

Figure 3a depicts the percent distribution of particle size fractions in soils, and Figure 3b their percentage of the total C content. Carbon content of particle size fractions for each treatment is also shown in Table 1. The highest carbon content (~5%) was found in the 2-20 µm fraction that stores 34-39% of total soil carbon, followed by the < 2 µm fraction (2.17-2.59% C) that accumulates 44-53% of total soil carbon, the 20-53 µm fraction (0.82-1.40% C) that retains less than 3% of total soil carbon, and the big > 53 µm fraction (<1% C), which constituted ~50% of soil but retained 9-14% of total soil carbon. Because this kind of soil has very low carbon content, studies on soil OM are difficult.

Figure 4 shows a comparison of the spectra of different particle size fractions. All spectra were compared at the same reflectance, after equalizing the fluorescence intensity of the 351 nm laser line. The shape of the spectra is different for every fraction. The spectrum of < 2 µm fraction shows a broad band with maximum intensity at 510 nm and a shoulder at 465 nm, while in the spectrum of 2-20 µm fraction, occur the two maxima at 465 and 510 nm, the first having higher intensity. The spectra of fractions 20-53 µm and > 53 µm are similar, and show a broad band with two maxima at 455 nm and 510 nm. This probably means that every mineral fraction bounds organic compounds with a different composition. Emission spectra of particle size fractions were similar in shape and intensity when soil treatments were compared.

Oades et al. (1987) studied organo-mineral associations by ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy in a Red-brown Earth. They report that coarse fractions (> 53 µm) had presence of carbohydrates, probably cellulose, together with methoxyl groups from decomposition of lignin. The finer fractions showed an increase quantity of alkyl C. The authors concluded that, in part, this arise from polymethylene and greater proportion of aromatic carbons, with a maximum content in the silt fraction (2-20 µm). They also concluded that these aromatics may represent a combination of the resistant portions of lignin plus aromatics from microbes associated with clay in small aggregates.

Martin-Neto et al. (1994) studied effects of cultivation on a Typic Argiudoll (province of Buenos Aires, Argentina) by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and registered the highest semiquinone-type free radical contents for the 2-20 µm fraction. The higher levels of semiquinone-type free radical in samples < 50 µm correlated with low C/N ratios, which have been associated with a higher humification degree of OM.

Baldock et al. (1992; 1997) found that sand fractions of A horizons from agricultural soils in Australia were dominated by O-alkyl C, using ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy, and attributed this to polysaccharides in plant residues. On the other hand, clay fractions were dominated by alkyl C, which is considered to relate to a gradual accumulation of plant derived waxes and microbial methylene type structures.

Studying chemical pathways of humification by ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy, Zech et al. (1997) reported an increase of carboxyl C and Alkyl C, together with a slight increase of aromatic carbon, especially phenolic carbon, and a decrease of O-alkyl C during litter decomposition and humification. Schmidt et al. (2000) reported increasing alkyl-C-to-O-alkyl-C ratios and decreasing C/N ratios for the A horizon of an agricultural Haplic Podzol with decreasing particle size (from 20-63 µm to < 2 µm). These results support the hypothesis that decomposition of soil organic matter increases with decreasing particle size.

Zsolnay et al. (1999) propose a humification index based on the fact that the emission spectra tends to shift towards longer wavelengths as fluorescing molecules become more condensed (lower H/C ratios). Since humification is considered to be associated with decreasing H/C ratio, long emission wavelengths indicate a high humification degree of compounds.

The fraction < 2 µm is shifted towards higher wavelengths, indicating the presence of more conjugated and more aromatic compounds, that can be either long polymethylenic chains or phenolic carbons resulting from lignin degration. The 2-20 µm fraction presents two maxima. This can be attributed to a mixture of conjugated compounds more and less aromatic, as pointed out by Oades et al. (1987). The 20-53 µm fraction is shifted towards lower wavelengths, indicating the presence of less conjugated and less aromatic compounds. The last fraction, > 53 µm, shows two maxima at 455 nm and 510 nm; once again there is a mixture of conjugated compounds, but their concentrations are low. Carbons bounded to minerals of the > 53 µm fraction were as fluorescent as carbons of 20-53 µm fraction in all treatments except N8. Since carbon contents were very different (0.27-0.54 for > 53 µm fraction, and 0.82-1.40 for 20-53 µm fraction), compounds bounded to the > 53 µm fraction had high quantic efficiency. Besides, the band of spectra centered at 455 nm for the 20-53 µm fraction indicates that less aromatic compounds are incorporated in this fraction. In the > 53 µm fraction spectra there was a band at 510 nm. This means that the conservation of more conjugated compounds with high degree of oxygen or nitrogen substitution can occur. The changes in the shape of the spectra indicate that the lower the granulometric fraction, the higher the conjugation degree of aromatic compounds bounded to them.

The 2-20 µm fraction showed the highest fluorescence intensity, indicating higher aromaticity compared to other fractions. This is related to the high carbon content (about 5%) of this fraction. The spectra of this fraction show its heterogeneity and a high concentration of compounds, with fluorescence centered at 510 nm, compared to the < 2 µm fraction. This is typical for linearly-condensed aromatic ring systems substituted by carbonyl and carboxyl groups and/or other unsaturated bond systems capable of high degree of resonance, indicating an increase of the conjugation of the electron p system (Senesi et al., 1991).

Studies of humin fraction tightly associated with soil mineral fraction are relevant and represent the main advantage of particle size fractionation under chemical fractionation, which allows studying the distribution of OM within the mineral matrix of soil. The quality of SOM measured in whole soil chemical and physical fractions, was not influenced by the used sludge treatments. Since these results were similar to those obtained with more sophisticated spectroscopic technique, such as EPR, LIF spectroscopy techniques shows promise for OM studies in whole soils, including Oxisols.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To FAPESP (project: 99/09133-4), CEPOF (project: 98/14270-8), and PADCT/CNPq (project: 62 0324/98-8), Brazilian funding agencies, for financial support.

Received June 08, 2005

Accepted May 16, 2006

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  03 July 2006
• Date of issue
  June 2006

History

• Accepted
  16 May 2006
• Received
  08 June 2005