Pyrolysis of Sewage Sludge: Physical, Chemical, Morphological and Mineralogical Transformations

Abstract The sewage sludge (SS) use in agriculture has been limited by the Brazilian legislation to a few situations, mainly as a precautionary measure due to inorganic pollutants and pathogens. Thus, a large amount of SS has been accumulated in landfills, with no prospect of use, generating great concern for governments and society. Thermal treatment via pyrolysis has stood out as an option for SS recycling, transforming it into a carbon-rich product known as SS biochar (SSB). Biochar from SS showed good potential to be used for agricultural and environmental purposes. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of pyrolysis at 300°C on the physical, chemical, morphological and mineralogical characteristics of SSB. In general, pyrolysis increased total carbon, total nitrogen, macro and micronutrient contents, except potassium. Pyrolysis also increased heavy metals (HMs) concentration in SSB. However, HMs values remained below the maximum limits allowed according to the legislation on SS agricultural use. X-ray analysis showed that both SS and SSB present silica (SiO2) as the main mineral. Pyrolysis also increased the SS surface area (SA) and porosity. In general, results of the present study prove showed that pyrolysis is a technological alternative to enable SS use as a sustainable input in agriculture.

Sewage Sludge Biochar Effects on Phytopathogenic Fungi and Beneficial Microorganisms

Abstract Biochar (BCH) is a solid product, rich in carbon, obtained by heating biomass under controlled conditions of oxygenation, in a process known as pyrolysis. Its benefits are associated with improvements to the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Furthermore, BCH can affect the growth of phytopathogenic microorganisms. Despite research advances in this area, there is still a lack of information on the effect of BCH concentration on different soilborne microorganisms. This work evaluated the direct effect of sewage sludge biochar (SSB) on the in vitro growth of different soilborne fungi. Eight phytopathogens [Fusarium oxysporum, F. oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (CEN 1456), Macrophomina phaseolina (429), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. sclerotiorum (CEN 1147), Sclerotium rolfsii (CEN 216), Sclerotium cepivorum (CEN 1357), Rhizoctonia solani] were evaluated. Additionally, a biological control agent [Trichoderma afroharzianum (T-22)] was also studied. Microorganisms were subjected to growth in PDA (Potato-Dextrose-Agar) culture medium enriched with SSB. Biochars, produced at 300 and 500 ºC, were applied at different doses: 0.0 (control), 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 (g of SSB/100 ml of PDA). Biochars showed inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth of the different fungi evaluated. It was observed that there is a certain specificity of biochar concentration that must be evaluated for the control of phytopathogens. In most cases, the 0.4 and 0.6% concentrations had a greater inhibitory effect on phytopathogens and did not affect the biological control agent. Therefore, SSB proved to be a promising product for the control of different soilborne phytopathogens.

Biochar and Trichoderma harzianum for the Control of Macrophomina phaseolina

Abstract This study is based on the importance of biological control methods and the lack of information on the effect of biochar (BCH) from sewage sludge associated or not with Trichoderma harzianum on the control of Macrophomina phaseolina in the bean crop (Phaseolus vulgaris, cv. BRS Estilo). Biochar from sewage sludge, pyrolyzed at 500 ºC and used in low concentration (0.5%), has a direct effect on the in vitro control of M. phaseolina. However, higher BCH concentrations stimulated the growth of the pathogen. In culture medium with or without BCH, T. harzianum (strain 1306) inhibited the mycelial growth of M. phaseolina. The addition of BCH + T. harzianum reduced the deleterious effects caused by M. phaseolina on bean plants. This study demonstrated that joint application of BCH from sewage sludge + T. harzianum considerably increased the fresh and dry mass of bean plants, inoculated or not with M. phaseolina.

Soil microbial biomass and activity in wetlands located in preserved and disturbed environments in the cerrado biome / Biomassa e atividade microbiana do solo em veredas situadas em ambientes conservados e antropizados no bioma cerrado

The veredas (a type of wetlands) are wet ecosystems usually associated with the presence of hydromorphic soils, which often occur in the vicinity of springs and watercourses of the Cerrado region in Brazil. This study aimed to assess microbiological and biochemical soil properties in wetlands (veredas) located in preserved and disturbed environments (in farming and grazing areas) in the Cerrado biome. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm, along reference lines arranged according to their position in the landscape, in the upper, middle and lower positions of one of the slopes. The total soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (Cmic and Nmic), microbial biomass C:N ratio, microbial quotient, basal respiration, metabolic quotient and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic activities in soil (as total soil heterotrophic enzymatic activity) were determined. The soils of veredas adjacent to agricultural and livestock environments showed changes in their biological properties compared to preserved ecosystems. Increased microbial biomass (Cmic and Nmic) is reported in veredas located nearby grazing areas under intensive and technified management, on the soil surface layer (0-10 cm), especially in the lower slope position, while in agricultural environments, under the same conditions of relief and depth, there is a relative decrease in microbial biomass carbon.

As veredas são ecossistemas úmidos, normalmente associados à presença de solos hidromórficos, que ocorrem com frequência nas proximidades das nascentes e cursos d'água da região do Cerrado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar atributos microbiológicos e bioquímicos do solo em áreas úmidas (veredas) localizadas em ambientes conservados e antropizados (em áreas agrícolas e pastagens), no bioma Cerrado. Amostras de solo foram coletadas nas profundidades de 0-10 cm e 10-20 cm, ao longo de linhas de referência dispostas, segundo sua posição no relevo, nas posições superior, média e inferior de uma das vertentes. Foram determinados o carbono orgânico total do solo, carbono e nitrogênio da biomassa microbiana (Cmic e Nmic), relação C:N da biomassa microbiana, quociente microbiano, respiração basal, quociente metabólico e atividade enzimática total do solo. Os solos de veredas vizinhas a ambientes agropecuários apresentaram variações em seus atributos biológicos, comparativamente a ecossistemas conservados. Em veredas adjacentes a pastagens sob manejo intensivo tecnificado, na camada superficial do solo (0-10 cm), ocorreu o incremento da biomassa microbiana (Cmic e Nmic), notadamente na posição inferior do relevo, enquanto em ambientes agrícolas, nas mesmas condições de relevo e profundidade, observou-se uma diminuição relativa do carbono da biomassa microbiana.

Frações granulométricas da matéria orgânica em latossolo sob plantio direto com gramineas / Granulometric fractions of organic matter of a latosol under no-till with grasses

O estudo da matéria orgânica do solo e de seus compartimentos visa obter informações a cerca da sua estabilidade e localização na estrutura do solo, bem como sua quantidade e qualidade em sistemas de uso do solo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as frações da matéria orgânica em solo sob manejo de plantio direto com gramíneas. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com três repetições e cinco tratamentos (sistemas de cultivos), com medidas repetidas no espaço. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de milho em monocultivo; Brachiaria humidicola; Panicum maximum cv Aruana; milho + Brachiaria humidicola e milho + Panicum maximum cv Aruana. Foram determinados os teores de carbono orgânico total, carbono orgânico particulado e carbono orgânico associado aos minerais do solo nas profundidades de 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm. Foram também analisados os acréscimos e reduções dos estoques de carbono nas diferentes frações utilizando-se a área de cerrado como referência. Os resultados demonstraram que os sistemas com consorciação de culturas e forragens ocasionaram efeitos nos diferentes compartimentos da matéria orgânica. Devido ao curto período de condução do plantio direto, as alterações promovidas pelas culturas nas frações da matéria orgânica foram mais expressivas nas camadas superficiais do solo. Sob plantio direto, o milho em monocultivo ou consorciado com Brachiaria humidicola promoveu aumento nos estoques de carbono orgânico total e nas frações COp e COam, tendo o cerrado nativo como referência. Nos demais sistemas, o uso do solo promoveu aumento dos estoques de COT e COam e redução na fração COp.

The study of soil organic matter and its compartments seeks to obtain information about their stability, localization in soil structure as well as their quantity and quality under land use systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the organic matter fractions in soil under no-till management with grasses. The experimental design was a randomized block, with three replications and five treatments (cropping systems), with repeated measures in space. The treatments consisted of corn; Brachiaria humidicola; Panicum maximum cv Aruana; corn + Brachiaria humidicola, corn + Panicum maximum cv Aruana. The concentrations of total organic carbon, particulate organic carbon and organic carbon associated with minerals were analyzed in the soil at depths 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. Increases and reductions of carbon stocks in organic matter fractions, using the Cerrado as a reference, were also analyzed. The results demonstrated that the systems with intercropping and fodder caused different effects on organic matter pools. Because of the short period of no-till the changes promoted by crops in organic matter fractions were more significant in the soil surface layers. Under no-till, maize only or intercropped with Brachiaria humidicola promoted an increase in total organic carbon and organic carbon fractions, when the native cerrado soil was used as reference. In other systems, land use increased stocks of OCam and TOC, but promoted reduction in POC stocks.

Recuperação de carbono obtida por três métodos em frações da matéria orgânica de latossolo, sob consórcio milho-forrageiras, no cerrado / Carbon recovery obtained by three methods in organic matter fractions of latosol under maize-grass intercropping in the cerrado

A dinâmica da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) pode ser melhor compreendida após identificadas suas frações lábeis (> 53 µm) e estáveis (< 53 µm). Diante da importância crescente do uso de técnicas de fracionamento físico da MOS, torna-se necessário avaliar se a recuperação de carbono nessas frações é influenciada pelos métodos utilizados para sua determinação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os teores de carbono, por três métodos, em diferentes frações da matéria orgânica, num Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico sob consórcio milho-forrageiras e em sistema solteiro. Foram determinados os teores de carbono das frações: (i) particulada da matéria orgânica (COP) e naquela (ii) associada aos minerais da matéria orgânica (COM). Determinou-se ainda, o teor de (iii) carbono orgânico total do solo (COT) na matéria orgânica não fracionada. Três métodos de determinação do carbono orgânico do solo foram utilizados: (i) Walkley & Black modificado, (ii) Mebius modificado, e (iii) combustão via seca, em analisador elementar (CHN). Foram utilizadas amostras de solos de três sistemas de manejo dispostos em delineamento em blocos casualizados, com três repetições para determinação do carbono orgânico do solo: (i) milho solteiro; (ii) milho consorciado com capim colonião (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana); e (iii) milho consorciado com braquiária (Brachiaria humidicola). As amostras de solo foram coletadas na profundidade de 0 ­ 5 cm. O método Walkley & Black apresentou menores valores de COT em relação ao CHN nos sistemas de manejo milho/braquiária e milho solteiro, e mostrou valores de COP semelhantes àqueles obtidos pelo CHN nos sistemas de manejo milho solteiro e milho/braquiária. Valores de COT, COP e COM obtidos pela metodologia de Mebius modificado foram semelhantes àqueles obtidos pelo analisador elementar, para todos os sitemas de manejo. O COP, quando avaliado pelas metodologias de Mebius e CHN, mostrou-se significativamente mais sensível às alterações de manejo em relação ao COT e COM.

Soil organic matter alterations can be better understood when it is fractionated for the identification of its labile (> 53 µm) and stable (< 53 µm) fractions. Because of the increasing and important use of soil organic matter fractionation techniques, it becomes necessary to evaluate if the carbon recovery in these fractions is influenced by methods used for its determination. The aim of this work was to evaluate the content of organic carbon in soil organic matter fractions, by three different methods, under maize-grass intercropping and sole maize in a dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol (Oxisol). The following carbon contents were determined from the fractions: (i) of the particulate soil organic matter (POM) and from that (ii) of mineral-associated soil organic matter (MOC). The content of total organic carbon (TOC) was also determined in the non-fractionated soil organic matter. Three methods for the determination of soil organic carbon were used: (i) Walkley & Black modified, (ii) Mebius modified, and (iii) dry combustion in a CHN elemental analyzer. The experimental design was a randomized block design with three replications. Soil samples were collected from three management systems: (i) sole corn; (ii) maize-Panicum maximum intercropping; and (iii) maize- Brachiaria humidicola intercropping. Soil samples were collected from the depth of 0 ­ 5 cm. Lower TOC were found in the Walkley & Black method in relation to the CHN elemental analyzer, under the management systems sole maize and maize-Panicum maximum intercropping. However, the Walkley & Black method showed similar POM in relation to CHN analyzer method, under the management systems sole maize and maize-Brachiaria humidicola intercropping. TOC, POM and MOC obtained from the Mebius modified method were similar to those obtained from the elemental analyzer, under the three management systems. The POM when evaluated by the Mebius and CHN methods, showed to be more sensible to soil management alterations.