Fast and effective arsenic removal from aqueous solutions by a novel low-cost eggshell byproduct.

Developing alternative green solutions for local and correct recycling of eggshells waste (ES) are needed by the egg-processing industries. In this study, we proposed transforming ES into a novel low-cost chemical compound named hydroxyl-eggshell (ES-OH) and investigated its capacity for arsenic (As) removal from aqueous solutions. Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of ES-OH doses, pH, kinetics, and isotherms on As removal efficiency. The kinetics study showed that ES-OH removed nearly all As from solution in less than 15 min. The pseudo-second-order model described the process, and the maximum As removal capacity predicted by the Langmuir isotherm model was 529 mg g-1. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray detector (SEM-EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), we found that the As removal mechanism by ES-OH was due to vladimirite precipitation, followed by weak electrostatic interactions between the precipitate and arsenate ions. Finally, after an economic analysis, we conclude that besides being a novel and economical income source, egg-producing companies might implement the ES-OH production process as a local environmentally-friendly way of recycling eggshells and reducing water As contamination.

Physiological effects of mercury-contaminated Oxisols on common bean and oat.

The heavy metal mercury (Hg) is one of the most complex and toxic pollutants. When present in soils, it may impair plant growth, but the intensity of damage depends on the physical-chemical properties of the soil such as pH, clay, and organic matter content, which in turn affects Hg sorption and bioavailability. Understanding Hg potential damage to staple food crops is of paramount relevance. Here, we evaluated the physiological effects of Hg in Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) and Avena sativa (oat) cultivated in two Oxisols with contrasting properties: Rhodic Acrudox (RA) and Typic Hapludox (TH). We performed four independent experiments (one per species/soil combination) that lasted 30 days each. Treatments were composed by HgCl2 concentrations in soils (0 to 80 mg kg-1 Hg). At the end of the experiment, we determined the impact of Hg on photosynthesis, nutritional status, and oxidative stress. Cultivation in TH contaminated with Hg resulted in oxidative stress in common bean and decreased photosynthesis/P accumulation in oat. No deleterious effects on physiological variables were detected in both species when cultivated in the RA soil. In general, we conclude that the lower Hg sorption in the TH soil resulted in toxicity-like responses, while acclimation-like responses were observed in plants cultivated in RA, reinforcing soil physical-chemical properties as key features driving Hg toxicity in Oxisols. Graphical abstract.

Influence of Molybdenum doses in inoculation and mineral fertilization in cowpea beans / Influência de doses de molibdênio na inoculação e na fertilização nitrogenada em feijão caupi

In some leguminous plants, associations with nitrogen-fixing microorganisms allow their nutrition with nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere. This process is known as Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF), where through nitrogenase enzymes, N2 is converted to an available form. This process can replace in part, or in total, nitrogen fertilizers. Cowpea bean is a legume species that is recognized for its high capacity to carry out BNF. In the last decades, studies have encouraged small farmers from north and northeast Brazil to use inoculants with rhizobia species since the results of researches have demonstrated that inoculation is an interesting strategy to improve cowpea production. Considering the specific function of molybdenum (Mo) in the N assimilation, different doses of Mo were tested in this study in order to find doses that could improve and enhance BNF. Therefore, this study aimed to compare nitrogen fertilization and BNF in the N assimilation by plants with different Mo doses. Inoculation was performed with the strains UFLA 03-84 and INPA 03-11B. Doses of Mo were applied in seeds and each pot contained five seeds. Thirty-five days after germination, the plants were analyzed for shoot dry matter and fresh matter, N contents and accumulation, as well as the Soil-Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) Index and nodulation in inoculated plants. The different doses of Mo and also the nodulation treatments did not show significant differences in the contents of N. Plants with N fertilization had significant higher shoot dry matter and root dry matter production, in addition to higher N foliar contents and N accumulation. Therefore, BNF was not as efficient as nitrogen fertilization in the evaluated experimental conditions using cowpea beans.

Em algumas plantas de leguminosas, as associações com microorganismos de fixação permitem a sua nutrição com N (nitrogênio) da atmosfera. Este processo é conhecido como Fixação Biológica de Nitrogênio (FBN), onde através de enzimas nitrogenase N2 é convertido na forma disponível. Este processo pode substituir em parte, ou no total, fertilizantes nitrogenados. O feijão-caupi é uma espécie de leguminosa que é reconhecida pela sua alta capacidade de FBN. Nas últimas décadas, estudos encorajaram os pequenos agricultores do norte e nordeste do Brasil a usar inoculantes com espécies de rizobio, uma vez que os resultados das pesquisas têm demonstrado que a inoculação é uma estratégia interessante para melhorar a produção dessa cultura. Considerando a função específica do molibdênio (Mo) na assimilação do N, diferentes doses de Mo foram testadas neste estudo, a fim de encontrar doses que possam melhorar e potencializar a FBN. A inoculação foi feita com as estirpes UFLA 03-84 e INPA 03-11B. As diferentes doses de Mo foram aplicadas na semente, cinco sementes por vaso. Trinta e cinco dias após a germinação, as plantas foram analisadas com relação à matéria seca aérea e radicular, teor de N e acúmulo, índice de análise de desenvolvimento solo-planta (SPAD) e nodulação nas plantas inoculadas. As diferentes doses de Mo não mostraram diferenças significativas no conteúdo de N, nem no processo de nodulação. As plantas com adubação nitrogenada tiveram mattera seca da parte aérea e de raízes superior as inoculadas, além de maiores teores foliares de N. Portanto, para feijão-caupi, a FBN não foi tão eficiente quanto o fertilizante nitrogenado nas condições experimentais avaliadas.

Copper phytotoxicity in agricultural crops cultivated in tropical soils / Fitotoxicidade do cobre em culturas agrícolas cultivadas em solos tropicais

Copper is a micronutrient for living organisms, but at high concentrations it may cause several deleterious effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of agricultural crops to different concentrations of Cu in the soil. The species Triticum aestivum (wheat), Zea mays (maize), Oryza sativa (rice), Phaseolus vulgaris (dry bean), Glycine max (soybean), and Raphanus sativus (radish) were cultivated in the soils Typic Hapludox (TyHpx) and Rhodic Acrudox (RhAcx). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse and the soils were set in pots in a completely randomized design, with four replicates per treatment adding the following Cu concentrations (as Cu-nitrate): 0, 75, 150, 300, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 mg kg-¹ dry soil. Measurements of biological variables, such as shoot dry weight (SDW), plant height, stem diameter, and number of leaves were carried out, in addition to determining Cu content in the SDW. At the TyHpx, a decreasing order of tolerance to Cu phytotoxicity was: dry bean, maize, soybean, wheat, radish, and rice. However, at the RhAcx, the decreasing order was: maize, soybean, radish, wheat, dry bean, and rice. The species that revealed the highest sensitivity to high Cu concentrations in soil was rice and that with the lowest sensitivity was maize.(AU)

O cobre é um micronutriente para organismos vivos, mas em altas concentrações pode causar vários efeitos deletérios. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o comportamento de culturas agrícolas em diferentes concentrações de Cu no solo. As espécies Triticum aestivum (trigo), Zea mays (milho), Oryza sativa (arroz), Phaseolus vulgaris (feijão), Glycine max (soja) e Raphanus sativus (rabanete) foram cultivadas nos solos Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo distrófico típico (LVAd) e Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico típico (LVdf). O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação e os solos foram colocados em vasos, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições por tratamento, adicionando às seguintes concentrações de Cu (como nitrato de Cu): 0, 75, 150, 300, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 mg kg-¹ de solo seco. Foram realizadas medidas das variáveis biológicas matéria seca da parte aérea (MSPA), altura da planta, diâmetro do caule e número de folhas, além disso foi determinado o teor de Cu na MSPA. No LVAd, a ordem decrescente de tolerância à fitotoxicidade do Cu foi: feijão, milho, soja, trigo, rabanete e arroz. No entanto, no LVdf, a ordem decrescente foi: milho, soja, rabanete, trigo, feijão e arroz. A espécie que revelou maior sensibilidade às altas concentrações de Cu no solo foi o arroz e a que apresentou menor sensibilidade foi o milho.(AU)

Copper phytotoxicity in agricultural crops cultivated in tropical soils / Fitotoxicidade do cobre em culturas agrícolas cultivadas em solos tropicais

Copper is a micronutrient for living organisms, but at high concentrations it may cause several deleterious effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of agricultural crops to different concentrations of Cu in the soil. The species Triticum aestivum (wheat), Zea mays (maize), Oryza sativa (rice), Phaseolus vulgaris (dry bean), Glycine max (soybean), and Raphanus sativus (radish) were cultivated in the soils Typic Hapludox (TyHpx) and Rhodic Acrudox (RhAcx). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse and the soils were set in pots in a completely randomized design, with four replicates per treatment adding the following Cu concentrations (as Cu-nitrate): 0, 75, 150, 300, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 mg kg-¹ dry soil. Measurements of biological variables, such as shoot dry weight (SDW), plant height, stem diameter, and number of leaves were carried out, in addition to determining Cu content in the SDW. At the TyHpx, a decreasing order of tolerance to Cu phytotoxicity was: dry bean, maize, soybean, wheat, radish, and rice. However, at the RhAcx, the decreasing order was: maize, soybean, radish, wheat, dry bean, and rice. The species that revealed the highest sensitivity to high Cu concentrations in soil was rice and that with the lowest sensitivity was maize.

O cobre é um micronutriente para organismos vivos, mas em altas concentrações pode causar vários efeitos deletérios. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o comportamento de culturas agrícolas em diferentes concentrações de Cu no solo. As espécies Triticum aestivum (trigo), Zea mays (milho), Oryza sativa (arroz), Phaseolus vulgaris (feijão), Glycine max (soja) e Raphanus sativus (rabanete) foram cultivadas nos solos Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo distrófico típico (LVAd) e Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico típico (LVdf). O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação e os solos foram colocados em vasos, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições por tratamento, adicionando às seguintes concentrações de Cu (como nitrato de Cu): 0, 75, 150, 300, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 mg kg-¹ de solo seco. Foram realizadas medidas das variáveis biológicas matéria seca da parte aérea (MSPA), altura da planta, diâmetro do caule e número de folhas, além disso foi determinado o teor de Cu na MSPA. No LVAd, a ordem decrescente de tolerância à fitotoxicidade do Cu foi: feijão, milho, soja, trigo, rabanete e arroz. No entanto, no LVdf, a ordem decrescente foi: milho, soja, rabanete, trigo, feijão e arroz. A espécie que revelou maior sensibilidade às altas concentrações de Cu no solo foi o arroz e a que apresentou menor sensibilidade foi o milho.