Glyphosate is a systemic post-emergent herbicide of the non-selective organophosphate group widely used in apple orchards in the South of Brazil. It may have adverse effects on beneficial soil microorganisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biodegradability of glyphosate by soil microbiota in apple orchards with different histories of application of the product. For that purpose, soil samples from the region of Vacaria, Rio Grande do Sul, were used, with the biodegradation of glyphosate being evaluated by […]

Organic acids play an important role in the nutritional conditions of plants. Their relevance is related to their formation dynamics, mineralization rate and adsorption by soil colloids. This study was carried out to evaluate the dynamics of mineralization and adsorption of organic acid (acetic acid – AA, citric acid – CA and humic acid – HA) applied to the soil. Samples of two Oxisols were used: Rhodic Haplustox (LV) and Typic Haplustox (LVA). The mineralization experiment was arranged in a […]

Although phthalates are among the most common pollutants found in the environment, there are little data about bioremediation of tropical soils contaminated with phthalates. For this reason, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the bioremediation of an industrially used soil contaminated with Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and isobutanol, in São Paulo State. The bioremediation was based on indigenous soil microorganisms and inoculum adapted in a slurry phase reactor. The reactor was monitored for 120 days and […]

Atrazine, an herbicide of the s-triazine group, was used in laboratory experiments to determine its mineralization and sorption on samples of a Dusky-Red Latosol under conventional and no-tillage systems. Atrazine ring-labeled 14C was added to the soil samples, with the 14CO2 being produced and atrazine-14C soil extracts analyzed by liquid scintillation. The results showed very low mineralization rates of atrazine, which were correlated with the total carbon and nitrogen contents, as well as with soil humic fractions. Atrazine mineralization decreased […]

Microorganisms were isolated from phenolic sands resulting from metallurgic activities, using Minimal Medium for fungi containing pentachlorophenol (PCP) as the only carbon source. After four successive subcultures every 15 incubation days, the final culture was plated on Martin Medium Agar. Three different fungi were isolated and subsequently identified as Acremonium sp., Paecilomyces sp. and Penicillium sp.; which were tested for their ability to degrade: PCP, indigo dye and Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR). The decolouration of indigo dye was 99% […]