Browsing by Author "Cunha, J."
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- Diversity of metallophytes and metal(loid)-tolerant bacterial strains in a portuguese mine for phytotechnologies purposesPublication . Sousa, A. S. S.; Pereira, S. I. A.; Moreira, H.; Cunha, J.; Vila-Viçosa, C.; Castro, P.M.L.Soil contamination with metal(loid)s due to anthropogenic activities, such as mining, is a worldwide issue that affects ecosystem functioning and human health. Efforts are currently made to restore these soils through sustainable and economically strategies. Phytotechnologies stand out as reliable and ecologically sound options, focusing on the use of plants and their associated microorganisms to reclaim contaminated lands and decrease pollutant linkages. These options can also provide economic revenues, integrating soil restoration into the circular economy concept. Mining areas host metallophytes, either excluders or (hyper)accumulators, and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), adapted to high concentrations of metal(loid)s, that can be used in phytoremediation strategies. The Borralha mine is a deactivated tungsten producer located in the northern Portugal, in which the ending of mineral extraction left several open-air tailings highly contaminated with metal(loid)s, such as Cu, Zn, Cd, As and Pb. This study aimed to assess the most abundant metallophytes and characterize the culturable bacterial community present in Borralha mine tailings for biotechnological purposes. Plant biodiversity was assessed over 1 year period, covering the different seasons. Based on plant taxonomy, a total of 14 plant species were identified, with some species (e.g., Agrostis capillaris, Cytisus striatus, Erica arborea, Pinus pinaster, Rubus ulmifolius, Salix caprea and Sedum arenarium) showing potential to be used in remediation strategies. For soil bacteria characterization, a composite soil sample was collected from vegetated and non-vegetated areas in the tailing zone. A total of 65 bacterial isolates were isolated and characterized genotypically and phenotypically (e.g. metal tolerance and plant growth promoting traits). Several bacterial strains showed potential to be used as bioinoculants in assisted- phytoremediation approaches
- Fertilizer potential of slurry from intensive dairy cattle farms in Intensive production forestry systemsPublication . Menino, R.; Moreira, H.; Castelo-Branco, A.; Gomes, A. A.; Rodrigues, A.; Castro, P. M. L.; Cunha, J.; Guedes, R.; Pereira, S. I. A.Intensive dairy cattle breeding has a relevant social and economic impact in Portugal, particularly in the northern region. This activity generates a high flow of livestock effluents (slurry), rich in important nutrients for plant growth, which can be introduced into intensive production forestry systems. These effluents can provide a good alternative to mineral fertilizers, not only from an economic perspective but, particularly, from the point of view of environmental protection. In the present study, the effect of increasing doses of slurry on tree growth, either with or without mycorrhizal arbuscular fungi (AMF) and plant growthpromoting bacteria (PGPB) inoculation, was evaluated in clones of Paulownia CoT2 and Populus i214, as they are genotypes that have a high efficiency in the mobilization of soil nutrients (namely N) and in the capture of CO2 from the atmosphere, as well as high biomass calorific value. For this purpose, a demonstration field trial was installed, occupying an area of 14,607 m2 , where the trees were planted with the compasses of: 2.5 x 1.5 m and 2.5 x 0.75 m, respectively for Paulownia and for Poplar. Prior to transplantation to the field, some plants were inoculated with AMF and PGPB. In the field, the following treatments were performed: T0 - no fertilization, either mineral or organic; T1 - amount of slurry equivalent to 85 kg of N ha-1; T2 - amount of slurry equivalent to 170 kg of N ha-1; T3 - amount of slurry equivalent to 340 kg of N ha-1, both with and without inoculation. Results revealed a significant and positive effect of the slurry application, both in the diameter at breast height (DBH) and total stand height (TH), showing its high fertilizing potential, and, on the other hand, there was no increased contamination by nitrates and by pathogenic microorganism in the leachates for the experimental doses of slurry. Therefore, we can conclude that, under the experimental conditions, the slurry resulting from the intensive exploitation of cattle constitutes an alternative to exclusively mineral fertilization in intensive production forestry systems, either by increasing the production of biomass or by the absence of contamination of aquifers by nitrates and pathogens.
- GO-BIOCHORUME: sistemas biológicos de utilização do chorume proveniente de explorações de pecuária intensiva de bovinos leiteirosPublication . Menino, R.; Pereira, S. I. A.; Moreira, H.; Castelo-Branco, A.; Gomes, A.A.; Rodrigues, A.; Cunha, J.; Castro, P. M. L.; Vega, A.; Cardoso, E.; Machado, M. J.; Alves, R.; Cardoso, F.; Lopes, F.; Guedes, R.
- Potential of slurry from intensive dairy cattle farms for Paulownia and Populus trees, as organic fertilizer: I. effect on productionPublication . Menino, R.; Pereira, S. A.; Moreira, H.; Branco, A. C.; Gomes, A. A.; Rodrigues, A.; Cunha, J.; Castro, P.; Vega, A.; Cardoso, E.; Machado, M. J.; Alves, R.; Cardoso, F.; Lopes, F.; Guedes, R.
- Potential of slurry from intensive dairy cattle farms for paulownia and populus trees, as organic fertilizer: I. effect on productionPublication . Menino, R.; Pereira, S. I. A.; Moreira, H.; Castelo-Branco, A.; Gomes, A. A.; Rodrigues, A.; Cunha, J.; Castro, P.M.L.; Vega, A.; Cardoso, E.; Machado, M. J.; Alves, R.; Cardoso, F.; Lopes, F.; Guedes, R.Intensive dairy cattle breeding have a relevant social and economic impact in portugal, particularly in the northern region. This activity generates a high flow of livestock effluents (slurry), rich in important nutrients for plant growth, which can be introduced into forest production systems. These effluents can provide a good alternative to mineral fertilizers, not only from an economic perspective, but also from the point of view of soil fertility resilience. In the present study, the effect of increasing doses of slurry on tree growth was evaluated in clones of paulownia and populus, as they are genotypes that have a high efficiency in the mobilization of soil nutrients and in the capture of co2 from the atmosphere, as well as high biomass calorific value. To this end, a demonstration field was installed, where the trees were planted with the compasses of: 2.5 x 1.5 m and 2.5 x 0.75 m, respectively for paulownia and for populus. In the field, the following treatments were performed: t0 - no fertilization, either mineral or organic; t1 - amount of slurry equivalent to 85 kg of n ha-1; t2 - amount of slurry equivalent to 170 kg of n ha-1; t3 - amount of slurry equivalent to 340 kg of n ha-1, either with or without inoculation prior to transplantation, with mycorrhizal arbuscular fungi and plant growth-promoting bacteria. Results evidenced a positive effect of the slurry application, both in the diameter at breast height and in total stand height, showing its fertilizing potential which should later be assessed on the ability to constitute an alternative or, simply, a complement to mineral fertilization