Browsing by Author "Godinho, Mariana"
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- Bio-based superabsorbent hydrogels for nutrient releasePublication . Ribeiro, Alessandra B.; Moreira, Helena; Pereira, Sofia I. A.; Godinho, Mariana; Sousa, Ana Sofia da Silva; Castro, Paula; Pereira, Carla F.; Casanova, Francisca; Freixo, Ricardo; Pintado, Manuela E.; Ramos, Óscar L.Drought is characterized by a low water precipitation rate, with strong impact on crop productivity, threatening global food production. In this context, the use of soil amendments, such as superabsorbent hydrogels constitute a potential technology for better water use efficiency and higher crop yields. In this work, we synthesised cellulose-based hydrogels, characterized their physical and functional properties, evaluated their impact on the environment, and their potential to be used as a soil amendments. The hydrogel showed pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and conductivity below 10.0 µS cm-1. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed a low intensity peak in the crystallinity region, which was supported by the low crystallinity index (27.3% ± 0.6) verified by Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. The swelling capacity reached more than 200 g of water, the hydrogel showed good resistance to osmotic pressure and high thermostability, which favours the application in hot and arid areas. In addition, no potentially hazardous compound was detected, nor was there any adverse effect on soil microorganisms. Further, the hydrogel was found to be safe for use during seed sowing and for promoting seedling development. In the greenhouse pot experiment, the hydrogels showed a significant increase in maize shoot and root biomass, demonstrating their ability to contribute to the overall water holding capacity of the soil, thereby influencing nutrient availability for more efficient plant growth. In conclusion, the superabsorbent hydrogel exhibited promising characteristics for use as a soil amendment, scalability potential and constitutes a sustainable alternative for agricultural applications.
- Bio-based superabsorbent hydrogels for nutrient-controlled releasePublication . Ribeiro, Alessandra B.; Moreira, Helena; Pereira, Sofia I. A.; Godinho, Mariana; Castro, Paula; Pereira, Carla F.; Casanova, Francisca; Freixo, Ricardo; Pintado, Manuela E.; Ramos, Óscar L.The drought is characterized by a low water precipitation rate, with strong impact on the crop productivity, threaten global food production. In this context, the use of soil amendments, such as superabsorbent hydrogels constitute a potential technology for water use efficiency and increase crop yields. In this work, it was synthesised a cellulose-based hydrogel, carrying out its characterisation, evaluated its environmental safety and its potential to be used as a soil amendment. The hydrogel was successfully synthesised using a simple process and inexpensive reagents. The hydrogel showed pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and conductivity below 10.0 µS cm-1. The FTIR showed a low intensity peak in the crystallinity region, which was supported by the low crystallinity index (27.3 % ± 0.6) verified by PXRD analysis. The swelling capacity reached more than 200 g of water, the hydrogel showed good resistance to osmotic pressure and high thermostability, which favours the application in hot and arid areas. Regarding the safety evaluation, no potentially hazardous compound was detected, nor was there any adverse effect on soil microrganisms. In addition, the hydrogel was found to be safe for use during sowing and for promoting seedling development. In the green pot experiment, the hydrogel demonstrated a significant increase in maize biomass, root biomass and potential to serve as a reservoir for soil nutrients. In conclusion, the superabsorbent hydrogel exhibited promising characteristics for use as a soil amendment, scalability potential and constitutes a sustainable alternative for agricultural applications.
- Biodiversity assessment in a floating treatment wetland established in a stormwater pondPublication . Calheiros, Cristina S. C.; Ilarri, Martina; Godinho, Mariana; Castro, Paula M. L.; Pereira, Sofia I. A.Floating treatment wetland (FTW) are a nature-based solution delivering a wide range of ecosystem services when applied in water bodies, such as lakes and rivers. They are recognized for delivering biodiversity, aesthetic integration, and water quality enhancement through phytoremediation processes, although research is still needed to go deeper into the processes underlying the performance of these systems and evaluate the extent of biodiversity promotion especially on pond ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the plant establishment and biodiversity associated with an FTW set up in a rural artificial stormwater pond, with a polyculture comprising Iris germanica, Acorus gramineus, Caltha palustris, and Typha latifolia set in a cork agglomerate platform. For this, it was assessed the culturable bacterial communities associated to the floating platform and the rooting system, and the macroinvertebrates associated to the FTW and to the pond margin. Culturable bacterial communities colonizing the floating platform biofilm and the plant rhizosphere were isolated, identified by 16S rRNA, and characterized for their ability to produce plant growth-promoting substances (e.g., indole-acetic acid, siderophores). There was a high bacterial genera diversity associated with the FTW and with the ability to produce plant growth-promoting substances. Bacterial strains with outstanding growth-promoting traits can be used in the future to support phytoremediation strategies or plant resilience to climate change-related abiotic stresses. Regarding the biodiversity of macrofauna, namely macroinvertebrates, associated with FTW, they were mostly from the order Odonata. The FTW attracted mainly individuals of the genus Coenagrion, which represented more than 80 % of the associated fauna. The full life cycle of dragonflies and damselflies occurred in the FTW. These systems proved to be a hotspot of biodiversity supporting water and landscape management plans, besides aesthetics integration. This study gives new insights into broadening the FTW applications in stormwater or prospects to polluted water.
- Effect of microbial and biochar application on sunflower growth and metal accumulationPublication . Godinho, Mariana; Moreira, Helena; Henriques, Isabel; Castro, Paula; Pereira, Sofia
- Effect of microbial and biochar application on sunflower growth and metal accumulationPublication . Godinho, Mariana; Moreira, Helena; Henriques, Isabel; Castro, Paula; Pereira, Sofia
- Effects of biochar and bioinocula on biomass and Cu accumulation of sunflower grown in a metal-contaminated mining soilPublication . Godinho, Mariana; Moreira, Helena; Henriques, Isabel; Castro, Paula M. L.; Pereira, Sofia I. A.
- Microbial inoculants alleviate the adverse effects of Cu-contaminated soils amended with biochar on sunflower growthPublication . Godinho, Mariana; Moreira, Helena; Castro, Paula Maria Lima; Pereira, Sofia Isabel AlmeidaSoil contamination is a pressing global issue driven by various anthropogenic activities, such as mining. This study evaluated the use of biochar and microbial inoculants as phytoremediation allies in promoting sunflower growth in a Cu-contaminated mining soil. Sunflower seedlings were planted in a Cu-contaminated mining soil amended with increasing doses of biochar (0 %, 2.5 %, and 5 % w/w) under greenhouse conditions. Seedlings were singly and co-inoculated with the bacterial strain Pseudomonas reactans EDP28 and the commercial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Rhizophagus irregularis. The addition of 2.5 and 5 % of biochar to the Cu-contaminated mining soil significantly reduced sunflower shoot biomass by 49 % and 46 %, respectively, and root biomass by 63 and 50 %, respectively. This decrease is likely attributed to increased Cu accumulation in plant tissues, particularly in the roots (on average +38 %), driven by the enhanced availability of Cu in the soil. However, microbial inoculation, particularly the combined application of the bacterial strain and the AMF (Mix treatment), significantly supported sunflower growth and resilience under metal stress conditions. Mix treatment improved root elongation, root biomass, and shoot biomass by 48 %, 143 %, and 122 % at 2.5 % biochar, and by 45 %, 54 %, and 137 % at 5 % biochar, respectively. This was achieved by improving chlorophyll content and nutrient use efficiency. The beneficial effects were clearer in soils without biochar addition, where inoculation fully promoted sunflower growth. In contrast, in biochar-amended soils, inoculation helped to partially counteract the negative effects of biochar on plant development. This study demonstrates that sunflowers can effectively tolerate and accumulate high levels of Cu in their tissues, making them a promising candidate for phytoremediation strategies in mining areas, especially when aided by microbial inoculants, whilst the role of biochar in phytoremediation requires further investigation. Biochar can facilitate metal accumulation, but its impact on plant growth needs careful management. Future research should focus on optimizing the application rates and combinations of biochar and microbial inoculants to maximize phytoremediation efficiency and minimize any adverse effects on plant growth.