Dark septate endophytic (DSE) fungi are facultative biotrophs that associate with hundreds of plant species, contributing to their growth. These fungi may therefore aid in the search for sustainable agricultural practices. However, several ecological functions of DSE fungi need further clarification. The present study investigated the effects of DSE fungi inoculation on nutrient recovery efficiency, nutrient accumulation, and growth of tomato plants fertilized with organic and inorganic N sources. Two experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions in a randomized blocks design, with five replicates of tomato seedlings grown in pots filled with non-sterile sandy soil. Tomato seedlings (cv. Santa Clara I-5300) inoculated with DSE fungi (isolates A101, A104, and A105) and without DSE fungi (control) were transplanted to pots filled with 12 kg of soil which had previously received finely ground plant material [Canavalia ensiformis (L.)] that was shoot enriched with 0.7 atom % 15N (organic N source experiment) or ammonium sulfate-15N enriched with 1 atom % 15N (mineral N source experiment). Growth indicators, nutrient content, amount of nitrogen (N) in the plant derived from ammonium sulfate-15N or C. ensiformis-15N, and recovery efficiency of 15N, P, and K by plants were quantified 50 days after transplanting. The treatment inoculated with DSE fungi and supplied with an organic N source showed significantly higher recovery efficiency of 15N, P, and K. In addition, the 15N, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn content, plant height, leaf number, leaf area (only for the A104 inoculation), and shoot dry matter increased. In contrast, the only positive effects observed in the presence of an inorganic N source were fertilizer-K recovery efficiency, content of K, and leaf area when inoculated with the fungus A104. Inoculation with A101, A104, and A105 promoted the growth of tomato using organic N source (finely ground C. ensiformis-15N plant material).

O acúmulo de N, P, K, Ca e Mg nos tecidos da parte aérea e na serapilheira acumulada sobre o solo, bem como a velocidade de decomposição de filódios e a eficiência de uso de nutrientes (CUB) da Acacia mangium Willd (mangium) foram avaliados num povoamento localizado em Seropédica, RJ. A espécie apresentou elevada eficiência de uso dos nutrientes, acumulando, aos cinco anos, grande quantidade de biomassa em sua parte aérea (135 t.ha-1) e contendo: 544,9 kg.ha-1 de N; 281,7 kg.ha-1 de Ca; 242,9 kg.ha-1 de K; 47 kg.ha-1 de Mg e 35,2 kg.ha-1 de P. Na serapilheira acumulada sobre o solo (12,7 t.ha-1), foram encontradas reservas significativas dos nutrientes (251,0; 5,7; 14,6; 102,7 e 22,7 kg.ha-1 de N, P, K, Ca e Mg respectivamente). A constante de decomposição (k) foi estimada em 0,00165 g.g-1.dia-1 e o tempo de meia vida dos filódios em 421 dias. A acumulação de serapilheira pode ser positiva no sentido de constituir reserva de nutrientes para cultivos em sucessão, mas também pode representar uma desvantagem, por servir como combustível em áreas sujeitas a queimadas.

Os fragmentos florestais inseridos no domínio da Floresta Atlântica apresentam grande importância em relação ao estoque de carbono e a ciclagem de nutrientes. Este estudo objetivou estimar a biomassa e o estoque de carbono na biomassa, o estoque de serapilheira e o estoque de carbono e nutrientes na serapilheira, em duas florestas estacionais semideciduais com diferentes estádios sucessionais (25 e 65 anos), classificadas como floresta secundária em estádio médio (FSEM) e floresta secundária em estádio avançado (FSEA), localizadas na Bacia do Rio Paraíba do Sul, Pinheiral, RJ. Em cada estádio sucessional foi delimitada uma parcela de 50 x 50 m, onde foram realizadas as amostragens. A biomassa estimada acima do solo foi de 44,3 Mg ha-1 na FSEM e 131,6 Mg ha-1 na FSEA, sendo os valores totais, incluindo a biomassa de raízes, respectivamente de 57,6 Mg ha-1 e 171,0 Mg ha-1. O estoque de carbono da biomassa aérea foi 20,8 Mg ha-1 na FSEM e 61,8 Mg ha-1 na FSEA. Com relação à serapilheira, verificaram-se maiores valores do estoque, teores e conteúdos de carbono orgânico e nutrientes na FSEA. A serapilheira acumulada no solo se mostrou como uma importante via de transferência de N, Ca e Mg, destacando-se os teores e conteúdos de N na FSEA e de Ca na FSEM. Palavras-chave: ciclagem de nutrientes, sequestro de carbono, serapilheira, sucessão florestal Biomass, carbon stocks and nutrients in successional stages of the Atlantic Forest,

Resumo -Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a deposição de serapilheira e a transferência de N associada às folhas e folíolos desse resíduo em plantios puros e consorciado de guachapele (Pseudosamanea guachapele) e eucalipto (Eucalyptus grandis), aos sete anos de idade, em Seropédica, RJ. No ano de avaliação (2000/2001) a deposição anual de serapilheira nos diferentes plantios não diferiu significativamente: 12,75 Mg ha -1 (guachapele); 11,84 Mg ha -1 (eucalipto) e 12,44 Mg ha -1 (consorciado). Mesmo com pequena participação na composição da serapilheira em plantio consorciado (11% do total depositado), a leguminosa proporciona redução no tempo médio de residência dos resíduos no solo de 0,3 ano, comparativamente ao plantio puro de eucalipto.Termos para indexação: ciclagem de nutrientes, consórcio florestal. Contribution of litter and nitrogen to soil under Pseudosamanea guachapele and Eucalyptus grandis plantationsAbstract -The litter deposition and nitrogen content on litter leaves were studied on seven years old pure and 1:1 mixed stand of guachapele (Pseudosamanea guachapele) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis). There was no difference in litter deposition among species in pure or mixed crop: 12.75 Mg ha -1 for guachapele, 11.84 Mg ha -1 for the eucalyptus and 12.44 Mg ha -1 for the mixed crop. The legume three contribution to the mixed stand was only 11% of the total, but reduced by 0.3 year the time of residue residence on the soil.

In March 2013, 40 leading experts from across the world gathered at a workshop, hosted by the European Commission, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, Italy, to discuss the multiple benefits of soil carbon as part of a Rapid Assessment Process (RAP) project commissioned by Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE). This collaboration led to the publication of the SCOPE Series Volume 71 "Soil Carbon: Science, Management and Policy for Multiple Benefits"; which brings together the essential scientific evidence and policy opportunities regarding the global importance of soil carbon. This short communication summarises the key messages of the assessment including research and policy implications. (Résumé d'auteur

& Key message Inter-specific interactions with eucalypts in mixed plantations increased N 2 fixation rate of acacia trees compared to monocultures. N 2 fixation was higher during the wet summer than during the dry winter both in acacia monocultures and in mixed plantations. & Context Introducing N-fixing trees in fast-growing tropical plantations may contribute to reducing the long-term requirements of N fertilizers. Management practices established in forest monocultures should be revisited in mixed-species plantations. & Aims This field experiment aimed to compare N 2 fixation rates of Acacia mangium Wild in monospecific stands and in mixedspecies stands with Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden. A secondary objective was to gain insight into the seasonal variations of N 2 fixation. & Methods 15 N was applied to acacia and eucalypt monocultures and mixed-species with a 1:1 ratio at mid rotation. Leaves were collected in autumn, winter, spring, and summer to determine the foliar N concentrations and 15 N atom fraction.

In spite of the normally low content of organic matter found in sandy soils, it is responsible for almost the totality of cation exchange capacity (CEC), water storage and availability of plant nutrients. It is therefore important to evaluate the impact of alternative forest exploitation on the improvement of soil C and N accumulation on these soils. This study compared pure and mixed plantations of Eucalyptus grandis and Pseudosamanea guachapele, a N 2 -fixing leguminous tree, in relation to their effects on soil C and N stocks. The studied Planosol area had formerly been covered by Panicum maximum pasture for at least ten years without any fertilizer addition. To estimate C and N contents, the soil was sampled (at depths of 0-2.5; 2.5-5.0; 5.0-7.5; 7.5-10.0; 10.0-20.0 and 20.0-40.0 cm), in pure and mixed five-year-old tree plantations, as well as on adjacent pasture. The natural abundance 13 C technique was used to estimate the contribution of the soil organic C originated from the trees in the 0-10 cm soil layer. Soil C and N stocks under mixed plantation were 23.83 and 1.74 Mg ha -1 , respectively. Under guachapele, eucalyptus and pasture areas C stocks were 14.20, 17.19 and 24.24 Mg ha -1 , respectively. For these same treatments, total N contents were 0.83; 0.99 and 1.71 Mg ha -1 , respectively. Up to 40 % of the soil organic C in the mixed plantation was estimated to be derived from trees, while in pure eucalyptus and guachapele plantations these same estimates were only 19 and 27 %, respectively. Our results revealed the benefits of intercropped leguminous trees in eucalyptus plantations on soil C and N stocks. Index terms: Mixed plantations, Pseudosamanea guachapele, Eucalyptus grandis;soil organic matter, 13 C natural abundance.( RESUMO: CARBONO E NITROGÊNIO EM SOLO DE PASTAGEM REFLORESTADA COM EUCALIPTO E GUACHAPELEApesar de os teores de matéria orgânica serem normalmente baixos em solos arenosos, ela é responsável por quase a totalidade da CTC, armazenamento de água e disponibilidade de nutrientes desses solos. A avaliação de sistemas de exploração florestais alternativos, com vistas em incrementar a acumulação de C e N, devem ser incentivados. Este estudo compara plantios puros e mistos de Eucalyptus grandis e Pseudosamanea guachapele, leguminosa fixadora de N 2 , em relação os estoques de C e N do solo. Os plantios foram realizados em áreas anteriormente manejadas com Panicum maximum num Planossolo, que, por pelo menos dez anos, não recebeu qualquer fertilizante. Para estimar o C e o N estocado, foram retiradas amostras das camadas de 0-2,5; 2, 5-5,0; 5,0-7,5; 7,5-10,0; 10,0-20,0 e 20,0-40,0 cm tanto nos plantios puros e mistos, quanto na área de pasto. A técnica da abundância natural do 13 C foi utilizada na estimativa do C originado das árvores nos 10 cm superficiais. Os estoques de C e N, no plantio misto atingiu valores de 23,83 e 1,74 Mg ha -1 , respectivamente. Nos puros, de guachapele e eucalipto, e no pasto os estoques de C estimados foram de 14,20; 17,19 e 24,24 Mg ha -1 , respec...

Eucalyptus plantations offer a cost-effective and renewable source of raw material. There is substantial interest in improving forestry production, especially through sustainable strategies such as the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria. However, little is known about Eucalyptus microbiology. In this study, the endophytic bacterial community was assessed in Eucalyptus urograndis roots using culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques with plants grown under different conditions. Three phyla accounted for approximately 95% of the community, with Actinobacteria corresponding to approximately 59%. This contrasts with previous studies in which Actinobacteria accounted for only 5 to 10%. Our data also revealed a high diversity of bacteria, with 359 different genera but a high level of dominance. Six genera, Mycobacterium, Bradyrhizobium, Streptomyces, Bacillus, Actinospica, and Burkholderia, accounted for more than 50% of the classified sequences. We observed a significant influence of the treatments on some genera, causing changes in the bacterial community structure. The obtained data also suggest that Eucalyptus may benefit from biological nitrogen fixation, with many abundant genera being closely related to nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Using N-depleted media, we also cultured 95 bacterial isolates, of which 24 tested positive for the nifH gene and were able to maintain growth without any N source in the medium.