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Soil mineralogy and management can have substantial effects on phosphorus (P) diffusion in soil and hence on root morphology. The aim of this study was to assess these effects in soils differing widely in P-sorbing components. Samples of a Rhodic Paleudult (RP), a Rhodic Hapludox (RH), and a Humic Hapludox (HH) under conventional tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT) were placed in Petri dishes to assess P diffusion. Performance and root morphology in corn grown on soil samples subjected to three different P fertilization treatments (no fertilizer, surface, and deep fertilizer application) were examined. Phosphorus diffusion was slower in the HH than in the other soils by effect of its high P adsorption capacity because of its mineralogy. Soil management had no effect on P diffusion. Fertilization with P only affected plant-related variables in RH: surface fertilization increased root biomass, and deep fertilization shoot biomass and proportion of thick roots. Soil management affected plants growing on HH and RP: the plants grown under NT were taller (RP) and developed more fine roots (HH) than those under CT. Fertilization with P had little effect on plant growth in the goethite-rich soil (HH) or the one with high content in available P (RP). Our results suggest that management system in these soils has therefore greater influence on fertility than fertilization treatment.

This work aimed to evaluate the thermal and photo stability of the antioxidant potential (AP) of the Spirulina platensis biomass. Thermal stability was established at 25ºC, 40ºC and 50ºC for 60 days, in the dark, protected from light. Photo stability was evaluated using UV (15 W, λ = 265 nm) and fluorescent (20 W, 0.16 A, power factor FP > 0.5, 50/60 Hz, 60 lm/w, 1200 lm) light for 90 days in capsules, glass and Petri dishes, at room temperature. The AP of the biomass in these conditions was determined at intervals (every 7 and 30 days in the studies of thermal and photo stability, respectively) using the induction of the oxidation of a lipid system by heat and aeration. In this lipid system, the biomass submitted to degradation was used as an antioxidant. The kinetics of the reaction was determined by the Arrhenius method. Thermal degradation was found to follow zero order kinetics, whereas photo degradation followed first order kinetics. The AP decreased 50% after 50 days at 25°C. At 40°C and 50°C, the AP decreased more than 50% after 35 and 21 days of exposition, respectively. The decrease of the AP of Spirulina was more sensible to UV and fluorescence light. After 30 days of exposition, the AP decreased more than 50% in all storage conditions tested. The antioxidant potential of Spirulina platensis is easily degraded when the biomass is exposed to heat and light, indicating the need for care to be taken in its storage.Keywords: Arrhenius, stability, kinetic, degradation, cyanobacteria, microalgal biomass. Estabilidade térmica e fotoestabilidade do potencial antioxidante deSpirulina platensis em pó ResumoEste trabalho objetivou avaliar a estabilidade térmica e a foto-estabilidade do potencial antioxidante (PA) da biomassa da Spirulina platensis. A estabilidade térmica foi avaliada a 25ºC, 40ºC e 50ºC por 60 dias. A foto-estabilidade foi avaliada usando luz UV (15 W, λ = 265 nm) e fluorescente (20 W, 0.16 A, fator de potência FP > 0.5, 50/60 Hz, 60 lm/w, 1200 lm) por 90 dias em cápsulas, vidro e placas de Petri. O PA da biomassa nessas condições foi determinado em intervalos de tempo (a cada 7 e 30 dias nos estudos de estabilidade térmica e foto-estabilidade, respectivamente), usando a indução da oxidação de um sistema lipídico por calor e aeração. Neste sistema lipídico, a biomassa submetida à degradação foi usada como antioxidante. A cinética da reação foi determinada pelo método de Arrhenius. A degradação térmica seguiu uma cinética de zero ordem, enquanto que a fotodegradação seguiu uma cinética de primeira ordem. O PA diminuiu 50% depois de 50 dias a 25°C. A 40°C e 50°C, o PA diminuiu mais de 50% depois de 35 e 21 dias de exposição, respectivamente. A diminuição do PA da Spirulina foi mais sensível à luz UV e fluorescente. Depois de 30 dias de exposição, o PA diminuiu mais de 50% em todas as condições de armazenamento testadas. O potencial antioxidante da Spirulina platensis é facilmente diminuído quando a biomassa é exposta ao calor e a luz, indicando a necessidade de cuidados durante seu armazen...

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