It is estimated that by 2050 the world population will be 9 billion people; and therefore, the need for alternative sources of protein is inevitable, since conventional sources, such as beef, pork and poultry, will not be sufficient to meet the demand of population growth. Food that includes alternative sources of protein, such as insects, is a reality in countries of Latin America, Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa. This research presents the results of an exploratory study that analysed the food profile of 1,619 consumers in the five Brazilian regions (North, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast and South) as well as their perception, motivation and preferred form of edible insects. The data were analysed by cross-tabulation and expressed as frequencies. Our results show that women are more reluctant than men to consume insects. In general, there is a preference for consumption of insects in the form of flour. However, those with more familiarity with this type of consumption prefer the whole insect. Most Brazilian consumers have no opinion about the safety of consuming insects; however, consumers with higher levels of education and familiarity consider it safe.

The efficiency index (EI) refers to the ratio of nutrients mineralized/made available in the soil to the total amount of nutrients added by organic fertilizer. Therefore, understanding the EI is essential for recommendation of organic fertilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the availability through mineralization and the efficiency index of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in organic fertilizers produced from cattle manure. The following treatments were evaluated in an incubation experiment under controlled conditions: soil without fertilizer (control); soil + beef cattle manure vermicompost; soil + beef cattle manure/straw compost; soil + beef cattle manure; soil + dairy cattle manure; and soil + vermicompost produced under conditions of high moisture and forced air. Nitrogen and P mineralization and K availability in the soil were evaluated at 0, 7, 14, 28, 56, 112, 224, and 365 days. Nitrogen availability in the soil increased after the bioconversion of cattle manure by composting, whereas phosphorus availability increased by vermicomposting. The average efficiency indices of N, P, and K of the fertilizers produced from cattle manure were 16, 57, and 82 %, respectively. These efficiency indices are lower than the values presented by the Liming and Fertilization Manual for the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Santa Catarina (SC), Brazil.

Wildfire events cause considerable environmental disturbance but few studies have examined changes in soil properties due to fire. This study aimed to assess the effect of a wildfire event on chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil in a eucalyptus forest in the Pampa biome. Part of a seven-year-old eucalyptus forest was affected by a wildfire event that lasted for two days. Soil and plant litter sampling was performed in three areas: in the forest that was not affected by the fire, in the forest affected by it, and in an adjacent natural pasture area (the original vegetation). Seven samples were collected from the 0.00-0.05 and 0.05-0.20 m layers of each plot for biological analysis, and three samples were collected for chemical and physical analyses. Disturbed soil samples were collected in order to determine pH, organic matter, acidity, and nutrient content. Undisturbed samples were collected to determine soil microporosity, macroporosity, total porosity, and density. Soil macrofauna was assessed through the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility method, and biological activity was tested through substrate consumption in the bait-lamina test. The fire increased soil pH values, CEC, and base saturation, as well as K, Ca, and Mg content; it decreased potential acidity and P content in the soil. Soil physical properties were not altered by the wildfire. The total abundance of macrofauna and of annelids, arachnids, coleoptera, and isoptera decreased due to the wildfire, resulting in lower soil diversity. Hymenoptera abundance increased because of the fire event. The feeding activity of organisms in the soil surface layer decreased due to the fire. The wildfire in the eucalyptus forest in the Pampa biome altered soil chemical and biological properties.

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The successive application of pig slurry to pastures is a common practice in southern Brazil

The substrate used in the production of seedlings has a key role in early development of the plant. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of vermicompost as substrates for the production and development of seedlings of lettuce (L. sativa L.). The test was conducted in the greenhouse of the Department of Soils, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, divided into 10 treatments and seven of ten repetitions. The treatments: T1-Red Residue (RVM), T2-Green Residue (RVD), T3-Residue Red: rice Husk “in nature” – 1: 1 (RVM: CAN 1: 1), T4-Residue Green: Rice husk “in nature” – 1: 1 (RVD: CAN 1: 1), T5-Residue Red: rice Husk Carbonized – 1: 1 (RVM: CAC 1: 1), T6 Residue Green: Rice husk Carbonized – 1: 1 (RVD: CAC 1: 1), T7-Residue Red: Residue green line – 1: 1 (RVM: RVD 1: 1), T8-Residue Green: Rice husk “in nature” – 3: 1 (RVD: CAN 3: 1), T9-Residue Red: rice Husk Carbonized – 3: 1 (RVM: CAC 3: 1) and T10 Fertile Turf (EB). Treatments that had better conditions on the number of leaves, height, fresh and dry biomass production of seedlings was treated with 50% residual red: 50% green waste - RVM: RVD. For the production of lettuce showed that the treatment is effective for plant height was RVM: RVD. For the other treatment variables RVM: CAC had better conditions when we compared the treatment that the CAC was in smaller proportions. It can be inferred that the RVM RVD and mixed with rice hulls and rice husk “fresh” can be used for the production of lettuce seedlings.

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