Although common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has a good potential for N 2 fixation, poor nodulation following inoculation, principally under field conditions, has led to increased nitrogen (N) fertilizer use in this crop. In the face of the negative environmental effects of N fertilizer, alternative methods have been studied to minimize the amount to be applied. In this sense, foliar application of molybdenum (Mo) has been cited as a promising method. Several papers show that high bean yields (1,500-2,500 kg ha -1 ), may be obtained in the southeasten region of Brazil, when there is an application of N as side dressing or Mo spray 25 days after plant emergence. A field experiment was carried out to verify the effect of Mo foliar application on nitrogenase and nitrate reductase activities and on bean yield. Treatments included Rhizobium inoculation (with and without), foliar application of Mo 1 Corresponding author.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um levantamento da diversidade de microrganismos endofíticos, em plantas de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) coletadas de áreas comerciais, no Estado de São Paulo, e de etnovariedades dos estados do Amazonas e Bahia e, também, avaliar seu potencial para fixar N atmosférico e para produzir ácido indolacético. Nos três estados, foram identificadas 47 espécies de microrganismos pertencentes a 27 gêneros. Bacillus spp. foi o mais freqüente em todas as regiões. O maior número de gêneros foi encontrado em plantas provenientes do Estado do Amazonas, que apresenta a maior diversidade de microrganismos endofíticos. Amplificações por PCR do gene nifH foram avaliadas em espécies bacterianas pertencentes às γ-Proteobacteria. Isolados AIA positivos foram obtidos de material coletado em todos os estados, e foram representados por microrganismos pertencentes aos subgrupos γ-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, Bacilli e Actinobacteria. A ocorrência de bactérias endofíticas em plantas de mandioca, com capacidade para fixar N atmosférico e produzir AIA in vitro, indica potencial para promover o crescimento da planta.Termos para indexação: Manihot esculenta, Bacillus, Actinobacteria, fixação de nitrogênio, ácido indolacético. Cassava endophytic microorganisms of commercial plantings and ethnovarieties in three Brazilian statesAbstract -The aim of this work was to perform a survey of the diversity of endophytic microorganisms in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) collected from commercial plantings, in the State of São Paulo, and in ethnovarieties collected in the States of Amazonas and Bahia, and also, to evaluate its potential of biological nitrogen fixation, and to produce indolacetic acid. In those States, 47 species of 27 genera were identified. Bacillus spp. was the most frequently found in all sampled regions. In Amazonas State, it was found the higher diversity of endophytic microorganisms. PCR amplifications of the nifH gene were evaluated in species of γ-Proteobacteria subgroup. IAA production was found in microorganisms isolated in cassava grown in all sampled States and belonged to the following subgroups: γ-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, Bacilli and Actinobacteria. In cassava, the occurrence of endophytic bacteria, with N-fixing and in vitro IAA-producing abilities, indicates potential for plant growth promotion.Index terms: Manihot esculenta, Bacillus, Actinobacteria, nitrogen fixation, indol-acetic acid. IntroduçãoOs microrganismos associados às plantas são considerados endofíticos, quando habitam o interior da planta sem causar danos aparentes ao hospedeiro (Hallmann et al., 1997

inoculação mais adubação química, exceto a nitrogenada. As maiores produtividades de soja, tanto no primeiro como no segundo ano agrícola, foram obtidas nas duas maiores doses de lodo. Os teores de vários elementos nos grãos de soja, nos tratamentos com lodo, não diferiram, significativamente, daqueles obtidos nos tratamentos testemunha ou com adubação mineral. Perdas de NO 3 -para o ambiente podem ocorrer, principalmente no período inicial do ciclo da cultura.Termos para indexação: biossólido, fósforo, mineralização de nitrogênio, metais pesados. Availability of soil nutrients, quality of grains and yield of soybean in soil treated with sewage sludgeAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the direct and residual effects of sewage sludge soil application, as a source of phosphorus, on soybean yield, on grain quality for human consumption, and the potential of NO 3 -leaching. The experiment was carried out in the field, and the following treatments were compared: absence of chemical fertilization and sewage sludge; complete chemical fertilization; inoculated soybean plus dose 0 of sludge; inoculated soybean plus 1.5 t ha -1 of sewage sludge; inoculated soybean plus 3 t ha -1 of sewage sludge; inoculated soybean plus 6 t ha -1 of sewage sludge; and inoculated soybean plus chemical fertilization, except nitrogen. The highest sewage sludge doses resulted in highest soybean yield, in the first and second year. Contents of several elements in soybean grains, under sewage sludge treatments, were not significantly different from those obtained in the control and chemical fertilization treatments. Losses of NO 3 -to the environment may occur, mainly in the beginning of crop growth cycle.

Resumo -O conhecimento da dinâmica da mineralização de materiais orgânicos adicionados ao solo é importante para predizer os efeitos das possíveis perdas de N para o ambiente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a variação do N mineral, no período da seca e das águas, em solo cultivado com milho, após incorporação de doses crescentes de lodo de esgoto. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de parcelas não fertilizadas, parcelas com adubação nitrogenada (NM), parcelas com dose de lodo de esgoto calculada para fornecer à cultura o mesmo teor de N do tratamento NM (1N) e parcelas com duas, quatro e oito vezes a dose de lodo de esgoto do tratamento 1N. As quantidades de lodo de esgoto a serem aplicadas ao solo, devem ser diferentes no período da seca e das águas mesmo quando se baseiam nas necessidades de N, em decorrência das perdas desse elemento em períodos de intensas precipitações.Termos para indexação: Zea mays, mineralização do nitrogênio, imobilização do nitrogênio, biossólido. Variation on the quantity of mineral nitrogen in a soil amended with sewage sludgeAbstract -The knowledge of the organic materials mineralization dynamic added to soil is important to predict the effects of possible N losses to the environment. The objective of this work was to evaluated the variation of mineral N in the dry and rainy periods, in a soil cultivated with maize, after its amendement with increasing doses of sewage sludge. The treatments were plots not fertilized, plots with N fertilization (NM), plots with dose of sewage sludge, calculated to supply the same N content of the NM treatment (1N), and plots with two, four and eight times the sewage sludge dose of the 1N treatment. The quantities of biosolid to be added to the soil should be different in the dry and rainy periods, even when they are based on N of the crop requirement, because great N losses may occur in periods of high pluvial precipitation.

Background One of the main concerns related to the increasing use of sewage sludge in the soil is the possible presence of excess nutrients, which could cause environmental problems and detrimental effects on the soil microorganisms, considered essential to soil nutrient cycling. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the microbial biomass and activity and some chemical characteristics of one specific tropical soil, classified as Dark Red Distroferric Latosol, of a loamy/clayey texture, in a long-term field experiment using anaerobically digested household sludge amendment. The sludge doses applied were the recommended dose and 2, 4 and 8 times the recommended dose. The authors hypothesized that the frequent application of this compound to the soil, even when using the recommended dose, could affect the available phosphorus (Pav) and heavy metal contents of the soil, resulting in concentrations above the needs of the culture as well as negatively affecting the activity of the soil microorganisms.ResultsThe results demonstrated that successive applications of sludge, calculated considering the recommended dose of N for corn, did not increase the soil Pav contents in relation to the treatment in which the fertilizer was applied considering the nutrient needs of the culture, contrary to what happened with the highest sludge doses. The Cr, Ni and Cu contents increased with increase in sludge dose, but did not surpass the limits considered inadequate. There were no accentuated differences between the treatments with respect to microbial biomass C. Basal respiration and the FDA hydrolysis were considered to be the parameters that most differentiated the effect of increasing sludge doses on the microbial activity.ConclusionThe application of a sludge dose to a tropical soil, based on the recommended dose, did not affect the Pav or heavy metal contents of the soil even after years of application. Since there were no differences between the treatments with respect to the Cmic values, to the contrary of what happened with the other microbiological parameters evaluated, the possibility of changes in the composition of the microbial community with the higher sludge doses was considered.