Tamara Maria Gomes

Parasitological risk assessment from wastewater reuse for disposal in soil in developing countries

The purpose of this work is to analyze the parasitological risks of treated wastewater reuse from a stabilization pond in the city of Piracicaba, in the State of São Paulo (Brazil), and the level of treatment required to protect public health. Samples were taken from raw and treated wastewater in stabilization ponds and submitted to a parasitological, microbiological and physicochemical analysis. The study revealed on treated wastewater the presence of Ascaris sp. and Entamoeba coli with an average density of 1 cysts L(-1) and 6 eggs L(-1), respectively. For Ascaris, the annual risks of infection due to the accidental ingestion of wastewater irrigation were 7.5 × 10(-2) in 208 days and 8.7 × 10(-2) in 240 days. For Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli in treated wastewater, the average density was 1.0 × 10(5) MPN/100 ml and 2.7 × 10(4) MPN/100 ml respectively, representing 99% and 94% removal efficiency, respectively. For BOD, COD, TS and TSS removal efficiency was 69, 80, 50 and 71%, respectively. The removal efficiency for nitrogen; ammonia nitrogen and total phosphate was 24, 19 and 68%, respectively. The average density of helminths eggs in treated wastewater is higher compared to the density of the limit value of ≤1 egg L(-1) and tolerable risk is above the level recommended by the World Health Organization. Multiple barriers are necessary for the reduction of organic matter, chemical contaminants and parasites from treated wastewater. Standards for the sanitary control of treated wastewater to be reused in agricultural irrigation areas should be compiled for developing countries in order to minimize public health risks.

Aplicação de doses de CO2 via água de irrigação na cultura da alface

A concentracao de CO2 na atmosfera vem aumentado significativamente desde a revolucao industrial, estando hoje proximo de 365 mmol mol-1, com tendencia de aumento. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a influencia de doses crescentes de CO2 via agua de irrigacao por gotejamento sobre o crescimento, o desenvolvimento, a fotossintese e a produtividade da alface cultivar Elisa, bem como seus efeitos sobre a condutividade eletrica. O experimento foi conduzido sob tuneis plasticos, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado. Os tratamentos foram compostos por doses de CO2: 0 (testemunha), 52; 155 e 310 kg ha-1, aplicadas via agua de irrigacao. As irrigacoes foram realizadas diariamente com base na evaporacao do tanque classe A, corrigida pelo coeficiente da cultura e do tanque. O numero de folhas e a materia seca da parte aerea da planta foram influenciados pela aplicacao de CO2 via agua de irrigacao, nao ocorrendo o mesmo para materia fresca e indice de area foliar. Os resultados indicaram a dose mensal de 153 kg ha-1 de CO2 como a mais adequada para ser empregada na cultura da alface via agua de irrigacao, com um aumento de aproximadamente 20,5% de produtividade, quando comparado a testemunha.

Trichoderma spp. isolates with potential of phosphate solubilization and growth promotion in cherry tomato1

1. Manuscript received in Apr./2017 and accepted for publication in Sep./2017 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1983-40632017v4746447). 2. Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Araras, SP, Brasil. E-mails: dvcf88@hotmail.com, mrciarosa@yahoo.com.br. 3. Instituto Agronômico, Centro de Silvicultura “Sylvio de Moreira”, Cordeirópolis, SP, Brasil. E-mail: katia@centrodecitricultura.br. 4. Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas, Pirassununga, SP, Brasil. E-mails: tamaragomes@usp.br, fabricio.rossi@usp.br. Trichoderma fungi are considered relevant plant growth promoters for increasing the efficiency in the use of nutrients, as well as acting as biological control agents. This study aimed to select Trichoderma spp. isolates with potential for phosphate solubilization and their application as growth promoters in interaction with homeophatic preparations, in cherry tomato. Among 16 Trichoderma spp. isolates obtained from soils of organic tomato growing areas tested in vitro, together with a commercial product (Trichodermil®), two of them showed the ability for indole-3-acetic acid production and phosphate solubilization. The Trichoderma “R” had the highest mycelial growth speed index and presented twice as much spores than the commercial product. An in vivo experiment was also conducted in a greenhouse, in order to observe the potential of Trichoderma spp. isolates and homeophatic preparations on the cherry tomato growth promotion, using a randomized block experimental design, in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement, with three Trichoderma isolates and two homeopathic preparations (Phosphorus 6CH and Carbo vegetabilis 6CH) + treatment without homeopathic preparation. The leaf area and dry mass of leaves and roots were determined. It was possible to observe that the isolate “R”, identified as Trichoderma asperellum, was effective in the cherry tomato growth promotion, while the homeopathic preparations applied did not show any effect.

Elaboration and Implementation of a Waste Management Policy at the University of São Paulo (USP)

The University of Sao Paulo (USP) is the largest university in Brazil and has developed independent environmental actions related to solid waste until 2012. This year, an Environmental Management Superintendence (SGA in Portuguese) was created in order to construct a Solid Waste Policy to the University. This policy was constructed in an innovative way, since it required a participatory process. The need for more articulation gave rise to the Environmental Management Superintendence (SGA in Portuguese) in 2012, so as to improve sustainability on the campi and change USP into a sustainability model. SGA has formed a work group on wastes under a participative process whose priority is to develop strategies and procedures for the elaboration and implementation of a Waste Management Policy (PGR/USP in Portuguese), as a response to the specificities of the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS in Portuguese)—Law n. 12.305/10 to the university needs. The PGR/USP contemplates the elaboration of Waste Management Plans for all units at USP and in order to plan it, a course for the staff, the elaboration of the plans and a data base, integrated with the University Corporative System, and indicators to evaluate and improve the management are foreseen. This study analyses the elaboration process and the implementation of the PGR so as to identify the opportunities to promote sustainability at universities by taking waste management as a starting point.

THE INFLUENCE OF IRRIGATION WITH TREATED DAIRY WASTEWATER ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF TABLE BEET

Abstract. This work was conducted to evaluate the level of total soluble solids and the yield of the table beet irrigated with of the dairy treated effluent and with different irrigation depths. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse (210 m 2 ), near of the dairy effluent treatment plant of the University of SA£o Paulo, located at Pirassununga, Brazil. The treatments consisted of three types of water: (1) Anaerobic Effluent – ANE; (2) Aerobic Effluent – AE; (3) Treated rainwater – RW. Three different irrigation depths were used, 50, 100 and 150 % of the crop water demand. All these treatments were applied combined with 50% of the mineral nitrogen fertilization recommended for the table beet. Apart from these, there was a control (table beet with 100% of the nitrogen fertilization recommended, irrigated with water and irrigation depth equal to 100% of the crop water demand). The use of wastewater and the higher irrigation depths promoted differences in the evaluated parameters. Comparing the treatments, it is possible to note that the table beet development was most favorable when irrigated with ANE and AE. The irrigation with ANE was superior in all irrigation depths compared to other treatments (AE and RW). This indicates the importance of differentiating the source of available nutrients (particularly nitrogen) in the wastewater. The level of total soluble solids were not affected by water quality, but were reduced with the increasing of irrigation depths applied with treated dairy wastewater. However the obtained values did not reduce the table beet quality.