Phosphorus in Oil Palm Cultivated in the Oriental Amazon

Amazon soils have a low phosphorus (P) availability and few studies have investigated nutrition of palm oil plantations. This study assessed the effects of P nutrition on oil palm organs according to plant age. The experiment was carried out under field conditions, at the enterprise Agropalma S/A, in the municipality of Tailândia, Pará State, Brazil. The experimental design used was completely randomized with four replications and comprised seven treatments: plants age (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 years of planting). We evaluated P concentration, accumulation, and exportation in plant components (leaflets, petioles, stipe, rachis, palm heart, arrows, male inflorescences, peduncles, spikelets, and fruits). Palm heart (10.9 g kg-1) and male inflorescence (3.8 g kg-1) showed the highest P concentrations in the vegetative and reproductive organs, respectively. On the other hand, the largest P accumulations were observed in the stipe (159 g plant-1) and fruits (59 g plant-1), increasing from the 3rd year of age of the plants. Bunches exported the largest P amounts (81 g plant-1), especially in older plants. The oil palm immobilizes (24 kg ha-1) and recycles (23 kg ha-1) a large amount of P, more than it exports (12 kg ha-1) P.

AVALIAÇÃO TECNOLÓGICA DA BIOMASSA RESIDUAL DE PUPUNHEIRA PARA A PRODUÇÃO DE BIOENERGIA

AVALIAÇÃO TECNOLÓGICA DA BIOMASSA RESIDUAL DE PUPUNHEIRA PARA A PRODUÇÃO DE BIOENERGIA SANDRA LUCIA SOARES MAYER1, RUDSON SILVA OLIVEIRA1, FERNANDO AUGUSTO FERRAZ1, IVAN CRESPO SILVA1, DIMAS AGOSTINHO DA SILVA1 1Departamento de Engenharia e Tecnologia Florestal, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Avenida. Prefeito Lothário Meissner, 632, Jardim Botânico, CEP: 80210-170, Curitiba/PR, Brasil. E-mail:[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. RESUMO: A elevada geração de material orgânico na produção e beneficiamento do palmito, demanda uma gestão adequada dessa biomassa destinando-a para uma utilização eficaz e sustentável. Neste sentido, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo caracterizar a biomassa residual de Bactris gasipaes Kunth (Pupunheira), proveniente do corte do palmito no litoral do Paraná (PR) para a produção de bioenergia. O estudo foi desenvolvido na estação experimental do Instituto de Desenvolvimento Rural do Paraná - IAPAR – EMATER (IDR – Paraná) no município de Morretes-PR. Para a realização do trabalho foram selecionadas três plantas já no ponto para o corte do palmito, que foram cortadas e separadas em estipe, folhas e palmito com bainha. Nas amostras foram determinadas teor de umidade, densidade básica, poder calorifico superior e inferior, análise química imediata, componentes estruturais da biomassa (teores de holocelulose e lignina), teor de extrativos e Índice de Valor Combustível (IVC). A biomassa residual seca foi de 20.065 kg ha-1 ano-1, tendo as folhas a maior representatividade (55,51%). Os resultados indicaram que a amostra estipe apresentou maior IVC, sugerindo que este material é o mais indicado para uso energético, porém não excluindo as folhas que apresentaram resultados potenciais para seu uso na geração de energia. Palavras-chave: Bactris gasipaes, energia de biomassa, poder calorífico, índice de valor combustível. TECHNICOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF WASTE BIOMASS OF PUPUNHEIRA FOR BIOENERGY PRODUCTION ABSTRACT: The high generation of organic material in the production and processing of palm heart demands an adequate management of this biomass, destining it to efficient and sustainable use. In this sense, this research characterized the residual biomass of Bactris gasipaes Kunth (Pupunheira), from the heart-of-palm harvesting on the coast of Paraná (PR) for the production of bioenergy. The study was developed at the experimental station of the Instituto de Desenvolvimento Rural do Paraná - IAPAR - EMATER (IDR - Paraná) in the city of Morretes-PR. For executing the work, three plants were selected at the cut point of the heart-of-palm, which were cut and separated in stipe, leaves and palm heart with a sheath. The moisture content, clear density, gross and net heat value, proximate analysis, structural components of the biomass (holocellulose and lignin contents), extract content and Fuel Value Index (FVI) was determined. The residual dry biomass was 20,065 kg ha-1 year-1, with leaves representing (55.51%). The results indicated that the stipe sample with the highest FVI suggests that this material is the most suitable for energy use, but not exclude, the leaf potential for their use in energy generation. Keywords: Bactris gasipaes, energy biomass, heat value, fuel value index

Shelf life extension of peach palm heart packed in different plastic packages

ABSTRACT Peach palm heart (Bactris gasipaes) is a highly perishable product and, therefore, studies on extending its shelf life are quite necessary. Considering the high demand of this vegetable, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of using different plastic packages in order to extend the shelf life of the peach palm heart in natura. Stipes were collected from plants grown on family farms located in the municipality of Seropédica-RJ. Stipes were peeled, sanitized and packed at the Post-harvest Laboratory in Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). In this experiment, the following treatments were applied: a control without package (C), unperforated polyethylene bag (UPB), perforated polyethylene bag (PPB), microperforated polyethylene bag (MPPB), and styrofoam tray + plastic film (STPF). The material was stored in a cold chamber under controlled temperature (5±2oC) for 24 days and then at room temperature (28±2oC) on the 25th day. Physical, chemical and visual evaluations were carried out for 25 days, with samples submitted to evaluations at 0 (initial characterization), 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and 25 days of storage. Microbiological evaluations were performed for 18 days, with samples submitted to evaluations at 0, 8, and 16 days of storage. The results indicate that using plastic package combined with refrigeration was efficient in extending the shelf life of in natura peach palm hearts, by reducing fresh mass loss, maintaining visual quality and reducing sample contamination. The PPB, UPB and MPPB packages showed good performance considering the shelf life extension of the packed vegetable. Thus, we recommend the acquisition of cheaper packages, so that smallholder farmers could obtain higher profitability.

Physicochemical and nutritional properties of jussara pulp powder (Euterpe edulis M.) by spray-drying

The jussara palm (Euterpe edulis) is well known for its great presence in several Brazilian states and produces an edible palm heart and spherical fruits popularly known as jussara. Due to their high anthocyanin content, these fruits contain only one light brown seed that is covered by thin and dark purple skin. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different mixtures of carrier agents (CA) (modified starch-MS plus whey protein concentrate-WPC or soy protein isolate-SPI) on the characteristics of microcapsules containing spray-dried jussara pulp powder. Four treatments, 30%CAC+17.5%MS:WPC, 17.5%CAC+30%MS:WPC, 30%CAC+17.5%MS:SPI and 17.5%CAC+30%MS:SPI, were evaluated, where CAC=carrier agent concentration (g carrier/g jussara pulp solids) and the proportions MS:WPC and MS:SPI indicate the grams of protein (WPC or SPI) per 100g of carrier. The concentration of 30%CAC+17.5%MS:WPC improved the wettability, anthocyanin content, total phenolic content and encapsulation efficiency. The particles presented smoother surfaces with a reduced number of folds when WPC was present. The usage of WPC or SPI mutually with MS was shown as a valid option in the spray drying of jussara pulp.

Ecology of the Atlantic Forest

Extending along the southern coast of Brazil, into Argentina and Paraguay, the Atlantic Forest is a domain that once covered 150 Mha and includes many distinct forest subtypes and ecosystems. Its large latitudinal (29˚) and altitudinal (0–2,800 m above sea level) range, as well as complex topography in the region, has created microclimates within forest subtypes, which has led to biodiversity specifically adapted to narrow ecological ranges. The region is incredibly species-rich and is home to charismatic or economically important species such as the black and golden lion tamarin, the red-browned Amazon parrot, and the highly prized palm heart from Euterpe edulis. Through widespread human-driven change dating back to the arrival of European settlers in 1500, this realm has been extensively reduced, fragmented, and modified. Nowadays, this region is home to about 130 million people (60 percent of the Brazilian population) and is responsible for producing 70 percent of Brazil’s GDP, putting a strain on natural resources and providing challenges to conservation. Due to its high levels of endemic species coupled with a high threat of habitat loss and fragmentation, the Atlantic Forest has been identified as a “biodiversity hotspot.” Numerous studies have assessed the effects of habitat transformation on biodiversity and the consensus is that the majority of species are negatively affected. It is puzzling however that few species have actually gone extinct in the wild, even if some extinctions might have gone undetected. Extinctions do not immediately follow habitat change, there is often a time lag of many decades between habitat transformation and extinction. This may suggest that many species in the Atlantic Forest are “living deads,” as despite their presence the available habitat no longer supports their requirements. It also suggests that there is a window of opportunity to restoring the domain to avert extinctions before they are realized. Current research and policy actions are geared toward optimizing restoration and increasing the extent of native forest cover, bringing hope to the conservation of this unique domain.

The Panoramic Views of Cloud IoT-Based M-Health Biometrics

The veins-based biometric systems use the molds and patterns of the veins' images of the human body for identification in standalone systems or a cloud internet of things (IoT)-based networking environment. The beauty of using veins-based systems for identification is that the vein pattern cannot be stolen or duplicated or washed out because of its availability in the human body. Currently, vein patterns of fingers, hand, palm, heart, head, palm-dorsa, and wrist of humans are used for biometric identification purposed in cloud and IoT-based network environments. In this chapter, the authors have described different types of algorithms including parallel algorithms for identifying persons in clouds and IoT-based environments. The authors observed that many researchers have designed and developed several algorithms to improve and extract the veins patterns from different parts of the human body for identification in different types of environments including clouds and the internet of things.

Chemical properties of an Oxisol affected by different land use and soil management systems

Agricultural crop management practices that guarantee soil quality are necessary for the sustainability of agrosystems. The use of agroforestry systems to make food production viable with less loss of soil fertility is a possible alternative for sustainable agriculture. This work evaluated the chemical characteristics of an Oxisol in three systems of use and management: 1) peach for palm heart production; 2) peach palm for fruit and seed production; and 3) Urochloa decumbens pasture. In these areas, located at Fazenda Piloto of the Agricultural Sciences Department at the University of Taubaté - UNITAU, Taubaté-SP, Brazil, samples were collected at the depths 0-10cm, 10-20cm and 20-40cm. In these soil samples, levels of P, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, pHCaCl2, H+Al, total organic carbon and organic carbon stock were determined. The sums of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (BS) were calculated. The results were subjected to analysis of variance and the means were compared using the Tukey test at 5%. The results indicate that soil cultivated with peach palm for palm heart production showed better fertility compared to peach palm for fruit and seed production and pasture. The upper layers 0-10cm and 10-20cm are the most fertile, concentrating P, Ca e Mg, high CEC, SB and BS.