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The majority of early prediction scores and methods to predict COVID-19 mortality are bound by methodological flaws and technological limitations (e.g., the use of a single prediction model). Our aim is to provide a thorough comparative study that tackles those methodological issues, considering multiple techniques to build mortality prediction models, including modern machine learning (neural) algorithms and traditional statistical techniques, as well as meta-learning (ensemble) approaches. This study used a dataset from a multicenter cohort of 10,897 adult Brazilian COVID-19 patients, admitted from March/2020 to November/2021, including patients [median age 60 (interquartile range 48–71), 46% women]. We also proposed new original population-based meta-features that have not been devised in the literature. Stacking has shown to achieve the best results reported in the literature for the death prediction task, improving over previous state-of-the-art by more than 46% in Recall for predicting death, with AUROC 0.826 and MacroF1 of 65.4%. The newly proposed meta-features were highly discriminative of death, but fell short in producing large improvements in final prediction performance, demonstrating that we are possibly on the limits of the prediction capabilities that can be achieved with the current set of ML techniques and (meta-)features. Finally, we investigated how the trained models perform on different hospitals, showing that there are indeed large differences in classifier performance between different hospitals, further making the case that errors are produced by factors that cannot be modeled with the current predictors.

Os atributos físicos do solo são indicadores indispensáveis na avaliação de diferentes sistemas de uso e manejo do solo. Objetivou-se, nesse trabalho, avaliar o efeito dos sistemas de uso e manejo i) pupunha para produção de frutos e sementes, ii) pupunha para produção de palmito, e iii) pastagem de Urochloa decumbens em pousio, em profundidade sobre os atributos físicos de um Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo localizado no médio Vale do Paraíba Paulista, SP, Brasil. Em cada sistema foi determinada a resistência do solo à penetração nas profundidades de 0,00-0,10, 0,10-0,20 e 0,20-0,40 m, nas quais foram coletadas amostras para a determinação do teor de matéria orgânica, densidade do solo e de partículas e umidade (conteúdo de água) no solo. A condutividade hidráulica, densidade de partículas, porosidade e volume de saturação foram determinadas por meio da coleta de amostras nas profundidades de 0,00-0,10 e 0,40-0,50 m. Verificou-se que não houve diferença para os atributos densidade de partículas, densidade do solo, porosidade total, resistência à penetração e matéria orgânica entre os sistemas de uso e manejo avaliados. Contudo, a condutividade hidráulica e o conteúdo de água (umidade) no solo foram maiores na área de pastagem de Urochloa decumbens em pousio. Os parâmetros densidade do solo, resistência à penetração e matéria orgânica apresentaram maiores valores em menor profundidade, enquanto a porosidade total, conteúdo de água (umidade) e condutividade hidráulica apontaram menores valores. A densidade de partículas e volume de saturação não foram influenciadas significativamente em profundidade.

The majority prognostic scores proposed for early assessment of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) patients are bounded by methodological flaws. Our group recently developed a new risk score - ABC2SPH - using traditional statistical methods (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression - LASSO). In this article, we provide a thorough comparative study between modern machine learning (ML) methods and state-of-the-art statistical methods, represented by ABC2SPH, in the task of predicting in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients using data upon hospital admission. We overcome methodological and technological issues found in previous similar studies, while exploring a large sample (5,032 patients). Additionally, we take advantage of a large and diverse set of methods and investigate the effectiveness of applying meta-learning, more specifically Stacking, in order to combine the methods' strengths and overcome their limitations. In our experiments, our Stacking solutions improved over previous state-of-the-art by more than 26% in predicting death, achieving 87.1% of AUROC and MacroF1 of 73.9%. We also investigated issues related to the interpretability and reliability of the predictions produced by the most effective ML methods. Finally, we discuss the adequacy of AUROC as an evaluation metric for highly imbalanced and skewed datasets commonly found in health-related problems.

ObjectiveTo provide a thorough comparative study among state-of-the-art machine learning methods and statistical methods for determining in-hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients using data upon hospital admission; to study the reliability of the predictions of the most effective methods by correlating the probability of the outcome and the accuracy of the methods; to investigate how explainable are the predictions produced by the most effective methods.Materials and MethodsDe-identified data were obtained from COVID-19 positive patients in 36 participating hospitals, from March 1 to September 30, 2020. Demographic, comorbidity, clinical presentation and laboratory data were used as training data to develop COVID-19 mortality prediction models. Multiple machine learning and traditional statistics models were trained on this prediction task using a folded cross-validation procedure, from which we assessed performance and interpretability metrics.ResultsThe Stacking of machine learning models improved over the previous state-of-the-art results by more than 26% in predicting the class of interest (death), achieving 87.1% of AUROC and macro F1 of 73.9%. We also show that some machine learning models can be very interpretable and reliable, yielding more accurate predictions while providing a good explanation for the ‘why’.ConclusionThe best results were obtained using the meta-learning ensemble model – Stacking. State-of the art explainability techniques such as SHAP-values can be used to draw useful insights into the patterns learned by machine-learning algorithms. Machine-learning models can be more explainable than traditional statistics models while also yielding highly reliable predictions.

This study aimed to evaluate litterfall and nutrient dynamics in an experimental plantation of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) in Taubate, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Litterfall was collected monthly between March 2010 and May 2011, and the plant material was separated into leaflets and rachises. During the 15-month study period, the plantation produced 9.2 Mg ha−1 of litter (4.8 Mg ha−1 of leaflets and 4.4 Mg ha−1 of rachises). Seasonal variations were observed in litter production and nutrient concentration. Litter deposition was the highest at the end of the dry season and at the beginning of the rainy season, that is, in months with low rainfall and lower minimum temperatures. Macronutrient return to the soil was estimated at 141.5 kg N ha−1, 24.8 kg P ha−1, 78.2 kg K ha−1, 55.1 kg Ca ha−1, and 37.8 kg Mg ha−1.

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.

Over the years, the natural landscape of Atlantic forest has undergone significant changes. Inventories carried out by the Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica and by the National Institute for Space Research (SOS Mata Atlântica and INPE, 2017), showed that 83.7% of the São Paulo territory initially covered by this biome has already been transformed into pasture, monoculture and other uses. This intensive exploration resulted in extensive degraded areas, resulting from abandonment after the loss of the productive capacity of the soil. For the recovery of physical and chemical characteristics and the reduction of soil loss due to erosive processes, forest species are planted. During planting and in the first weeks of plant growth, the lack or excess of water can limit development. In this case, an alternative used is to add water-retaining polymers to the soil that have the ability to increase water retention. This study evaluated the effect on the growth of Palmito-Juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart) seedlings of different doses of water-retaining polymer incorporated into the growing substrate, with watering on five consecutive days and with alternating watering for a period of three months in a nursery. The experiment started when the seedlings presented 220 days after sowing. The juçara plants were grown in plastic bags filled with 850 g of substrate composed of a mixture of peat, carbonized rice husk, horse manure, chicken manure, tanned bovine manure, mineral fertilizer and dolomitic limestone. To study the effect of the hydro-retaining polymer, the following doses of a polyacrylic potassium copolymer were added to the dry substrate: D0 = without adding the polymer to the substrate (control); D2 = 2g of polymer; D3 = 3 g of polymer; D4 = 4 g of polymer; and, D5 = 5 g of polymer. Each dose was combined with two irrigation regimes, watering for five consecutive days or alternating, in a 5 x 2 factorial arrangement, with 15 repetitions, totaling 150 experimental plots in a randomized block design. The transplanting of the seedlings to the bags took place in April 2019 and every 30 consecutive days, five individuals were collected from each dose and each type of irrigation (50 experimental plots / collection), that is, 3 collections (250 days, 280 days and 310 days after sowing). In each collection, the length of the leaves and the root system, the diameter of the stem, the height of the plant, the dry mass of the aerial part, the dry mass of the root and the total dry mass were measured. After checking the normality of the data and the homoscedasticity of the variances, analyses of variances were performed (ANOVA, p

A erosão do solo no cultivo de mandioca causa os declínios no rendimento e na qualidade das raízes. Comparou-se o plantio convencional (CONV) da mandioca IAC 576-70, incorporando com aração e gradagem os resíduos das culturas de cobertura: Sorgo (S), Crotalária (C), Coquetel (S+C), Brachiaria decumbens e B. ruziziensis; com o sistema de plantio direto (SPD), mediante a roçada. Sorgo e B. ruziziensis aportaram em média 3,5 t ha-¹ de matéria seca, com taxa de cobertura do solo superior a 80 %, cuja produtividade de 23,9 t ha-¹ no SPD foi 7,0 t ha-¹ inferior ao convencional; porém, equivalentes o índice de colheita (53 %), a massa fresca total e o tempo de cozimento. A colheita da mandioca no SPD aos 10 meses acumulou 63,5 t ha-¹ de fitomassa fresca, minimizando a erosão.

This research evaluated powdered nepheline syenite (NS) as a potassium source for corn. The treatments were different particle sizes and heating the NS with calcium chloride at 900oC, and the samples were incubated in soil under controlled conditions before cropping. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using corn (Zea mays L.) plants cultivated in pots in a completely randomized 2x3 + 2 factorial block design with five replications. Five plants were growth in each pot with 5 kg of an Oxisol–Typic Hapludox soil for three successive 33-day cropping periods. At the end of each cropping period the K contents of shoot dry matter and soil and were determined. There was no effect on shoot dry matter production (p> 0.05). There was greater soil and dry matter K contents when heated NS was used, but for particle size. The treatments significantly affected (p 0.05). NS in natura has low solubility and does not provide potassium to plants while calcined rock powder works as a thermopotassium source.

The occurrences of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were determined in soil and grasses collected at three points on stretch of 143 km of the Presidente Dutra highway between the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The soil and plant samples were collected by sampling transections perpendicular to the highway at distances of 0, 10, 20, 35 and 50 m from the highway edge. Concentrations of Pb and Zn were higher in samples closest to the highway edge, decreasing with increasing distance from the road. There were positive correlation coefficients between the metal concentration in the soil and the metal concentration in the plant. Concentrations of Pb found in soil samples were below the reference value established for the soil quality in the state of São Paulo, while for Zn, up to 10 m away from the highway edge, the concentration was higher than the reference value.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-09-12T16:53:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010 Universidade de São Paulo (USP) Comité Français d´Evaluation de la Coopération Universitaire avec le Brésil (COFECUB) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) European Integrated Project 'Ultra Low CO2 Steelmaking' [515960] French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Contrasting responses of Eucalyptus trees to K fertilizer applications have been reported on soils with low K contents. A complete randomized block experiment was set up in Brazil to test the hypothesis that large atmospheric deposits of NaCl in coastal regions might lead to a partial substitution of K by Na in Eucalyptus physiology and enhance tree growth. Treatments with application of 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 kmol K ha(-1) (K-1.5, K-3.0, 1(4.5, respectively) as KCl, 3.0 kmol K ha(-1) applied as K2SO4, 3.0 kmol Na ha(-1) (Na-3.0) as NaCl commercialized for cattle feeding, and a mixture of 1.5 kmol K + 1.5 kmol Na ha(-1) (K-1.5 + Na-1.5) were compared to a control treatment (C) with no K and Na applications. All the plots were fertilized with large amounts of the other nutrients. A positive effect of NaCl applications on the growth of E. grandis trees was observed. NaCl and KCl additions in treatments Na-3.0 and K-3.0 increased above-ground biomass by 56% and 130% three years after planting, respectively, in comparison with the C treatment. By contrast, accumulated litterfall up to age 3 years was not significantly modified. NaCl applications in the Na-3.0 treatment significantly increased Na accumulation in above-ground tree components but did not modify K accumulation, whatever the sampling age. A partial substitution of K by Na in tree physiology, as observed for various agricultural crops, might explain this behaviour. Our results suggest the possibility of applying inexpensive K fertilizers, which are less purified in Na, and explain why high yields are achieved without K fertilizer applications in areas with large dry depositions of marine aerosols. Further investigations are necessary to identify the processes involving Na in Eucalyptus tree physiology. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. [Laclau, Jean-Paul] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ecol, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo, Brazil [Raposo Almeida, Julio Cesar] Universidade de Taubaté (Unitau) [Raposo Almeida, Julio Cesar; de Moraes Goncalves, Jose Leonardo] Univ Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Piracicaba, Brazil [Laclau, Jean-Paul; Saint-Andre, Laurent] CIRAD, UPR Ecosyst Plantat, F-34398 Montpellier, France [Ranger, Jacques; Saint-Andre, Laurent] INRA, Biogeochim Ecosyst Forestiers, Nancy, France

Para avaliar os efeitos da fertilização potássica e sódica sobre a resposta do Eucalyptus grandis em crescimento, estado nutricional, eficiência de uso de água e de nutrientes foi instalado na Estação Experimental de Ciências Florestais de Itatinga (SP) em LVA distrófico (200 g kg-1 de argila) um experimento em blocos ao acaso contendo sete tratamentos: Testemunha, K1,5, K3,0, K4,5, KS3,0, Na3,0 e K1,5+Na1,5 (os valores correspondem à quantidade de K ou Na fornecidos em kmol ha-1, sob as formas de KCl, K2SO4 e NaCl). O nível crítico de K foliar variou de 6,6 a 5,0 g kg-1 e as amostragens realizadas no final da estação de chuvas (maio) sempre proporcionaram melhor avaliação do estado nutricional. A fertilização potássica elevou a resistência e/ou tolerância à ferrugem (Puccini pisidii Winter.). A concentração de Na na idade de 6 meses foliar atingiu 3,4 e 2,3 g kg-1 nos tratamentos Na3,0 e K1,5+Na1,5, mas o crescimento das árvores as concentrações reduziram para valores < 1,0 g kg-1, 36 meses pós-plantio. O Eucalyptus grandis foi capaz de absorver o Na e o transportar até as folhas, mantendo a relação K/Na >1 (elevada), uma característica relacionada às plantas tolerantes ao Na e à salinidade. A resposta do Eucalyptus grandis à fertilização potássica e sódica foi expressiva, enquanto a Testemunha alcançou 8,6 cm de DAP, 13,4 m de altura e 68 m3 ha-1 de madeira, 36 meses pós-plantio, sob a maior dose de potássio (K4,5), o DAP foi de 11,6 cm, a altura de 17,5 m que resultaram em 141 m3 ha-1 de madeira. A fertilização sódica, por sua vez, proporcionou árvores 13% (10,0 cm) mais grossas, 18% (15,7 m) mais altas, e produtividade de madeira 52% (103 m3 ha-1) maior que a Testemunha aos 36 meses pós-plantio. A combinação de K1.5+Na1.5, comparada ao fornecimento de K1,5, aumentou em 12% o volume de madeira. A produção de biomassa do tronco aos 36 meses pós-plantio nos tratamentos K3,0, Na3,0 e Testemunha foi de 55,1, 41,5 e 26,1 Mg ha-1, respectivamente. Os aumentos de produtividade estiveram diretamente relacionado com índices de área foliar (IAF) maiores aos 36 meses pós-plantio: K3,0 (5,4 m2 m-2), Na3,0 (3,2 m2 m-2) e Testemunha (2,7 m2 m-2). O conteúdo de K na parte aérea aos 36 meses pós-plantio foi de 82, 38 e 31 kg ha-1, respectivamente nos tratamentos K3,0, Na3,0 e Testemunha, e os tratamentos Na3,0 e Testemunha não diferiram significativamente. O conteúdo de Na no tratamento Na3,0 (51 kg ha-1) foi maior que nos tratamentos K3,0 e Testemunha (17 e 28kg ha-1). Desses totais, o lenho acumulou cerca de 40% do conteúdo de K e mais de 75% do conteúdo Na. O retorno de K ao 10 solo como folhedo no tratamento K3,0 foi de 14,9, 22,2 e 13,1 kg ha-1 ano-1, consecutivamente nos três anos de avaliação. Nos tratamentos Testemunha e Na3,0, as quantidades de K não ultrapassaram 8,8, 14,3 e 11,9 kg ha-1 ano-1. A ciclagem bioquímica do K foi bastante intensa (>80%) ao contrário do Na em que a retranslocação é menor (27%). A EUK estimada sob fertilização sódica (1356 kg MS kg-1) foi superior às dos tratamentos K3,0 (829 kg MS kg-1) e Testemunha (1042 kg MS kg-1) Os índices de recuperação de K e Na atingiram, respectivamente 44 e 52%, aos 36 meses pós-plantio. Sob fertilização potássica e sódica, a transpiração foi em média 20% maior que na Testemunha (P 1. This ratio is characteristic of salinity tolerant plant. The response of Eucalyptus grandis trees to K and Na fertilizer applications was significant. While trees in the control treatment reached on average 8.6 cm in DBH, 13.4 m in height and 68 m3 ha-1 of stemwood at age 36 months, under the higher dose of K addition (K4.5), mean values of DBH, height, and stemwood volume were 11.6 cm, 17.5 m, and 141 m3 ha-1 in the K4.5 treatment. Sodium fertilizer application increased tree DBH by 13% (10.0 cm on average at age 36 months), height by 18% (15.7 m on average), and stemwood volume by 52% (103 m3 ha-1) compared to the Control treatment. Stemwood volume in the K1,5+Na1,5 treatment was 12% higher than in the K1,5 treatment. Trunk biomass at age 36 months in treatments K3,0, Na3,0 and Control were 55.1, 41.5 and 26.1 Mg ha-1, respectively. Leaf area index (LAI) at age 36 months were 5.4, 3.2 and 2.7 m2 m-2, in the K3,0, Na3,0 and Control treatments, respectively. The amount of K in the aboveground biomass at age 36 months was 82, 38 and 31 kg ha-1 in treatments K3.0, Na3.0 and Control, respectively, and was not significantly different in the Na3.0 and Control treatments. The Na content at age 36 months was significantly higher in the Na3.0 treatment (51 kg ha-1) than in the control and K3.0 treatments (17 e 28 kg ha-1). About 40% of the total amount of K aboveground and more than 75% of the amount of Na were found in 12 stemwood. The amount of K in litterfall was 14.9, 22.2 and 13.1 kg ha-1 yr-1 in K3.0, the first, second and third years after planting, respectively. In the other treatments, K content in litterfall over the same period was < 14.3 kg ha-1 yr-1. Retranslocations of K during leaf senescence were intense (> 80%) and Na retranslocations were much lower (27% on average). Potassium use efficiency, calculated as the ratio between biomass and K content aboveground at age 36 months, was greater in the Na3.0 treatment (1356 kg kg-1) than in treatments K3.0 (829 kg kg-1) and Control (1042 kg kg-1). The rates of K and Na recovery in aboveground tree components were 44 and 52%, respectively, 36 months after planting. Potassium and sodium fertilizers applications increased stand transpiration (P

The use of ion pairs to control a nitrile oxide cycloaddition is demonstrated. A chiral phenylmaleimide derivative bearing an ionic group and an associated counterion provides enhanced selectivity in the cycloaddition of benzonitrile oxide. The intramolecular salt effect controls the orientation of the 1,3-dipolar reagent. The nature of the solvent is shown to be relevant in the selectivity of the reaction.

Since the dawn of medicine, man has used natural products for the treatment of disease. There has been a recent increase in studies of the therapeutic characteristics plants in popular use in many places of the world. In this context, the species Centrolobium tomentosum, Fabaceae, known popularly as Arariba or Araruva, is used in Brazilian folk medicine as an astringent for wound treatment and bruises due to the large amount of tannins contained in the bark. This work used toxicity tests to assess the biological activity of ethanolic extracts from C. tomentosum with the specific objectives of obtaining concentrated extracts from the bark and wood of this species and determining the total phenols and tannins present in these extracts. We collected arariba samples in order to obtain ethanolic extracts through the percolation process. We then made a qualitative chemical identification of hydrolysable tannins and condensed tannins. We used the Folin-Ciocalteu method for the phenols quantification and the casein precipitation method for the tannins determination. The toxicity of extracts was evaluated using the brine shrimp bioassay (Artemia salina), in which the C. tomentosum bark extract showed moderate toxicity, with estimated LC50 = 416 μg.ml-1, whereas the leaves and wood extracts of this species showed low toxicity with LC50 = 537 μg.ml-1 and 826 μg.ml-1, respectively.

A ocorrencia de chumbo (Pb) e zinco (Zn) foram determinadas em amostras de solo e de gramineas coletadas em tres pontos de um trecho de 143 km da rodovia Presidente Dutra, entre os estados de Sao Paulo e Rio de Janeiro, nas distâncias perpendiculares de 0-10 m, 10-20 m, 20-35 m e 35-50 m da margem da rodovia. As concentracoes de Pb e de Zn foram maiores nas amostras mais proximas da rodovia, diminuindo com o aumento da distância da rodovia, tanto nas amostras de solo, quanto nas amostras de planta. Os coeficientes de correlacao entre concentracao do metal no solo e concentracao do metal na planta foram positivos, tanto para Pb quanto para Zn. De modo geral, as concentracoes de Pb encontradas nas amostras de solo foram inferiores ao valor de referencia de qualidade estabelecido para os solos no estado de Sao Paulo. Ja para o Zn, ate 10 m de distância da margem da rodovia a concentracao foi superior ao valor de referencia.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-09-12T16:53:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad) Universidade de São Paulo (USP) Comité Français d´Evaluation de la Coopération Universitaire avec le Brésil (COFECUB) Nutrient remobilizations in tree ligneous components have been little studied in tropical forests. A complete randomized block design was installed in Brazilian eucalypt plantations to quantify the remobilizations of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sodium (Na) within stem wood. Three treatments were studied: control with neither K nor Na addition (C), 3 kmol ha(-1) K applied (+K), and 3 kmol ha(-1) Na applied (+Na). Biomass and nutrient contents were measured in the stem wood of eight trees destructively sampled at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years after planting in each treatment and annual rings were localized on discs of wood sampled every 3 m in half of the trees. Chemical analyses and wood density measurements were performed individually for each ring per level and per tree sampled. Nutrient remobilizations in annual rings were calculated through mass balance between two successive ages. Our results show that nutrient remobilizations within stem wood were mainly source-driven. Potassium and Na additions largely increased their concentration in the outer rings as well as the amounts remobilized in the first 2 years after the wood formation. The amount of Na remobilized in annual rings was 15 % higher in +Na than in +K the fourth year after planting despite a 34 % higher production of stem wood in +K leading to a much higher nutrient sink. A partial substitution of K by Na in the remobilizations within stem wood might contribute to enhancing Eucalyptus grandis growth in K-depleted soils. [Sette, Carlos Roberto, Jr.] Fed Univ Goias UFG, Forest Engn Dept, BR-74690900 Goiania, Go, Brazil [Sette, Carlos Roberto, Jr.; Tomazello Filho, Mario; Moreira, Rildo M.; Bouillet, Jean-Pierre] Univ Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Dept Forest Sci, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil [Laclau, Jean-Paul; Bouillet, Jean-Pierre] CIRAD, UMR 111, F-34060 Montpellier, France [Laclau, Jean-Paul] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, BR-18610307 Botucatu, SP, Brazil [Ranger, Jacques] INRA, UR Biogeochim Ecosyst Forestiers, F-54280 Seichamps, France [Raposo Almeida, Julio Cesar] Universidade de Taubaté (Unitau)

Neste estudo objetivou-se analisar os aspectos socioambientais e de saude das quebradeiras de coco babacu da Associacao Regional das Mulheres Trabalhadoras Rurais do Bico do Papagaio (ASMUBIP - TO). A quebra do coco babacu e uma atividade penosa, quase sempre realizada por mulheres de baixa renda e que vivem na area rural com a utilizacao de instrumental tecnico rudimentar, pode causar lesoes nas maos e/ou em outras partes do corpo. Alem disso, pode provocar alteracoes orgânicas em decorrencia de posturas inadequadas e de movimentos repetitivos. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualiquantitativa, cujos dados foram coletados em campo a partir de um formulario estruturado com questoes fechadas e abertas. Foram mencionados pelas informantes 11 sintomas que elas atribuem a quebra do babacu entre os quais: dores de coluna; dores nas costas; dores nos rins; dores nas juntas; dores no corpo; problemas de vista; inflamacao na garganta; mioma uterino; anemia e doencas de pele. A quebra do babacu e muito importante para as quebradeiras por contribuir para sua sobrevivencia. Por outro lado, as quebradeiras contribuem para a preservacao dos babacuais atraves de sua atuacao politica. Elas nao dissociam a vida das florestas de babacu de sua propria vida.

Made available in DSpace on 2019-09-12T16:53:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009 Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Universidade de São Paulo (USP) Comité Français d´Evaluation de la Coopération Universitaire avec le Brésil (COFECUB) European Integrated Project 'Ultra Low CO2 Steelmaking' [515960] French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eucalyptus grandis (W. Hill ex Maiden) leaf traits and tree growth Were Studied over 3 years after the establishment of two adjacent complete randomized block designs in Southern Brazil. In a nitrogen (N) input experiment, a treatment with the application of 120 kg N ha(-1) was compared to a control treatment without N addition, and in I potassium (K) input experiment a control treatment without K addition was compared to a treatment with the application of 116 kg K ha(-1). Young leaves Were tagged 9 months after planting to estimate the effect of N and K fertilizations oil leaf lifespan. Leaf mass, specific leaf area and nutrient concentrations were measured oil a composite sample per plot every 28 days Until the last tagged leaf fell. Successive inventories, destructive sampling of trees and leaf litter fall collection made it possible to assess the effect of N and K fertilization oil the dynamics of biomass accumulation in above-ground tree components. Whilst the effects of N fertilization oil tree growth Only Occurred in the first 24 months after planting, K fertilization increased the above-ground net primary production from 4478 to 8737 g m(-2) over the first 36 months after planting. The average lifespan of tagged leaves was not modified by N addition but it increased from 111 to 149 days with K fertilization. The peak of leaf production Occurred in the second year after planting (about 800 g m(-2) year(-1)) and wits not significantly modified (P < 0.05) by N and K fertilizations. By contrast, K addition significantly increased the maximum leaf standing biomass from 292 to 528 g m(-2) mainly as a consequence of the increase in leaf lifespan. Potassium fertilization increased the stand biomass mainly through the enhancement in leaf area index (LAI) since growth efficiency (defined as the ratio between woody biomass production and LAI) was not significantly modified. A better understanding of the physiological processes governing the leaf lifespan is necessary to improve process-based models Currently used in Eucalyptus plantations. [Laclau, Jean-Paul; Saint-Andre, Laurent; Nouvellon, Yann] CIRAD, Persyst UPR80, TA10 D, F-34398 Montpellier 5, France [Laclau, Jean-Paul; Almeida, Julio C. R.; Goncalves, Jose Leonardo M.; Ventura, Marcelo; Moreira, Rildo M.; Nouvellon, Yann] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Florestais, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil [Ranger, Jacques] INRA, Biogeochim Ecosyst Forestiers, F-54280 Seichamps, France [Almeida, Julio C. R.] Universidade de Taubaté (Unitau), BR-1202070 Taubate, SP, Brazil

We have used a newly developed qualitative computational approach, PROFEC (Pictorial Representation of Free Energy Changes), to visualize the areas of the ligand biotin where modifications of its structure might lead to tighter binding to the protein streptavidin. The PROFEC analysis, which includes protein flexibility and ligand solvation/desolvation, led to the suggestion that the pro-9R hydrogen atom of biotin, which is in alpha-position to the CO(2)(-) group, might be changed to a larger group and lead to better binding with streptavidin and avidin. Free energy calculations supported this suggestion and predicted that the methyl analogue should bind approximately 3 kcal/mol more tightly to streptavidin, with this difference coming exclusively from the relative desolvation free energy of the ligand. The PROFEC analysis further suggested little or no improvement for changing the pro-9S hydrogen atom to a methyl group, and great reduction in changing the ureido N-H groups to N-CH(3). Stimulated by these results, we synthesized 9R-methylbiotin and 9S-methylbiotin, and their binding free energies and enthalpies were measured for interaction with streptavidin and avidin, respectively. In contrast to the calculated results, experiments found both 9-methylbiotin isomers to bind more weakly to streptavidin than biotin. The calculated preference for the binding of the 9R- over the 9S-stereoisomer was observed. In addition, 9-methylbiotin is considerably less soluble in water than biotin, as predicted by the calculation, and the 9R isomer is, to our knowledge, thus far the tightest binding analogue of biotin to streptavidin. Subsequently, X-ray structures of the complexes between streptavidin and both 9R- and 9S-methylbiotin were determined, and the structures were consistent with those used in the free energy calculations. Thus, the reason for the discrepancy between the calculated and experimental binding free energy does not lie in unusual binding modes for the 9-methylbiotins.

Zinc porphyrins equipped with pyridine ligands form macrocyclic assemblies in organic solvents. The assemblies have been characterised by 1H NMR, UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and vapour pressure osmometry. The self-assembly properties of six isomeric porphyrins are relatively insensitive to the geometry of the porphyrin monomer. Changes in the internal torsion angles allow all of the porphyrins to form macrocyclic dimers but with differences in the relative orientations of the porphyrin units. The associated strain reduces the effective molarities from the value of 6 M reported previously for an ‘ideal’ monomer to between 0.07 and 2 M leading to dimerisation constants in the 105–106 M−1 range. Only one isomer has a geometry that makes dimerisation impossible without severe distortion, and this compound self-assembles to give a tetrameric macrocycle at millimolar concentrations.

Orientação: Prof. Dr. Julio Cesar Raposo de Almeida Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade de Taubaté, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Taubaté, 2018. Made available in DSpace on 2021-03-03T16:43:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucas Kennedy Alves Barbosa.pdf: 3618502 bytes, checksum: 8c0c2545d3fb96269f0b486c66c03e0e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018 Resumo: A Constituição Federal de 1988 incumbiu o próprio Estado no dever de proteger o meio ambiente, de maneira que seja possível a utilização dos recursos naturais com o menor dano ambiental possível. Para tanto, legislações infraconstitucionais e órgãos específicos foram criados, em especial para tratar da exploração das rochas ornamentais. Por outro lado, a fiscalização do cumprimento das normas é precária, incorrendo o Estado, muitas vezes, em conduta omissiva, eis que assim atuando, torna propicia a ocorrência de evento danoso ao meio ambiente no qual tinha o dever de impedir, surgindo então a problemática quanto a espécie de Responsabilidade Civil em que recai sobre este: Subjetiva ou Objetiva? Quais são os danos ambientais causados pela extração das rochas ornamentais? Para chegar a uma conclusão real, foi feito um levantamento de dados, região de Ecoporanga-ES, sobre os possíveis impactos causados pelas mineradoras que extraem as rochas ornamentais, os procedimentos legais para regularização da lavra, a quantidade de mineradoras face ao número de licenças de operações outorgadas e os mais recentes julgamentos acerca do assunto, proferido pelas mais importantes cortes nacionais e, stricto senso, uma comparação da legislação vigente com de alguns outros países. Assim têm-se que, inobstante existir acirradas divergências doutrinárias e distintos entendimentos jurisprudenciais, é possível aplicar o instituto da Responsabilidade Civil Objetiva ao Estado, em especial havendo conduta omissiva na fiscalização. Abstratc: The Federal Constitution of 1988 assigned the state itself with the duty to protect the environment in such a way that it is possible to use natural resources with the least possible environmental damage. Therefore, infra-constitutional legislations and specific bodies have been set up, in particular to deal with the exploitation of ornamental stones. On the other hand, monitoring compliance with the rules is precarious, and the State often engages in omissive conduct, so that by doing so, it favors the occurrence of an event harmful to the environment in which it had a duty to prevent, thus the problem arises as to the kind of Civil Liability that falls on this: Subjective or Objective? What are the environmental damages caused by the extraction of ornamental stones? In order to reach at a real conclusion, a survey was carried out, the region of Ecoporanga-ES, on the possible impacts caused by the miners extracting the ornamental stones,the legal procedures to regularize the mining, the number of miners compared to the number of licenses of operations granted and the most recent judgments on the subject, issued by the most important national courts and, strictly speaking, a comparison of the current legislation with some other countries. Thus, despite the existence of strong doctrinal divergences and different jurisprudential positions, it is possible to apply the objective civil liability towards the State, especially when there is omissive conduct in the inspection.

Orientação: Prof. Dr. Julio Cesar Raposo de Almeida Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade de Taubaté, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Taubaté, 2018. Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-29T19:21:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Elisandra Beatriz Loffler.pdf: 741718 bytes, checksum: 4e76dc3d19904a05ebcfbfe5f0869dad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018 Resumo: A divulgação do Balanço Social tem sido um instrumento de evidenciação para demonstrar as relações econômicas, sociais e ambientais das empresas para com a sociedade e o meio ambiente. É um mecanismo utilizado para as empresas demonstrarem publicamente suas intenções e compromissos socioambientais, presando pela transparência de suas ações no que tange a responsabilidade social corporativa. O Balanço Social também é uma forma para a empresa expor a sociedade que não está preocupada somente na geração de lucros, mas sim na prestação de contas do seu desempenho sobre o uso e a apropriação de recursos naturais. Neste sentido o presente estudo tem por objetivo evidenciar os índices de investimentos em meio ambiente e relacioná-lo com a receita líquida, demonstrados por indicadores ambientais extraídos dos Balanços Sociais publicados pelas empresas de Mato Grosso no site da Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de Mato Grosso, no período compreendido entre 2010 e 2015. A metodologia utilizada é a descritiva exploratória através da análise documental, tendo em vista que as informações foram extraídas dos Balanços Sociais divulgados no site da Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de Mato Grosso pelas empresas objeto da pesquisa. Inicialmente, foram identificados os Balanços Sociais (240 unidades) divulgados entre os anos de 2010 a 2016, posteriormente foram agrupados conforme modelo proposto pela Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de Mato Grosso, só então foram identificados aqueles que continham investimentos externos no meio ambiente. Para o estudo em questão foram consideradas apenas os Balanços Sociais das empresas que realizaram e divulgaram investimentos relacionados ao meio ambiente. Foi feita análise dos Indicadores Econômicos – Receita Líquida e Indicadores Sociais Externos – Investimento em Meio Ambiente das empresas. A análise dos resultados demonstrou que somente as empresas de médio e grande porte efetuaram investimento na área ambiental, sendo o setor de comércio o que mais realiza investimentos em meio ambiente. Os investimentos demonstrados em Balanço Social são quase que em sua totalidade realizados para melhoramento da gestão ambiental das empresas, no entanto o que se percebe é que ainda falta uma maior preocupação no tocante a qualidade das informações divulgadas que ainda carecem de melhorias, pois a grande maioria dos Balanços Sociais não possui todas as informações necessárias para que o leitor consiga identificar e compreender as ações de responsabilidade social corporativa de maneira clara. Abstract: The disclosure of the Social Balance Sheet has been a demonstration tool to demonstrate the economic, social and environmental relations of companies towards society and the environment. It is a mechanism used for the companies to publicly demonstrate their intentions and social-environmental commitments, providing for the transparency of their actions regarding corporate social responsibility. The Social Balance Sheet is also a way for the company to expose society that is not only concerned with generating profits, but with accountability for its performance over the use and appropriation of natural resources. In this sense, the objective of this study is to show the indices of investments in the environment and to relate them to net revenue, as demonstrated by environmental indicators extracted from the Social Balance sheets published by the companies of Mato Grosso on the website of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mato Grosso, in the period between 2010 and 2015. The methodology used is descriptive exploratory through documentary analysis, considering that the information was extracted from the Social Balance Sheet published on the website of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mato Grosso by the companies object of the research. Initially, the Social Balance Sheet (240 units) disclosed between the years 2010 to 2016 were identified, later grouped according to the model proposed by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Mato Grosso, only then were identified those that contained external investments in the environment. For the study in question, only the Social Balance sheets of the companies that made and disclosed investments related to the environment were considered, in a total of 100 Social Balance Sheets. An analysis was made of the Economic Indicators - Net Revenue and External Social Indicators - Investment in the Environment of companies. The analysis of the results showed that only the medium and large companies made investments in the environmental area, and the commercial sector is the one that most invests in the environment. The investments shown in the Social Balance Sheet are almost all carried out to improve the environmental management of companies, however what is perceived is that there is still a greater concern regarding the quality of the information disclosed that still needs to be improved, since the great most of the Social Balance sheets do not have all the necessary information so that the reader can identify and understand the actions of corporate social responsibility in a clear way.

A fertilização potássica em plantações de eucalipto gera aumento de produtividade em até 120%. Além disso, o K desenvolve funções fisiológicas relacionadas à regulação hídrica da planta, como a regulação osmótica, a fotossíntese e o processo de abertura e fechamento dos estômatos. Devido ao elevado custo do KCl, amplamente utilizado em plantações florestais, a quantidade de estudos empenhados em identificar fontes alternativas de K tem adquirido maior relevância, como por exemplo ensaios conduzidos com rocha fonolito. Esta rocha passou a despertar elevado interesse por apresentar inúmeras reservas minerais espalhadas pelo país e por conter K e micronutrientes além de elementos benéficos como o Na e o Si. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a substituição do KCl por NaCl ou fonolito em povoamento de eucalipto. Para isso, foram mensurados: i) o fornecimento, estoque e ciclagem de K, Na e Si via produção de folhedo e; ii) as relações hídricas e a eficiência do uso da água (EUA) pelas árvores de Eucalyptus. A fertilização com fonolito aumentou a quantidade de Na trocável no solo aos 22 meses após o plantio (2 mmolc DM-3 a mais que o Controle), proporcionando maiores estoques do elemento na parte aérea das árvores (61% superior ao Controle), culminando em altas deposições de Na por meio da serapilheira. A rocha apresentou discretos aumentos nos teores foliares de K aos 22 meses após o plantio (14%). A utilização de NaCl promoveu aumentos nos teores de Na nas folhas e demais compartimentos aéreos e intensificou a ciclagem de Na via produção de folhedo. Devido ao alto déficit hídrico apresentado durante o primeiro ano de estudo, o crescimento das árvores foi similar entre todos os tratamentos. A fertilização com fonolito proporcionou maior consumo de água, elevou o índice de área foliar (IAF) e o crescimento do tronco (volume e biomassa), acarretando em EUA similar às plantas fertilizadas com KCl. A utilização de NaCl, apesar de acarretar um menor consumo de água, proporcionou EUA igual às plantas fertilizadas com KCl. A utilização do fonolito e do NaCl como fontes alternativas ao KCl pode propiciar adequado suprimento de íons K e Na para a cultura do eucalipto, propiciando mesma produção de madeira em relação a fertilização convencional. Potassium fertilization in Eucalyptus plantations generates an increase of productivity by up to 120%. In addition, the K develops physiological functions related to hydrological plant control, such as the osmotic adjustment, photosynthesis and the process of stomatal opening and closure. Due to the high cost of KCl, widely used in plantations, the amount of researches to identify K alternative sources has acquired greater importance, such as the tests conducted with phonolite rock. This rock has arouse great interest because it presents several mineral reserves around the country and contains K and micronutrients as well as beneficial elements like Na and Si. The aim of this study was to evaluate the replacement of KCl by NaCl or phonolite in Eucalyptus stand. It was measured: i) the supply, storage and cycling of K, Na and Si via litterfall production and, ii) the water relations and water use efficiency (WUE) by Eucalyptus trees. Fertilization with phonolite increased the amount of exchangeable sodium in the soil at 22 months after planting (2 mmolc dm-3 above the Control), providing higher stocks of the element in the tree shoot (61% higher than the Control), culminating at high Na deposition through litterfall. Rock showed small increases in K foliar concentration at 22 months after planting (14%). The use of NaCl promoted increases in Na concentration in the leaves and other aerial compartments and intensified Na cycling through leaflitter production. Due to the high water deficit presented during the first year of this study, the growth of trees was similar for all the treatments. Fertilization with phonolite provided greater water consumption, increased the leaf area index (LAI) and stem growth (volume and biomass), resulting in WUE similar to plants fertilized with KCl. The use of NaCl, despite to lead a smaller water consumption, provided WUE equal to plants fertilized with KCl. The use of phonolite and NaCl as KCl alternative sources could provide adequate supply of K and Na ions for Eucalyptus cultivation, providing equal wood production when compared to conventional fertilization.

No Brasil, está ocorrendo a expansão da área florestal plantada com espécies do gênero Eucalyptus, sendo que a elevada produtividade pode ser atribuída às pesquisas e melhorias operacionais introduzidas nas ultimas décadas. Nos experimentos realizados em diferentes regiões do Brasil, tem se observado maior incremento dos eucaliptos com o aumento das doses de fertilizantes. Mas o excesso ou a aplicação inadequada de fertilizantes gera freqüentemente o desperdício dos insumos e a lixiviação dos elementos, que podem contaminar o solo e o lençol freático. Portanto, foi objetivo deste trabalho analisar o efeito de doses, bem como do parcelamento da aplicação de fertilizantes na produtividade e na ciclagem de nutrientes em plantios de eucaliptos, além de avaliar a lixiviação de nitrogênio e potássio no solo, após a fertilização de cobertura parcelada em comparação à aplicação em dose única, três meses após o plantio. O experimento foi implantado no município de Anhembi-SP, sendo constituído por cinco tratamentos com a aplicação de doses crescentes e eqüidistantes de N, P e K com a aplicação da fertilização de cobertura (N e K) em 4 parcelas e por um tratamento com fertilização de cobertura aplicada em dose única, três meses após o plantio. Foram avaliados o incremento volumétrico e a produção da biomassa aérea e radicular das árvores, as concentrações e os estoques de nutrientes nos eucaliptos (mineralomassas), a eficiência do uso dos nutrientes, a transferência de nutrientes das árvores para o solo através da produção de folhedo (ciclo biogeoquímico), a ciclagem interna dos nutrientes (ciclo bioquímico), bem como o fluxo de água e a lixiviação do N e K no solo nas profundidades de 20 e 90 cm. Os eucaliptos responderam positivamente ao aumento das doses de fertilizantes, principalmente na fase inicial, apresentando maior produtividade (altura, volume e biomassa). O tratamento com a maior dose obteve, aos 24 meses de idade, 105 t ha-1 de biomassa total, sendo 48% superior ao tratamento sem fertilização, com apenas 71 t ha-1. Entretanto o efeito das maiores doses de fertilizantes foi mais acentuado na fase inicial do crescimento, até os 12 meses de idade. Ocorreu a atenuação do incremento ao longo do tempo, sendo que aos 24 meses não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos com a aplicação de doses de fertilizantes. A fertilização também propiciou maior acúmulo de nutrientes (mineralomassa) nos componentes das árvores (folhas, galhos, lenho, casca e raízes) e maior transferência de nutrientes para o solo, através do folhedo. Assim, os eucaliptos com a adição das doses mais elevadas de fertilizantes devolveram ao solo, via folhedo, aproximadamente 50 kg ha-1 ano-1 de N, 20 kg ha-1 ano-1 de K e 80 kg ha-1 ano-1 de Ca, enquanto o tratamento sem fertilização transferiu para o solo apenas 25 kg ha-1 ano-1 de N, 6,5 kg ha-1 ano-1 de K e 47 kg ha-1 ano-1 de Ca, no período entre 12 a 24 meses de idade. Foi observado que os eucaliptos com menor disponibilidade de nutrientes foram mais eficientes no uso do N e K. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas na produção de biomassa lenhosa entre os tratamentos com aplicação da fertilização de cobertura de forma parcelada ou em dose única, sendo observado maior lixiviação do N e do K, aos 90 cm de profundidade, com a aplicação em dose única. It is occurring, in Brazil, the expansion of planted forest area with species that belong to the Eucalyptus genus, one of the reasons is the high biomass productivity resulting from the research and the operational improvements that have been implemented during the last decades. In several field experiments, has been observed an increase of eucalypts growth by using a higher amount of fertilizers. But excessive or inappropriate application of fertilizers may generate the fertilizer waste and nutrients leaching that may contaminate soil and watertable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fertilization doses in the biomass production and nutrient cycling from the eucalypt plantation, as well as evaluating the N and K leaching in the soil after the application of split and single dose of N and K fertilization. The experiment was set up in the Anhembi city (State of São Paulo), and it was constituted by five treatments with doses of fertilizers and N and K in split application (4 times) and also a treatment with a single dose of N and K application, 3 months after planting. It was evaluated the wood volume, root and shoot biomass, concentrations and stocks of nutrients in eucalypts biomass (mineralomass), the efficiency of nutrient use, the nutrient transference from the canopy to the soil through litter production (leaf-fall), internal nutrients cycling (biochemical cycle), the water flow and leaching of N and K in the soil at the depths of 20 and 90 cm. The eucalypts responded positively to the increased fertilization doses, especially in the first year, with higher productivity (height, DBH and biomass). Treatment with the highest dose for 24 months produced 105 tons ha-1 of biomass, 48% higher than the treatment without fertilization, with only 71 tons ha-1. However the effect of higher doses was more evident at an early stage of tree growth, up to 12 months of age. However, the difference decrease over time, and at 24 months there were not significant differences among the treatments with fertilization application. Fertilization also resulted in higher nutrients accumulation (mineralomass) in all tree components (leaves, branches, wood, bark and roots) and increased nutrient transfer to the soil through deposition of leaf litter. Thus, the eucalypts applied the highest addition of fertilization dose returned to the soil through litter, about 50 kg ha-1 yr-1 of N, 20 kg ha-1 yr-1 of K and 80 kg ha-1 yr-1 of Ca, while the treatment without fertilization transferred to the soil only 25 kg ha-1 yr-1 of N, 6.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 of K and 47 kg ha-1 yr-1 of Ca during 12 months (between 12 to 24 months after planting). It was observed more efficient use of nutrients from the eucalypts with lower nutrients availability. Also, there were no significant differences in the growth of eucalypts from the treatments with split N and K application and single N and K application. However, there was a higher leaching of K and N, 90 cm deep, in the single application treatment.

O início do uso de tubete na década de 80 revolucionou os viveiros, e hoje mesmo apresentando desvantagens, é amplamente difundido em todo o setor florestal. Esses tubetes de polipropileno, derivado do petróleo, possuem dois problemas: uso de fonte não renovável e resíduos para descarte. Uma alternativa é a substituição por plásticos biodegradáveis. Os objetivos foram avaliar: (a) a taxa de decomposição do compósito; (b) o crescimento em altura e em diâmetro do colo (DAC); (c) a produção de biomassa aérea e radicular; (d) a concentração de nutrientes nos tecidos vegetais; (e) a eficiência do uso de condições ambientais e de atributos do solo para predizer a taxa de decomposição. Os estudos no processo seminal ocorreram no viveiro da ESALQ, em Piracicaba. Para estudar a taxa de decomposição do compósito, utilizaram-se formulações com 20 e 30% (p p-1) de pó de madeira. No verão e no inverno aplicaramse 150; 225 e 300 g de N m-3 de substrato na fertilização de base. A diminuição de massa foi mensurada a cada dez dias, até 90 dias. Avaliou-se se o crescimento em altura e em DAC de mudas seminais entre 40-90 dias após a semeadura, a produção de biomassa e concentração de macronutrientes aos 90. No plantio realizado na E.E.C.F. de Anhembi, em três blocos ao acaso avaliou-se o crescimento em altura, em DAC e de produção biomassa, aos 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 e 120 dias. Para as mudas clonais utilizou-se tubete e minitubete de polipropileno, tubetes na coloração normal e na coloração escurecida, e minitubete de compósito. O estudo realizou-se em quatro viveiros e quatro plantios de Eucalyptus sp. no estado de São Paulo. No viveiro utilizouse 4 blocos casualizados. O crescimento em altura e em DAC, e a biomassa foram mensurados aos 90 dias. O plantio clonal em três blocos ao acaso foi mensurado em altura, DAC e produção de biomassa aos 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 e 150 dias. A concentração de macronutrientes foi determinada aos 150 dias. Os dados foram submetidos aos testes de normalidade, de homogeneidade de variâncias, da Análise de Variância e de Tukey. A análise da relação entre as variáveis dependentes e independentes foi realizada por meio de análises de correlação e de regressão. O aumento da dose de N e do teor de madeira não proporcionou aumento da taxa de decomposição, ao contrário da estação climática. A abertura de fissuras causou deformação do tubete, dificultando o manejo. As mudas seminais, crescimento e biomassa não diferiram no verão. Os plantios seminais não diferiram em crescimento e em biomassa. No sistema clonal crescimento e biomassa diferiram nos viveiros. No plantio clonal, crescimento e produção de biomassa não diferiram em três sítios. Tubetes e minitubete de compósito não impediram o desenvolvimento do sistema radicular. A diminuição da massa dos tubetes ou minitubete de compósito, em produção de mudas seminais ou clonal, pôde ser prevista com alta precisão em função das condições ambientais. Da mesma forma nos plantios seminais. No plantio clonal pelo menos em dois sítios houve alta relação. The introduction of plastic tubes on 80s revolutionized nurseries, and nowadays even with disadvantages, is widespread throughout the forest sector. These polypropylene tubes, derived from petroleum, have two problems: use of a nonrenewable resource and waste for disposal. An alternative is the substitution for biodegradable plastics. The objectives were to assess: (a) the rate of decomposition of the composite, (b) the growth in height and ground level diameter (DAC), (c) the production of stem and root biomass, (d) the concentration of nutrients on plant tissues, (e) the efficiency of use of environmental conditions and soil properties to predict the rate of decomposition. Studies in the seminal case occurred in ESALQ´s nursery, Piracicaba. To study the rate of decomposition of composite were used formulations with 20 and 30% (p p-1) of wood powder. During summer and winter were applied 150, 225 and 300 g N m-3 of substrate for base fertilization. Decrease in mass was measured every ten days until 90 days. We evaluated the growth in height and DAC from seedlings between 40-90 days after sowing, the production of biomass and macronutrients at 90. On planting, held at E.E.C.F. of Anhembi in three randomized blocks, were evaluated height growth, DAC and biomass production at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 days. For cuttings, we used minitubes and tubes of polypropylene, and tubes with normal and darkened colors, and minitubes of composite. The study took place in four nurseries and four Eucalyptus sp. plantations at state of São Paulo. At nursery we used four randomized blocks. The growth in height, DAC and biomass were measured at 90 days. The clonal plantation in three randomized blocks was measured in height, DAC and biomass production at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days. The concentration of macronutrients was determined at 150 days. Data were tested for normality, homogeneity of variance, analysis of variance and Tukey test. Analysis of relationship between dependent and independent variables was performed using correlation and regression. The increase of N and wood content did not increase the rate of decomposition, unlike the weather season. Opening of cracks caused deformation of the tube, making it difficult to manage. The growth and biomass of seedlings did not differ on summer. Seminal plantations did not differ in growth and biomass. At clonal system, growth and biomass differed in nurseries. In clonal plantation, growth and biomass production did not differ at three sites. Minitube and tubes of composite did not prevent the development of root system. Decrease of tube or minitube of composite masses in production from seedlings or cuttings was predicted with high accuracy, as a function of environmental conditions. Likewise in seminal plantations. In clonal planting, at least two sites, showed high relation.