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Bioactivity of humic acids isolated from vermicomposts at different maturation stages

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Abstract

Background and aims

Vermicomposts are useful to improve environmental quality and sustainable agriculture. Moreover, it is enriched with highly bioactive humic acids (HAs)-like substances and can substitute no-renew source of humic substances to use as plant growth promoters in agriculture. The aim of this work was to evaluate the biological effects of HAs isolated at increasing vermicompost maturation stages.

Methods

Lateral root emergence, aqueous growth medium acidification and proton pumps of maize seedlings were used to monitor HAs bioactivity. Molecular conformation of the HAs was determined by size-exclusion and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. We applied spectroscopy 13C-NMR on VC samples to follow the humification process.

Results

We observed a decrease of carbohydrate content and selective preservation of hydrophobic alkyl and aryl C components by 13C-NMR during vermicompost maturation. Apparent molecular weight distribution of HAs did not change with vermicompost maturation, but was possible observed increase on hydrophobic moieties.

Conclusion

After 60 days of vermicomposting, all HAs promotes lateral root emergence, acidification of growth aqueous medium and induction of proton pumps without changes on apparent molecular weight but with enhance on hydrophobic domains.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), International Foundation of Science(IFS) and National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) for biological nitrogen fixation, for their financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UENF-Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Núcleo de Desenvolvimento de Insumos Biológicos para a Agricultura (NUDIBA), Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000. Campos dos Goytacazes, 28013-602, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Natália O. Aguiar, Fábio L. Olivares, Leonardo B. Dobbss, Dayriellis M. Balmori, Luiz G. Santos-Júnior, Jhonathan G. Chagas, Arnoldo R. Façanha & Luciano P. Canellas

  2. Embrapa Solos, Rua Jardim Botânico, 1024, Rio de Janeiro, 22460-000, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Etelvino H. Novotny

Authors
  1. Natália O. Aguiar
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  2. Fábio L. Olivares
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  3. Etelvino H. Novotny
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  4. Leonardo B. Dobbss
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  5. Dayriellis M. Balmori
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  6. Luiz G. Santos-Júnior
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  7. Jhonathan G. Chagas
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  8. Arnoldo R. Façanha
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  9. Luciano P. Canellas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luciano P. Canellas.

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Responsible Editor: Ingrid Koegel-Knabner.

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Aguiar, N.O., Olivares, F.L., Novotny, E.H. et al. Bioactivity of humic acids isolated from vermicomposts at different maturation stages. Plant Soil 362, 161–174 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1277-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1277-5

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