Extracellular soil enzymes are fundamental for the functioning of ecosystems. Several processes in the soil depend on the activity of these enzymes, including plant decomposition, soil organic matter formation/mineralization, and nutrient cycling. Moreover, extracellular enzyme activity occurs in the soil and is therefore influenced by environmental factors. Due to the high sensitivity to these factors, extracellular enzymes are used for monitoring soil quality. This review aimed to present the main contributions of soil enzymes to agriculture, emphasizing the dynamics [...] ABSTRACT Extracellular soil enzymes are fundamental for the functioning of ecosystems. Several processes in the soil depend on the activity of these enzymes, including plant decomposition, soil organic matter formation/mineralization, and nutrient cycling. Moreover, extracellular enzyme activity occurs in the soil and is therefore influenced by environmental factors. Due to the high sensitivity to these factors, extracellular enzymes are used for monitoring soil quality. This review aimed to present the main contributions of soil enzymes to agriculture, emphasizing the dynamics

Poultry agro-industry generates huge amounts of solid wastes, such as poultry litter (PL) and feathers. Feathers, possessing a substantial amount of organic nitrogen, are mainly converted into feather meal (FM) through the hydrothermal process; however, microbial conversion into feather hydrolysates (FH) is increasingly being focused on. Since waste management strategies include the use of organic wastes as soil fertilizer, PL, FM, and FH were evaluated as fertilizers for lettuce in comparison to urea.

In this study, solid-state fermentation was optimized for the production of chitinases by fungus Metarhizium anisopliae using sugarcane bagasse as substrate. A Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) was used to determine the effect of temperature, moisture, and chitin mass in chitinase production. The highest value for the total chitinolytic activity was obtained at 33°C, chitin mass 0.75 g, and moisture content 60%.

Plant growth biostimulants are used in seed treatment because they increase the percentage and speed of germination The objective of this work was to evaluate the germination of bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), BRS Esteio cultivar, pre-soaked in different doses of a commercial biostimulant, composed of 50 mg L-1 of indolebutyric acid, 90 mg L-1 of kinetin and 50 mg L-1 of gibberellic acid. The treatments were: 7.5 mL, 10 mL, 25 mL and 50 mL of biostimulant per kg of seeds and a control treatment with pre-soaking in sterile distilled water. It was evaluate the germination rate (%), germination velocity index (IVG), mean shoot length (CMPA), mean root length (CMR), fresh shoot biomass (BFPA), dry shoot biomass BSPA), fresh root biomass (BFR) and dry root biomass (BSR) of germinated seeds. The dose of 10 mL kg-1 of seed had the highest percentage of germination (84%) and the highest IVG. The same treatment showed significantly higher mean values for CMPA, CMR, BFR and BSR. BFPA and BSPA were negatively affected by biostimulant pre-soaking. It was concluded that the dose of 10 mL of biostimulant per kg of seeds resulted in a higher percentage and speed of germination, shoot and root lengthening, and increase of fresh and dry biomass of the roots, while the different dosages of biostimulant in the treatment of bean seeds provided a decrease in the accumulation of fresh and dry shoot biomass in the germinated seeds.