Courses

A brief overview of the National and State Bioinputs Programs, followed by hands-on preparation of Alternative Bokashi, biofertilizers, and mineral and plant-based sprays for insect and disease control.

The development and dissemination of the low-cost bioreactor has made growth-promoting bacteria (biological control, nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, etc.) accessible to small and medium-scale farmers. The effectiveness of these microorganisms had already been demonstrated in previous studies, but they remained confined to research institutions because industry had no interest in making them commercially available. This technology has therefore contributed to farmers' independence, while also fostering a culture of bioinput use among small and medium-scale producers.

This short course introduces the fundamentals of stable isotopes as tools for tracing C and N fluxes in agricultural systems. The content ranges from the principles of mass spectrometry and sample preparation protocols to data interpretation and analytical expressions. Focusing on organic matter dynamics, case studies from UFV and other institutions will be discussed, demonstrating the practical application of the technique in investigating nutrient cycling and sustainability in agroecosystems.

To present the fundamentals required to recognize terrestrial soil insects and identify their main orders through general morphological features and diagnostic characters. To explain the importance of initial taxonomic identification for sorting, sample organization and biodiversity data building. To relate order-level identification to ecological monitoring and conservation efforts in the face of the biodiversity crisis in Brazil. The practical session will provide hands-on contact with groups that frequently raise doubts during sorting, offering strategies and tips to reduce common errors.

The importance of soil organic matter and its role in soil functions. Methods for assessing the quantity and quality of SOM. Assessment of greenhouse gas fluxes.

• Introduction to composting;
• Feedstocks used and the C/N ratio;
• Moisture and temperature monitoring;
• Practical session: pile assembly, monitoring and compost quality.

To discuss the main doubts, controversial issues and new recommendations regarding classical statistical methods applied to soil science (experimental and observational studies), with an emphasis on univariate methods. Worked examples using the GExpDes and SPEED stat tools. Common questions in experimental design: Why are 4 or 5 replications frequently insufficient? Must every field experiment use a randomized block design? Is planning many treatments really that bad? Why are simpler designs better? Why is measuring too many parameters a problem? Can a principal component analysis replace mean comparison tests? Why should t tests (even for orthogonal contrasts), Duncan and Scott-Knott not be used for multiple comparisons in confirmatory studies? How should the results of planned contrasts be presented in graphs? How should regression models be selected under experimental conditions? Why are box plots not necessarily better than bar charts? Are bootstrap and GLzM better methods than data transformation? Is it possible to perform a non-parametric regression using classical methods?

• Fundamentals of degraded area restoration;
• Environmental legislation;
• Fertilization and the use of organic waste in land restoration;
• Scientific monitoring of land restoration.

The course covers the principles of soil health and the role of soil fauna as bioindicators of soil quality and ecosystem functioning. The main groups of soil-dwelling organisms will be presented, along with their ecological functions and their contribution to the provision of ecosystem services. The course will also address the historical neglect of soil fauna in scientific research and agricultural management practices, as well as its implications for understanding soil ecological processes and for developing more sustainable and resilient production systems. Methods for sampling, extracting, identifying and classifying soil fauna will also be covered, with an emphasis on their application as a tool for monitoring soil quality.