Cerne Journal: Top 10 Most Accessed Articles in August 2026

1- USE OF BIOCHAR IN WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART REVIEW

Camila Juliana Sampaio Pereira, João Gilberto Meza Ucella Filho, Ariane Mateus de Souza, Angélica de Cassia Oliveira Carneiro, Emanoele Lima Abreu, Ana Marcia Macedo Ladeira Carvalho, Luis Henrique Cabral Barral, Antonio Machado Netto, Kezia Ellen Souza Bomfim, Renata Pereira Lopes Moreira, João Victor da Costa Santos

Abstract

Background: Biochar has emerged as a sustainable and efficient alternative for water and wastewater treatment due to its high surface area, porosity, chemical stability, and adsorption capacity. Over time, numerous studies have proposed methods for removing contaminants from water and wastewater to enable their reuse in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 and 14. Among the techniques reported as effective in this context is the use of biochar. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the state of the art and current trends regarding the use of biochar in water and wastewater treatment. To achieve this, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus scientific database to identify the research landscape involving biochar for water and wastewater treatment.

Results: The use of residual agroforestry biomass for biochar production was predominant, including coffee husks, açaí seeds, bamboo, wood, rice husks, corn cobs, and forest residues. In addition, muffle furnaces were the most commonly used systems in thermal degradation processes. The pharmaceutical and textile industries, followed by water treatment facilities, were identified as the sectors with the greatest research interest involving biochar-based adsorbents.

Conclusions: Biochar demonstrated significant potential and efficiency for water and wastewater treatment due to its performance in removing contaminants such as pharmaceutical compounds, dyes, heavy metals, and emerging micropollutants. The successful removal of pollutants was mainly attributed to the adsorption mechanism associated with biochar, with improved performance observed after chemical activation. Therefore, biochar stands out not only as an adsorbent material, but also as a technology aligned with environmental remediation strategies, waste valorization, and sustainable water resource management.

Keywords: Waste management, adsorption processes, wastewater treatment.

2- EVALUATION OF Araucaria angustifolia (BERTOL.) KUNTZE WOOD FOR ACOUSTIC GUITAR PRODUCTION AND MUSICAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE INSTRUMENT

Polliana Rios, Leonardo Seibett Kuhn, Natalia Durigon Melo, Luana Muller Souza, Rafaela Stange, Camila Alves Corrêa, Tarcisio Francisco de Camargo, Alexsandro Bayestorff da Cunha, Martha Andrea Brand, Rodrigo Figueredo Terezo, Paulo Henrique Mareze

Abstract

Background: The acoustic quality of a guitar is directly influenced by the wood species used in its construction. Brazil has a diverse range of tree species with potential for lutherie, which could reduce production costs and encourage sustainable cultivation. In this context, this study evaluated the suitability of Araucaria angustifolia, a native species from southern Brazil, for use in guitar manufacturing. Acoustic, anatomical, chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of wood samples from three trees were analyzed, followed by the construction and evaluation of a guitar prototype.

Results: The results demonstrated promising acoustic performance, with a sound velocity of 4657 m·s⁻¹, a fundamental frequency of 199.1 Hz, and a logarithmic decay of 0.019 s. The wood showed suitability for use in the soundboard and back of the guitar. Significant correlations were observed between acoustic and mechanical properties and anatomical and chemical characteristics, including bordered pit diameter, solubility in ethanol and water, basic density, and tangential hardness. The wood exhibited a density of 430 kg·m⁻³ and lower shrinkage values compared with conventional tonewoods. Mechanical behavior was consistent with low-density woods, with an elastic modulus of 10,469 MPa. Evaluations conducted by professional musicians classified the instrument’s tonal quality as “Good” or “Very Good”.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that Araucaria angustifolia has significant potential for guitar manufacturing, especially in applications requiring lightweight tonewoods with favorable acoustic performance. The species represents a promising alternative for lutherie, contributing to the diversification of raw materials and the valorization of native Brazilian woods.

Keywords: Araucaria, wood characterization., string instrument

3- GENETIC PARAMETERS AND CORRELATION BETWEEN GROWTH TRAITS IN YOUNG PROGENIES OF Corymbia torelliana (F.MUELL.) KD HILL AND LAS JOHNSON

Gabriel de Resende Baroni, Adelson Lemes da Silva Júnior, Pedro Henrique Del Grossi, Adriene de Oliveira Bastos, Lavínia Barbosa Oliveira, Izabel Cristina Rodrigues de Figueiredo, Flávia Maria Avelar Gonçalves, Lucas Amaral de Melo

Abstract

Background: Corymbia torelliana is a promising alternative for the forestry sector due to its rapid growth, resistance, and high-quality wood for charcoal and biomass production. However, there is limited information regarding its genetic performance under Brazilian conditions. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and evaluate correlations between growth traits in young half-sib progenies. The experiment was conducted in Lavras, MG, with 28 progenies evaluated in a randomized complete block design, with eight replications and five plants per plot. Height (H) and diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured at 12, 18, and 24 months, and genetic estimates were obtained using the REML/BLUP method, including analyses of genotypic and phenotypic correlations.

Results: Narrow-sense heritabilities showed moderate magnitude (0.18 to 0.22), as well as progeny selection accuracy (0.64 to 0.68). Individual genetic variation coefficients ranged from 8.3% to 12.8%, indicating genetic variability among individuals. The environmental effect among plots was significant, with a determination coefficient above 0.10. Average DBH ranged from 2.4 to 5.3 cm with increasing age, and mean height reached 2.91 m at 12 months. High genetic and phenotypic correlations suggest potential for simultaneous selection, although indirect selection accuracy was lower than direct selection.

Conclusion: The results confirm the genetic potential of C. torelliana for selective gains, particularly in DBH at 24 months. The study highlights the importance of improving management practices and selection strategies to mitigate environmental effects and enhance the accuracy of genetic estimates.

Keywords: Forestry, forest breeding, heritability, indirect selection.

4- EPICORMIC SPROUTING FROM DETACHED BRANCHES OF Ilex paraguariensis: EFFECTS OF DISPOSITION SENSE AND BRANCH DIAMETER ON PROPAGATION POTENTIAL

Bruno Nascimento, Alexandra Cristina Schatz Sá, Thalia Schilisting, Carolina Moraes, Marcio Carlos Navroski, Adelar Mantovani.

Abstract

Background: Epicormic sprouting represents a promising strategy for vegetative rescue and propagation of mature trees; however, factors influencing sprout productivity and viability remain insufficiently understood for Ilex paraguariensis. This study evaluated the epicormic sprouting potential of detached branches according to disposition sense (horizontal and vertical) and branch diameter (thin and thick), as well as the rooting performance of cuttings derived from epicormic and canopy sprouts. Detached branches were maintained under controlled mini tunnel conditions and assessed over a 120-day period for survival, sprouting percentage, number of sprouts and sprout length. Subsequently, cuttings from both material sources were evaluated for survival, callus formation, rooting and sprout development.

Results: Disposition sense was the main factor influencing sprouting dynamics. Vertically disposed branches exhibited faster initial sprouting but reduced longevity, whereas horizontally disposed branches showed slower development combined with extended survival. Branch diameter had secondary effects, mainly influencing early sprouting responses. Epicormic cuttings showed lower survival compared to canopy-derived material; however, rooting percentages were statistically similar between sources.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that detached branches constitute a viable ex situ source of epicormic sprouts, allowing flexible management strategies depending on production goals. Nevertheless, improvements in environmental conditions and propagule physiological status may be required to enhance survival during vegetative propagation. Overall, detached branches represent a promising alternative for the propagation and conservation of I. paraguariensis, supporting clonal propagation programs while minimizing damage to mother trees.

Keywords: cuttings, mate, ontogenetic age, vegetative propagation

5- TESTING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS FOR ESTIMATING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIAMETER AT BREAST HEIGHT AND STUMP DIAMETER IN Quercus cerris

Burhan Gencal, Turan Sönmez, Ergin Cagatay Cankaya

Abstract

Background: Accurate prediction of diameter at breast height (DBH) from stump diameter measurements is essential for sustainable forest management, particularly in post-harvest assessments, illegal logging investigations, and carbon accounting protocols in Quercus cerris stands. Traditional allometric models often fail to capture the complex nonlinear relationships inherent in tree growth patterns, necessitating advanced computational approaches. This study aims to develop and validate artificial neural network (ANN) models for predicting DBH from stump diameter in Q. cerris stands across diverse ecological conditions in Turkish forests.

Results: We conducted an extensive field survey across 103 systematically distributed sample plots encompassing 1,077 individual Q. cerris trees within the Bursa Regional Directorate of Forestry, Turkey. The study area represented diverse site conditions including five site quality classes, multiple age cohorts, and varying stand densities. Fourteen traditional regression models were compared against five distinct ANN architectures with varying activation functions. The ANN model employing hyperbolic tangent sigmoid activation function between input and hidden layers coupled with pure-linear function between hidden and output layers (ANN-2) with 8 neurons demonstrated superior predictive performance (SSE = 777.1878, RMSE = 2.190309, MSE = 4.79745, R²adj = 0.9484). Among conventional models, the quadratic regression exhibited competitive performance but showed evidence of heteroscedasticity and model assumption violations.

Conclusion: This research demonstrates the superior capability of artificial neural networks in modeling complex DBH-stump diameter relationships in Q. cerris compared to traditional statistical approaches. The developed ANN models provide forest managers with robust, accurate tools for retrospective forest assessments, illegal logging quantification, and sustainable management planning.

Keywords: allometric equations, Forest biometrics, machine learning, Stump modeling, Turkey oak.

6- MACHINE LEARNING-BASED ASSESSMENT OF LEAF-CUTTING ANT INFESTATION IN Eucalyptus FOREST PLANTATIONS

Vitória Fernanda Santos, Clayton A. Alvares, Maurício M. Domingues, Everton P. Soliman, Ítalo R. Cegatta, Edival A. V. Zauza, Reginaldo G. Mafia

Abstract

Background: Brazilian planted forests play a critical role in global wood and fiber production but face significant productivity challenges from pests and diseases. Leaf-cutting ants (Atta spp. and Acromyrmex spp.) are the main pest in the Brazilian planted forests and cause significant productivity losses every year. Identifying areas most susceptible to colony establishment and growth is crucial for implementing effective management strategies. This study aims to assess the influence of edaphoclimatic and landscape variables on the establishment and expansion of leaf-cutting ant colonies and identify the key factors driving their occurrence.

Results: Based on a decade of monitoring data from 33,000 Eucalyptus stands across five regions, Random Forest models reached accuracies of 83% for predicting initial nests and 78% for predicting large nests.

Conclusion: The machine learning models effectively detected both initial and large nests, revealing that edaphoclimatic and landscape conditions exert varying levels of influence across macro-regions.

Keywords: forest pests, random forest algorithm, pest management, spatial data science.

 

7- TECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF PARTICLEBOARDS FROM Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.F. Cook IN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

Lívia Berti Sanjuan Farias, José Adolfo de Almeida Neto, Ricardo Gabriel de Almeida Mesquita, Daniel Piotto, Mara Lúcia Agostini Valle, José Benedito Guimarães Junior, Lourival Marin Mendes.

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated the technical performance, energy demand, and carbon footprint of particleboards produced from Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.F. Cook wood obtained from agroforestry systems, considering different panel densities and structural configurations.

Results: Panel density significantly influenced both physical properties and environmental performance. Single-layer panels showed improved dimensional stability, with thickness swelling values below 22%, whereas multilayer panels exceeded this limit. Water absorption ranged from 40.1 to 78.4%, confirming the high hygroscopicity of the material. Mechanical performance was satisfactory, with modulus of elasticity ranging from 2062 to 2654 MPa, while modulus of rupture (18.6–23.7 MPa) and internal bond strength (0.49–0.80 MPa) showed no significant differences among treatments. In the cradle-to-gate assessment, energy demand ranged from 4649 to 4869 MJ·m⁻³ and CO₂e emissions from 189.89 to 203.06 kg CO₂e·m⁻³. Lower-density panels showed the lowest environmental impacts due to reduced wood and adhesive consumption. Adhesive production was the main contributor, accounting for approximately 72–74% of total emissions.

Conclusion: E. poeppigiana wood from agroforestry systems is a viable alternative raw material for particleboard production. Panel structure and material efficiency were the main factors controlling performance and environmental impacts. High water absorption values (40.1–78.4%) represent a critical limitation, compromising dimensional stability and restricting multilayer configurations under moisture exposure. Improvements in dimensional stability are still required.

Keywords: Cabruca, Cradle-to-gate assessment, Dimensional stability, Medium-density panel, Urea–formaldehyde

8- EFFECTIVENESS OF DIRECT SEEDING TECHNIQUES FOR FOREST RESTORATION IN A BRAZILIAN CERRADO AREA

Paolo Alessandro Rodrigues Sartorelli, Andressa Ribeiro, Gabriel Marx Cordeiro, Mauricio Sangiogo, Kennedy de Paiva Porfírio, Antonio Carlos Ferraz Filho

Abstract

Background: Forest restoration plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change. In the Cerrado biome, effective and scalable restoration techniques are still lacking, particularly those that balance logistics, cost, and ecological success. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of four direct seeding techniques for forest restoration under field conditions.

Results: The tested treatments included: (DS) direct seeding with native species, (DS+BAC) with a bacterial consortium, (DS+NPK) with NPK fertilizer, and (DS+BAC+NPK) with both inputs. The experiment, conducted in Monte Alegre de Minas (MG, Brazil), used a randomized complete block design with 16 plots. Botanical inventories occurred at 63, 105, 164, and 454 days post-sowing. Significant height differences were observed, with DS+BAC+NPK yielding the tallest plants. Species richness showed no consistent differences across treatments, while diversity and evenness increased over time. Similarity among plots declined, indicating vegetation differentiation among treatments.

Conclusion: All four direct seeding techniques showed promise for Cerrado restoration, but DS+BAC+NPK was the most effective in promoting plant growth and ecological indicators. Continued long-term monitoring is essential to fully understand the role of all four direct seeding techniques showed promise for Cerrado restoration, although DS+BAC+NPK was the most effective in promoting plant growth and ecological indicators. Continued long-term monitoring is essential to fully understand the role of forest restoration in various ecological contexts.

Keywords: Bacterial consortium; Cerrado restoration; climate change; forest inventory; native species.

9- EMBRYOGENIC CALLUS INDUCTION FROM in vitro CULTURE OF MATURE ZYGOTIC EMBRYOS OF Euterpe edulis Martius (ARECACEAE)

Victor Pereira Lago da Silva, Tsylla Assis Santos Ferreira, João Carlos Teixeira Fernandes, Ana Claudia Ferreira Cruz, Sérgio Yoshimitsu Motoike, Diego Ismael Rocha

Abstract

Background:Euterpe edulis Martius, a symbolic species of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, popularly known as the Juçara palm tree, does not produce axillary or basal shoots, which prevents its vegetative propagation through conventional techniques. Plant tissue culture techniques have been proposed for the clonal propagation of superior genotypes of this species. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) on the induction of embryogenic calluses from mature zygotic embryos of E. edulis. Mature zygotic embryos were inoculated in culture media supplemented with different concentrations (20, 40, 80, 160, 320, 480, and 600 mg L⁻¹) of 2,4-D, while the control treatment contained no 2,4-D. The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design.

Results: After 70 days in the induction medium, three morphogenic responses were observed: seedlings, abnormal seedlings, and calluses. Increasing concentrations of 2,4-D reduced the formation of normal seedlings while enhancing callogenesis up to concentrations between 160 and 279 mg L⁻¹. At higher concentrations, embryogenic calluses or oxidized explants predominated. Morpho-anatomical evaluations confirmed the embryogenic identity of the calluses, which consisted of a meristematic center surrounded by a parenchymatic zone. Neutral polysaccharides and starch grains were mainly observed in the parenchymatic zone, which was not directly involved in somatic embryo regeneration.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the formation of embryogenic calluses from in vitro cultures of zygotic embryos of Euterpe edulis. These findings contribute to the development of a complete regeneration protocol and may support the clonal propagation and conservation of this important Atlantic Forest palm species

Keywords: Auxin, somatic embryogenesis, Juçara palm tree, plant regeneration, morphoanatomy

10- HYDROLOGICAL IMPACT OF PINE SPECIES AND PLANTATION AGE IN THE SEMI-ARID MIXTECA ALTA, OAXACA

Adan Hernandez-Hernandez, Martin Enrique Romero-Sanchez, Antonio Gonzalez-Hernandez, Juan Francisco Castellano Bolaños, Feliciana Martínez-Aranda, Nancy Garcia-Asuncion, Bertario Sánchez-Rosales

Abstract

Background: Rainfall redistribution by forest canopies is a key hydrological process influencing water availability in semi-arid ecosystems. However, information remains limited on how pine species and stand development affect rainfall partitioning in reforested landscapes of the Mixteca Alta region of Oaxaca, Mexico. This study evaluated throughfall, stemflow, and interception in Pinus pseudostrobus and Pinus greggii plantations ranging from 6 to 56 years old.

Results: Rainfall partitioning was monitored throughout the rainy season using throughfall collectors and stemflow collars installed in seven pine plantations. Throughfall generally decreased with stand age, whereas interception increased as canopy development progressed. Pinus pseudostrobus consistently allowed greater throughfall and exhibited lower interception losses than P. greggii, particularly in younger stands. In contrast, P. greggii showed greater canopy retention of rainfall, reflecting differences in canopy structure and density. Stemflow contributed only a small proportion of total precipitation and declined with increasing stand age in both species. Log-linear models indicated significant relationships between incident precipitation and rainfall redistribution components, while structural attributes such as crown diameter and basal area were associated with observed hydrological responses.

Conclusions: Species identity and stand age significantly influenced rainfall partitioning in semi-arid pine plantations. The greater interception observed in older stands and in P. greggii highlights the importance of canopy structure in regulating water inputs to the forest floor. These findings provide useful guidance for species selection and reforestation planning aimed at sustaining hydrological ecosystem services in water-limited environments.

Keywords: Canopy structure; Rainfall interception; Restoration hydrology; Stemflow; Throughfall.