Alceu Pedrotti

Resistência mecânica à penetração de um Planossolo submetido a diferentes sistemas de cultivo

O conhecimento das caracteristicas e propriedades dos solos de varzea do RS, utilizados atualmente com a cultura do arroz irrigado, torna-se essencial para a adocao de praticas que envolvam irrigacao, drenagem, correcao da acidez e da fertilidade, principalmente quando se deseja obter altos niveis de produtividade, com menor custo e com menores possibilidades de degradacao destes solos e do ambiente onde estao situados. Dentro deste panorama, avaliou-se a compactacao de um Planossolo cultivado sob diferentes sistemas de manejo, atraves da resistencia mecânica do solo a penetracao. Camadas compactadas foram identificadas, de forma mais acentuada, na profundidade intermediaria (0,10-0,20 m) nos sistemas com maior utilizacao da mecanizacao agricola (T2 - sistema de cultivo continuo de arroz e T3 - sistema de cultivo de arroz x rotacao de culturas). Observou-se que, em todos os sistemas, houve aumento dos valores de resistencia mecânica do solo a penetracao em relacao a testemunha (T6 - solo mantido sem cultivo), principalmente na camada intermediaria (0,10-0,20 m), quando o solo foi submetido ao sistema de cultivo continuo de arroz (T2). Os tratamentos T3 (sistema de cultivo de arroz x rotacao de culturas) e T5 (sucessao de culturas: soja (sistema convencional) x arroz (sistema de semeadura direta)) apresentaram os valores mais altos de resistencia a penetracao, provavelmente em decorrencia da baixa umidade e dos efeitos do cultivo e da utilizacao de maquinas responsaveis pela deformacao da estrutura do solo.

Relação entre atributos físicos, mineralogia da fração argila e formas de alumínio no solo

Aluminum (Al) is one of the most abundant elements in weight in Brazilian soils, found in different minerals and forms. Considering the lack of information about its participation in the physical behavior of soil, the present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the mineralogy of the clay fraction, different forms of Al and physical attributes of different soils. Disturbed and undisturbed samples of A and B horizons of representative soils from the South and Campos das Vertentes physiographic regions in the State of Minas Gerais were therefore collected. The samples were subjected to physical, chemical and mineralogical characterizations. Correlation studies performed with the resulting data from the different characterizations showed that the physical attributes of the different studied soils are associated to the different forms of Al and to the mineralogy of the clay fraction: the amorphous and less crystalline forms of Al were more associated to physical attributes related with particle aggregation, such association being ascribed to the affinity of this element with organic matter, while the crystalline components were more associated to physical attributes related with the structural organization of the soils.

Planosol soil sample size for computerized tomography measurement of physical parameters

Computerized tomography (CT) is an important tool in Soil Science for noninvasive measurement of density and water content of soil samples. This work aims to describe the aspects of sample size adequacy for Planosol (Albaqualf) and to evaluate procedures for statistical analysis, using a CT scanner with a 241Am source. Density errors attributed to the equipment are 0.051 and 0.046 Mg m-3 for horizons A and B, respectively. The theoretical value for sample thickness for the Planosol, using this equipment, is 4.0 cm for the horizons A and B. The ideal thickness of samples is approximately 6.0 cm, being smaller for samples of the horizon B in relation to A. Alternatives for the improvement of the efficiency analysis and the reliability of the results obtained by CT are also discussed, and indicate good precision and adaptability of the application of this technology in Planosol (Albaqualf) studies.

Riparian vegetation affected by bank erosion in the Lower São Francisco River, Northeastern Brazil

Changes in the hydrological regime of the Lower Sao Francisco River, located in Northeastern Brazil have brought negative environmental impacts, jeopardizing the flora and fauna of a global biodiversity hotspot, due to implementation of hydroelectric power dams and surface water withdrawal for irrigation in public and private perimeters. Remnants of the riparian stratum associated to the riverbank destabilization in six fragments were studied by surveying trees, shrubs, herbs, and aquatic species. The calculation of the Factor of Safety (FS) was performed in order to understand the riverbanks stability related to soil texture and vegetation cover. An overall number of 51 botanic families distributed in 71 genera and 79 species were recorded, predominantly from the families Mimosaceae, Myrtaceae, and Fabaceae. The fragmented riparian vegetation is mostly covered by secondary species under a strong anthropogenic impact such as deforestation, mining and irrigation, with an advanced erosion process in the river margins. Strong species that withstand the waves present in the river flow are needed to reduce the constant landslides that are mainly responsible for the river sedimentation and loss of productive lands. A lack of preservation attitude among the local landholders was identified, and constitutes a continuing threat to the riparian ecosystem biodiversity.

Causas e consequências do processo de salinização dos solos

The process of soil salinization is typical of arid and semi-arid regions, often resulting from the combination of geological formation predominant in the landscape, poor distribution of rainfall, poor drainage and inadequate farm. The exploitation of natural resources with the use of inadequate techniques has favored the increase of the degree of degradation, because they affect agricultural production and the environment, causing a number of problems of social and political order. One area can remain saline during years with low or moderate salinity, unless the problem is detected. A further increase in the salt content can cause cessation of agricultural land in a few years since higher amounts of salts in the soil cause changes in the physical characteristics of the soils and slows or prevents the growth of plants, mainly due to increased osmotic potential and indirect toxicity of certain elements. Strategies such as the use of extracting plants, the use of gypsum and lime as the use of techniques to improve drainage of the soil, are adopted for reclamation by excess salts, and that when applied together can minimize the deleterious effects of excess salts in soil.

PRODUÇÃO E APORTE DE CARBONO, NITROGÊNIO E FÓSFORO NA SERAPILHEIRA FOLIAR DO PARQUE NACIONAL SERRA DE ITABAIANA

Litter is a major route of return of nutrients in the system plant–soil -plant and its determination allows to analyze the restructuring of anthropogenic forest environments. Knowledge of litter production is a critical in determining the potential for regeneration of an area through the intake and nutrient cycling. This study aimed to quantify the litter production and the carbon contribution and leaf fraction nutrients in areas of occurrence of Quartzipsamments with vegetation at different stages of regeneration in National Park Serra de Itabaiana in Sergipe, state. In each of the areas of Areia Branca Aberta (ABA), Areia Branca Intermediaria (ABI) and Areia Branca Fechada (ABF), settled collectors where the litter was collected monthly from January to December 2011. In the litter subsamples amounts of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were determined. Along with the action of fire in the areas of Areias Brancas of Serra de Itabaiana Park, it became clear that it changes the state of dynamic equilibrium achieved by the ecosystem, so the nutritional soil conditions are modified. The accumulation of C, N and P showed no significant seasonal variation according to the production of litter in each area studied, and the ABF area provided the largest accumulations of these elements throughout the evaluation period.

A fibra da casca do coco verde e a fabricação de briquetes: um estudo de suas potencialidades

A desequilibrada relacao estabelecida pelo ser humano entre producao, consumo e descarte tem revelado problemas serios na contemporaneidade, dentre eles o aumento do volume de casca de coco verde na composicao do lixo urbano. Por isso, cada vez mais tem se buscado alternativas capazes de dirimir esta questao como o caso do briquete, usado como fonte de energia. Nesta perspectiva este artigo tem por objetivo levantar as potencialidades do emprego da fibra de casca de coco na producao de briquetes, analisando sua contribuicao a reducao de impactos ambientais, a verificacao do tipo e do nivel de beneficios economicos e sociais.