Heavy metals are a group of elements with specific features and natural occurrence in the environment, representing an accessory in the formation of rocks. These elements, although associated with toxicity, must be treated different from xenobiotics, since many metals are evidentially essentials (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Ni) and beneficial (Co) for plants. In this context, the objective was to determine the natural contents of the metals iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co) […]

Among the toxic elements, Cd has received considerable attention in view of its association with a number of human health problems. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the Cd availability and accumulation in soil, transfer rate and toxicity in lettuce and rice plants grown in a Cd-contaminated Typic Hapludox. Two simultaneous greenhouse experiments with lettuce and rice test plants were conducted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments consisted of four Cd rates (CdCl2), […]

The presence of heavy metals in sewage sludge is one of the greatest restrictions to its application in agricultural areas. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of application rates of sewage sludge of 11 consecutive years on the distribution of Ba, Cd, Cr and Pb in three layers (0-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm) of a Typic Hapludox soil, as well as to quantify these metals in maize leaf and kernels. The experiment was conducted under field conditions, using a randomized […]

The retention of mineral elements applied to the soil surface is crucial to maintain water quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of liquid swine manure and mineral fertilizer on leaching of P, Cu and Zn through undisturbed soil columns (height 25 cm, diameter 20.3 cm) of an Oxisol under no tillage. A water volume (10.020 cm3) corresponding to three times soil total pore volume (3,340 cm3) was continuously applied to the columns, and the sampling and analysis of the […]

Systematic pig slurry application to crop soils may lead to the accumulation of heavy metals in regions with intensive pig raising. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of Cu, Zn and Mn in soils under systematic pig slurry application. For this purpose, soil samples were collected from two of the most representative watersheds of Santa Catarina where the predominant activity is pig raising. In each watershed, 12 properties were chosen to evaluate the different systems of […]

Microorganisms are the most numerous organisms in the soil biological fraction. Their population and metabolic relations are affected by environmental changes, such as pollutant deposition on and movement into the soil. The aim of this work was to assess the soil microbial activity in a Pb mining and metallurgy plant, in Adrianópolis (PR), to determine soil biological quality indicators. The soil (layers 0 to 5 and 5 to 10 cm) was sampled once at five locations four times (May, September, November […]

The influence of soil management or the contaminant application to the soil, usually induce to a quicker response in the soil mesofauna than in other pedogenic properties; these organisms are therefore good environmental quality indicators. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the organisms groups of the soil mesofauna and determine Pb and Zn contents in plants in the mining and metallurgy plant in Adrianópolis (PR),to originate biological indicators of the quality of these solis. At the […]

Coal mining rejects can raise the concentration of heavy metals and impede the growth of plants in these areas. One strategy for restoring these environments is the association of microorganisms with the rhizosphere, which can help promote plant growth, as well as decreasing the toxicity of heavy metals. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify endospore-forming rhizobacteria (EFR) in areas affected by coal-mining waste, in a deposit in the municipal district of Capivari de Baixo, Santa Catarina […]

Phosphorus fertilizers are intensively used in Brazil, since the low availability of phosphorus often limits yields in tropical soils. However, these fertilizers can be a entranceway for soil contamination with heavy metals. This study was carried out to investigate heavy metal contamination caused by the application of five different phosphorus fertilizers as well as the metal uptake by corn (Zea mays) plants. The fertilizers simple superphosphate, triple superphosphate, Araxá rock phosphate, Yoorin thermophosphate, and Gafsa rock phosphate were applied at […]

Peat bogs are a special environment for studies related with the dynamics of organic matter, landscape evolution and climatic changes and with local, regional and global cycles of atmospheric pollution. Peat bogs contribute to the global C sequestration, act as water reservoirs and are the habitat of an endemic biodiversity. The Serra do Espinhaço Meridional (Minas Gerais State, Brazil) – SdEM – a terrestrial biosphere reservation area, contains a considerably large area with different types of peat bogs, which were […]