Tannery and coal residues are potential pollution sources in numerous regions of Brazil, mainly in the Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina States. In order to evaluate the effects of tannery residue and coal mining refuse on soil properties and cultivated plants, a field experiment was carried out in 1996/97 at the UFRGS Experimental Station, in the Eldorado do Sul county, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) were […]

Although the value of sewage sludge (SS) as a fertilizer has long been recognized, it is still a matter of considerable concern, in view of the danger of excessive heavy metal uptake by plants, whereby these elements gain entry into the food chain. From 1983 to 1987, a field experiment was carried out in a split block design with four replications to evaluate grain and dry matter yield and heavy metal uptake by corn (Zea mays L.) grown on a […]

To evaluate the effect of different soil tillage methods on heavy metal accumulation in soil and edible bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a study was carried out in the county of Paty do Alferes, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, on a Red-Yellow Latosol with 30 % slope. On 22,0 x 4,0 m Wischmeier plots, the following methods were installed: conventional tillage: downhill furrows and burning of vegetal residues (PC); tillage along contour lines: contour plowing by animal traction with strips […]

The analysis of Brazilian commercial FTE fertilizers was the objective of this study, under application of routine laboratory methods used for the analysis of non-FTE fertilizers. Cd, Ni, and Pb contents were also determined. The methods proved to be adequate for the analysis of FTE fertilizers. This indicates that FTE fertilizers on the Brazilian market are not really FTE fertilizers; that is, they are not silicates founded with micronutrients. Uncontrolled contents of metal micronutrients in the products, as well as […]

Brasilia’s urban growth has caused the increase of domestic sewage sludge, production generating a large volume of biosolid – a final product of sludge treatment – deposited at the Companhia de Saneamento de Brasilia (CAESB) sewage treatment plants. Although there is still a lack of technical data on health, environmental safety and economic viability, it has been used as a soil amendment and fertilizer by farmers in the neighbouring areas. The biosolid produced at one of the sewage treatment plants […]

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous establishing symbiosis with a large number of plants in spite of soil contamination with heavy metals.This study aimed to evaluate AMF occurrence and diversity in soils of four locations cultivated with grass species and contaminated with heavy metals as a result of Zn extraction and industrialization. AMFs were found in all locations, with species predominance being affected by heavy metal concentration in soil. Twenty one species were identified, belonging to the following genus: […]

Barreiras Group sediments (Coastal Tablelands) are very poor in primary mineral containing nutrients.To study the distribution of K, Mg and other metals in minerals of clay, silt and sand fractions, 11 samples were collected at depths of 0.7; 1.4; 2.1; 2.8; 3.5; 4.2; 4.9; 5.6; 7.7; 10.5 and 14m, in an exposed sedimentary sequence of the Barreiras Group, in Aracruz (19o49’13″S 40o16’24″W), Espírito Santo, Brazil.The total contents of K, Mg, Ca, Al, Fe, Ti, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr, […]

Two experiments were carried out at the Soil Science Department of the Federal University of Lavras (MG), to assess the tolerance to heavy metals “in vitro” of inoculant strains (I), and isolates from both heavy metals contaminated soil (ICS) and uncontaminated soil (IUS) of Bradyrhizobium from Enterolobium contortisiliquum and Acacia mangium and of Azorhizobium from Sesbania virgata. In the first experiment ten strains and, or, isolates of each plant species, were tested in YMA media modified by addition of biological […]

The purpose of this work was to obtain the retarding factor (R) and the dispersion-diffusion coefficient (D) for chromium (III) in two highly weathered soils collected in São Paulo, Brazil. The influence of the following factors on these two parameters were analyzed: textures, pH and soil organic matter. Samples of the A and B horizons of two soils were used, differing significantly in organic matter contents (a) a Typic Eutrorthox (LVe) and (b) a Typic Haplorthox (LVd). Soil pH of […]

The leaching of nitrates and the metals K, Ca, Mg, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn were evaluated in an experiment using biosolids amended soils. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design with four treatments: Typic Hapludox with and without biosolids (LA and LA + sludge) and Rhodic Hapludox with and without biosolids (LV and LV + sludge) and four replications. Biosolids were applied to soils every two months in an average rate corresponding to 78 […]