ABSTRACT A first large-scale systematic survey of natural radioactivity contents of soils of the state of Rio de Janeiro is presented, focused on the establishment of Quality Reference Values (QRVs). Undisturbed soil samples were collected from 243 areas and analyzed by gamma spectrometry. The activity contents varied largely, ranging from 12.2 to 1,029 Bq kg−1 for 40K (geometric mean of 111.1 Bq kg−1), from 3.5 to 99.8 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra (geometric mean of 29.7 Bq kg−1), and from 5.4 […]

The Brazilian savanna is a mosaic of phytophysiognomies influenced by edaphic and topographic factors that range from the occurrence of fires to anthropic disturbance. The goal of this study was a comparative analysis between two cerrado areas in southeastern Goiás, relating the floristic composition and structure of the vegetation to soil properties to better understand the physiognomic characteristics of the region. Twenty-five 20 × 20 m plots were used. All plants with circumference at breast height of more than 15 […]

Knowledge of the erosive potential of rainfall and its distribution throughout the year contribute to planning management and soil conservation practices that aim to reduce water erosion, decreasing soil loss and increasing crop yields. The goal of this study is to characterize rainfall in the region of Urussanga, SC, Brazil, in relation to its erosive potential, determining monthly and annual Erosivity Indices (EI30), thus establishing the R factor to use in the Universal Soil Loss Equation. In addition, the goal […]

The dynamics of N losses in fertilizer by ammonia volatilization is affected by several factors, making investigation of these dynamics more complex. Moreover, some features of the behavior of the variable can lead to deviation from normal distribution, making the main commonly adopted statistical strategies inadequate for data analysis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the patterns of cumulative N losses from urea through ammonia volatilization in order to find a more adequate and detailed way of […]

In the litter-soil compartment, soil fauna plays an important role in nutrient availability for plants, since it regulates the microbial community involved with organic matter decomposition and fragmentation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the richness and abundance of soil fauna as well as its vertical distribution on a periodically flooded sandbank area (“restinga”) in Marambaia Island – RJ, in two season (summer -rainy and winter- dry). Litter and soil was sampled (0-5 cm), from which fauna was […]

The nuclear analytical technique of neutron activation is a multielemental, accurate and precise technique. Aside from other characteristics, the method is particularly suitable for element determination, mainly in soil. However, in the case of irradiation, samples can be influenced by primary nuclear interferences. The contribution of these interferences depends on the characteristics of the neutron flux, irradiation site, etc. These reactions occur during irradiation, when the sample is exposed to the neutron flux in the reactor with contribution of neutrons […]

Pasture is the main form of land use in Amazonia. Over time the pasture grass loses vigor and yields decrease, indicating a certain degree of degeneration. The main causes of degradation are lack of pasture maintenance and subsequent weed infestation, the choice of regionally unsuitable forage species and excessive grazing. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of different recovery managements on soil chemical properties and grass yield of a degraded pasture in Rondônia. For this […]

Diesel oil is a compound derived from petroleum, consisting primarily of hydrocarbons. Poor conditions in transportation and storage of this product can contribute significantly to accidental spills causing serious ecological problems in soil and water and affecting the diversity of the microbial environment. The cloning and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene is one of the molecular techniques that allows estimation and comparison of the microbial diversity in different environmental samples. The aim of this work was to estimate the diversity […]

In Roraima, the spatial distribution of indigenous peoples indicates a background of constant search for soils capable of sustaining shift cultivation. This study aimed to establish a relationship between the understanding of soil by the Yanomami tribe from the mid-Catrimani river region and the Brazilian System of Soil Classification and evaluate the type of agricultural land use according to soil fertility tests, in two steps. The first consisted of visiting eight Indian communities to collect soil samples at 21 sites […]

Many environmental problems in the watershed of the Santana River are caused by anthropogenic influence and the impact of economic activities. To attenuate these conflicts and to ensure the conservation and sustainability of this regionally extremely important area, the environment must be better understood. The aim of this study was an environmental stratification of the catchment of the River Rio Santana, in the South of Bahia, Brazil, based on the analysis of inter-relations between landscape components. Vegetation, geology and topography […]