The transport of pollutants via runoff in agricultural areas, mainly in soluble forms, is an environmental problem, even in conservation tillage systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate losses of nitrogen and organic carbon in runoff, after applications of 0, 60, 120, and 180 m3 ha-1 yr-1 of cattle slurry to a clayey Oxisol, with 10 % slope under no-tillage and natural rainfall, in the region of Castro – PR. The application of cattle slurry did not affect […]

The use of manure in agricultural system is a possibility to dispose of the waste generated in animal production, but improper use can cause environmental problems. The general objective of this study was to evaluate carbon and nitrogen concentrations and losses in runoff in four doses of liquid dairy manure (0, 60, 120, 180 m3 ha-1 yr-1) applied to a silt clay loam Oxisol with 13 % slope, in no-till with soybean, oat, corn, and wheat in crop rotation. The […]

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 […]

Sewage sludge (SS) application to agricultural soils can raise the levels of some nutrients inadequately, for example P. In practice, the applied SS doses are based on the N requirement of crops, in which the P requirement or final destination of the applied P in the residue is not taken into account. Phosphorus is often associated with the eutrophication of water bodies, for being transported by runoff. The objective of this study was to evaluate if three chemical extractors used […]

Hydrological models developed to predict the impacts of non-point source pollution and land use and occupation on water quality have been extremely useful in the study of agricultural systems. For this purpose, the objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of the model SWAT 2005 (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) to simulate the flow rate and total phosphorous flow mass. The research was conducted in two contiguous watersheds of the Conrado and Pinheiro rivers, affluents to the Pato […]

The use of animal manure in agricultural systems can cause water contamination and/or pollution by nutrients, especially by consecutive applications to the same area. In view thereof, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of manure and fertilizer application on NH4+, NO3–, P and K leaching. For this evaluation, undisturbed soil columns were collected from a seven-year field experiment that consisted of 12 treatments, resulting from the combinations of four doses of dairy slurry with three doses […]

Campos Gerais in the State of Paraná (Brazil) is an important region of milk production and consequently of cattle slurry. The purposes of this study were: (a) to evaluate losses of water, soil, total P, soluble P and particulate P under simulated rainfall performed immediately after the application of 0, 30, 60 and 90 m3 ha-1 cattle slurry on a Red-Yellow Latossol (Ferralsol) under no-tillage system, and (b) to discuss the possible impacts on water quality. Slurry application increased the surface runoff […]

The evaluation of the amount of total and soluble P in surface waters is insufficient to diagnose their pollution potential. This study aimed to evaluate the P fractions and soil properties related to P release from eroded sediments of landscape units with different pressure levels of anthropogenic activity. Water + sediments were sampled in two landscape units of a sub-watershed of the small watershed Arroio Lino, in Agudo, RS, Brazil. The following properties were evaluated: pH, sediment concentration, total organic […]

In the region of Janaúba, northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, banana yields are high due to the highly technical agriculture of the region, with intensive use of fertilizers and systematic plant disease and pest control. However, farmers frequently report a decline in banana yields, particularly when water from deep wells is used for irrigation. We therefore studied the effect of irrigation water from wells and from the Gorutuba River on soil chemical characteristics of areas with banana cultivation. Soil samples […]

For the implementation and operation of the Brazilian Federal law on water resources of 1997 it is indispensable to use planning tools that take into account the effect of all activities or processes that cause or contribute to the loss of quality of a waterbody. For this purpose, the nutrient phosphorus was evaluated by the TMDL (total maximum daily load) process developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency – EPA in the drainage area of contribution to the future […]