Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly relevant during a period of hemorrhaging ecosystem goods and services. Restoring these would result in positive outcomes for public health and economic benefit. This thesis seeks to address two environmental concerns: (1) accurate soil mapping and (2) treatment of nitrogen to affect water quality change.The current method of soil mapping, SSURGO (USDA‐NRCS Soil survey), is often erroneous and misleading. Two studies in this dissertation are conducted to evaluate the potential that different resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) have to distribute soil characteristics successfully. These studies are conducted in southwest Virginia and western Vermont. The aforementioned studies evaluated 36 and 59 soil samples, respectively. Spatial characteristics, including slope, catchment area, and topographic wetness, are derived from several DEMs. In chapter 2, these characteristics are spatially compared, and we found that small resolution rasters result in narrow flow paths relative to coarser rasters. In chapter 3, we isolate the analysis to focus on resolution size, instead of a mix of both resolution size and generation method. This is done by recursively coarsening small rasters, deriving spatial attributes from said rasters and evaluating their potential to fit the soil characteristics of interest. Here we found that slopes generated from resolutions smaller than 11m were poor predictors of soil characteristics. Both chapters are finished by proposing and evaluating a soil map. Proposed regressions beat SSURGO in all investigated properties. Furthermore, proposed maps consistently beat out uninformed smallest resolution derived maps.Chesapeake bay water quality managers are struggling to achieve targets for nitrogen loading. This is in part due to the widespread presence of legacy nitrogen. Legacy nitrogen is an emerging issue, and springs exporting high levels of nitrogen are not uncommon in northern Virginia. This thesis explores, in part, a novel concept of treating large loads of nitrogen exported from a spring with a bioreactor. Bioreactors are a young science that most typically pair carbon heavy subterranean receptacles to agricultural drainage. This provides a location for nitrogen fixing bacteria to consume nitrate/nitrite, turning these into inert nitrogen gas. A spring fed bioreactor is studied for 10 months, and bioreactor conditions including influent and effluent nitrogen concentrations, bioreactor flow, and temperature are collected. A model driven by first order reaction equations is found to be most accurate with inputs of temperature and bioreactor age. The resulting marginal effects of these inputs were consistent with previously reported studies. / Doctor of Philosophy / Centuries of industrialization have resulted in widespread human progress but have, at times, adversely impacted the environment. Constituents rely heavily on environmental services, such as clean air and water, to subsist. Environmental degradation has resulted in detrimental effects to public health, and remediation is currently economically viable. As such, there are strong incentives for researchers to understand environmental processes at a fundamental level. One such process is soil characteristic distribution. The distribution of soil characteristics, such as soil texture or organic matter, is especially important for agriculturalists, hydrologists and geotechnicians. Soil texture and organic matter distribution can affect crop yield, nitrogen export to surface waters, and structural stability of soils. Thus, accurate characterization of measured soil properties is paramount to multiple fields. The most typically used soil map is USDA‐NRCS Soil survey (commonly referred to as SSURGO). Currently, the SSURGO database is a poor predictor of soil characteristics. There is an opportunity to improve soil characteristic distribution using digital elevation models (DEMs). As DEMs become cheaper to develop, they are typically available in multiple resolutions and generation methods. In this research, several DEMs are used to better soil maps for watersheds in Southwest Virginia and Western Vermont. Both studies showed that DEMs can better distribute soils when compared to the current SSURGO maps. Additionally, we showed that the finest resolution dataset was not always best, and mixed resolution topographic wetness indices to be most advantageous for distributing soils.Another such process is remediation of surface waters from high loads of nitrogen and phosphorus. The Haber-Bosch method of producing nitrogen fertilizer is one of the most important human innovations in recent history. This method is likely responsible for the aversion of widespread famine in the early 1900s. However, residents of multiple river systems, including the Chesapeake Bay and the Mississippi River, are suffering from the adverse effects of widespread hypoxic/anoxic (with little/no oxygen, respectively) zones within water. These have partially been responsible for the decline of commercial ventures such as fisheries and tourism. These zones are caused by eutrophication, a process of unsustainable plant growth in the presence of nitrogen and phosphorus. Water quality managers typically target agricultural runoff and point source polluters when trying to eliminate anthropogenic nitrogen. However, legacy nitrogen (nitrogen stored in groundwater in excess of a year) has become an emerging concern for water quality. It is not uncommon for springs in karst areas to be contaminated with high concentrations of nitrogen. These springs present a point source that can be treated by an emerging technology: bioreactors. Bioreactors are subterranean, woodchip filled basins that provide a location for microbes to exchange water soluble nitrogen for inert nitrogen gas. The consistency in nitrogen loading and constant flow provide stability relative to more traditional bioreactor installations. Most typically, bioreactors are installed downstream of agricultural drainage systems, and influent flow and nitrogen load depend wholly on precipitation/irrigation and nitrogen application. In this thesis, a novel spring fed bioreactor is studied. Removal rates of nitrogen are quantified using a regression driven by reaction kinetics. The analysis showed bioreactor efficiency was intimately related to hydraulic residence time, nitrogen loading, bioreactor bed temperature, and bioreactor age. The spring fed bioreactor is found to be advantageous because of its consistency, and disadvantages because springs are colder and thus less efficient than typical irrigated runoff.

La tesis presentada se enfoca en un estudio experimental que busca establecer correlaciones entre tres ensayos realizados en suelo cohesivo: Ensayo de Penetración Estándar (SPT), Corte Directo y Triaxial. Las pruebas se realizaron en un terreno de 3 hectáreas denominado AA.HH. Sol naciente, llegando hasta una profundidad de 3.50 metros debido a características geotécnicas del suelo. A continuación, llevaron a cabo un estudio sobre las propiedades físicas del suelo utilizando varias pruebas estándar, incluyendo granulometría, límites de Atterberg, contenido de humedad y gravedad específica. Con base en la recopilación de datos existentes y las correlaciones de los ensayos, que fueron un total de 7 pruebas de cada ensayo en el terreno, con la ayuda de equipos y operadores locales. El propósito final del estudio es proponer correlaciones entre los resultados obtenidos de los tres tipos de ensayos. Esta investigación proporciona un aporte significativo al campo de la geotecnia y la ingeniería civil, ya que los hallazgos podrían mejorar el entendimiento de las propiedades del suelo y permitir cálculos más precisos en cuanto a resistencia y comportamiento del suelo bajo diversas condiciones de carga y presión. En última instancia, estos resultados pueden aumentar la seguridad y estabilidad de las construcciones futuras en estos suelos, proporcionando un enfoque más sólidoy fiable para el análisis de suelos y la planificación de proyectos de construcción. / The presented thesis focuses on an experimental study aiming to establish correlations among three tests performed on cohesive soil: Standard Penetration Test (SPT), Direct Shear, and Triaxial. The tests were carried out on a 3-hectare land plot called AA.HH. Sol Naciente, reaching a depth of 3.50 meters due to the soil's geotechnical characteristics. Subsequently, they conducted a study on the soil's physical properties using various standard tests, including particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, moisture content, and specific gravity. Based on the existing data compilation and the tests' correlations, a total of 7 tests of each were performed on the field, with the assistance of local equipment and operators. The final purpose of the study is to propose correlations among the results obtained from the three types of tests. This research provides a significant contribution to the field of geotechnical and civil engineering, as the findings could enhance the understanding of soil properties and allow more precise calculations regarding soil strength and behavior under various load and pressure conditions. Ultimately,these results may increase the safety and stability of future constructions on these soils, providing a more robust and reliable approach for soil analysis and construction project planning.

Thesis (MScConsEcol (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / This thesis examines the role of agricultural activity in the process of invasion of west coast renosterveld fragments by annual alien grass species. This highly endangered vegetation type has less than 5% remaining, it is vital to understand the mechanisms allowing invasion of annual alien grasses in order to effectively prevent the loss of the many rare and endemic species found in west coast renosterveld. This study was divided into three major components. Firstly the distribution of indigenous and alien plant species in relation to fence lines, separating active agricultural fields from untransformed vegetation, was described. Regression analysis was used to test for relationships between distances from agricultural fields and soil physical and chemical characteristics in natural vegetation. Cover by annual alien invasive grasses in untransformed vegetation decreased significantly with distance away from agricultural land. Secondly alien and indigenous grass seed banks were sampled along the transects, at the same sites, in order to establish whether the seed banks correlated with above ground cover. Results varied among sites and seed banks were correlated with the vegetation cover at only one site. It appears that there are a multitude of factors determining the distribution of annual alien grass cover. Thirdly a greenhouse experiment established the role that nitrogen plays in the success of the alien grass Avena fatua. This species was grown in competition with three indigenous species, an annual forb (Dimorphotheca pluvialis), a geophyte (Oxalis purpurea) and an indigenous perennial grass (Tribolium uniolae) at three levels of soil nitrogen. The geophyte was largely unaffected, while growth of the annual and indigenous perennial grasses was negatively affected by competition with A. fatua. Nitrogen did not seem to affect competitive interactions. Management of these renosterveld patches, in order to conserve them effectively, will require a multi-faceted approach, including prevention of further invasion and removal of invasive grasses already present.

In the long-term fertilization experiment on the light sandy loam over moraine clay (Calc(ar)i-Epihypogleyic Luvisols) there were the integrated evaluation of the changes in arable layer done and the estimation of the tendencies and consistent patterns in the productivity of crop plants performed. The obtained research results of the organic, organic-mineral and mineral fertilization impact on the Gleyic Luvisols bulk density, porosity and composition of aggregates, the changes in qualitative composition of organic matter and humus, the phosphorus and it fractions, the soil nitrogen accumulation, the potassium and also the productivity of crop plants in 4-year crop rotation are novel. The performed research also gained the knowledge on the main properties and productivity of the Gleyic Luvisols and on the technology patterns within the soil-fertilisers-plant systems evaluation. The mentioned aspects are actual in the agriculture within the tendencies of decreasing in the extent of fertile soil sources. On the bases of the long-term researches in the Calc(ar)i-Epihypogleyic Luvisols there were either determined the proper fertilisation systems not only for the obtaining of the consistent crop plant productivity but also for the estimating the certain stabilisation and improving of soil use and productivity parameters. The estimated consistents could be further used in performing the fertilisation recommendations, thus, the fertilisation then could correspond the requirements... [to full text] / Daugiamečiame tręšimo bandyme, karbonatingame sekliau glėjiškame išplautžemyje, taikant skirtingas tręšimo sistemas, kompleksiškai ištirti armens pokyčiai bei sėjomainos augalų derlingumo tendencijos bei dėsningumai. Gauti nauji tyrimų duomenys apie organinių, organinių-mineralinių ir mineralinių trąšų poveikį glėjiškųjų išplautžemių tankiui, poringumui ir struktūriniams agregatams, organinės medžiagos ir humuso kokybinės sudėties pokyčiams, fosforo ir jo frakcijų pasiskirstymui, o taip pat jo azotingumui, kalingumui, bei augalų derlingumui keturlaukėje sėjomainoje. Šiais moksliniais tyrimais pagilintos žinios apie glėjiškųjų išplautžemių pagrindines savybes bei našumą, išsiaiškintos technologinių grandžių reikšmė apytakos procesų cikle dirvožemis-trąšos-augalas, kas yra aktualu mažėjant žemės ūkio paskirties derlingos žemės ištekliams. Karbonatingajame sekliau glėjiškame išplautžemyje daugiamečių tyrimų pagrindu išaiškintos tinkamiausios tręšimo sistemos ne tik pastoviam žemės ūkio augalų derliui gauti, bet ir užtikrinančios racionalų šio dirvožemio naudojimą bei jo našumo parametrų stabilizavimą ir gerinimą. Nustatytus dėsningumus galima taikyti rengiant rekomendacijas tręšimui, kurios atitiktų keliamus reikalavimus siekiant užtikrinti taršos mažinimą iš žemės ūkio šaltinių bei palaikytų ir gerintų glėjiškųjų išplautžemių derlingumą.

Dviejų veiksnių mulčiavimo tyrimai buvo vykdyti 2004 – 2009 m. Lietuvos žemės ūkio universiteto Pomologiniame sode. 2010 m. tirtas organinių mulčių liekamasis poveikis. Visuose laukeliuose eilutėmis augintas valgomojo svogūno (Allium cepa) pasėlis. Atstumas tarp eilučių - 0,5 m. Nevartotos trąšos ir cheminės augalų apsaugos priemonės. Norint išsiaiškinti greitesnį organinių mulčių poveikį dirvožemio savybėms ir augančių augalų pasėliams, nuo 2004 m. nevartotos trąšos ir cheminės augalų apsaugos priemonės. Tyrimų variantai – veiksnys A - skirtingi organiniai mulčiai: Al - nemulčiuota (NE), A2 - šiaudai (ŠD), A3 - durpės (DU), A4 - pjuvenos (PJ), A5 - smulkinta žolė (ŽO), veiksnys B - mulčio sluoksnio storis: Bl - 5 cm, B2 - 10 cm. Pradinis bandymo laukelio ilgis 6 m., plotis 2 m., plotas 12 m2. Apskaitinio laukelio ilgis 5 m., plotis 1 m., plotas 5 m2. Variantai pakartojimuose išdėstyti rendomizuotai. Pakartojimai išdėstyti dviem eilėmis. Bandymas vykdytas 4 pakartojimais. Nustatyta, kad anksčiau įterpti organiniai mulčiai esmingai nepakeitė dirvožemio temperatūros, tačiau esmingai didino dirvožemio drėgnumą. Storesnis mulčio sluoksnis turėjo tendenciją didinti dirvožemio temperatūrą ir dirvožemio drėgnumą. Ilgametis organinių mulčių įterpimas esmingai nepakeitė dirvožemio pH, tačiau dirvožemio azotingumą esmingai didino šiaudų mulčias, o fosforingumą ir kalingumą esmingai didino šiaudų ir žolės mulčiai. Vegetacijos periodo metu piktžolių dygimas kito nevienodai... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Two factors mulching studies were carried out 2004 - 2009 in Lithuanian University of Agriculture Pomology garden. 2010 studied the residual effect of organic mulch. All lines grown in the fields of edible onion (Allium cepa) crops. The distance between the lines – 0,5 in Unused fertilizer and chemical plant protection measures. To find out more rapid organic mulches on soil properties and crop-growing plants since 2004 unused fertilizer and chemical plant protection measures. Study options - a factor - the different mulches in Al – no mulching (N) A2 - straw (ND), A3 - peat (DU), A4 - sawdust (PJ), A5 - minced herb (ZO), factor B - mulch thickness: BL - 5 cm, B2 - 10 cm. Initial field testing of length 6, width of 2, an area of 12 m2. Accounting field, length 5 m, width 1, the area 5 m-2. Variants rendomizuotai reps out. Reps set in two rows. The test is carried out by four repetitions. It was found that mulches before insert substantially changed the soil temperature, but substantially increased soil moisture. A thicker layer of mulch tended to increase soil temperature and soil moisture. Insert a long-time organic mulch on soil pH did not change substantially, however, substantially increased the soil nitrogen content of straw mulch, phosphorus and potassium and substantially increased the straw and grass mulches. During the growing season germination of weeds did not move. Short-emergence weed mulches had previously used sedative. Promoted the regeneration of perennial... [to full text]

Tikslas – įvertinti tiesioginės sėjos, supaprastinto žemės dirbimo ir augalinių liekanų įtaką kai kuriems vasarinių rapsų agroekosistemos komponentams. Stacionarus dviejų veiksnių lauko eksperimentas įrengtas 1999 m. Aleksandro Stulginskio universiteto Bandymų stotyje. A veiksnys − šiaudų panaudojimas: šiaudai pašalinti (-Š); šiaudai susmulkinti ir paskleisti (+Š). B veiksnys − žemės dirbimos sistemos: įprastas gilus arimas 23–25 cm gyliu rudenį (GA), kontrolinis variantas; seklus arimas 10–12 cm gyliu rudenį (SA); seklus purenimas kultivatoriumi strėliniais noragėliais ir lėkštiniais padargais 8–10 cm gyliu rudenį (KL); seklus purenimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (RK); seklus žaliosios trąšos įterpimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (ŽTRK) ir tiesioginė sėja į neįdirbtą ražieną (ND). Vienoje bandymo dalyje šiaudai pašalinti, o kitoje dalyje susmulkinti ir paskleisti. Tiek fone be šiaudų, tiek fone su paskleistais šiaudais buvo tiriamos visos žemės dirbimo sistemos. Šiaudų įterpimas (+Š) neturėjo esminės įtakos tirtiems vasarinių rapsų agroekosistemos komponentams. Seklus purenimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (RK) ir seklus žaliosios trąšos įterpimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (ŽTRK) esmingai padidino vasarinių rapsų daigų skaičių. Dirvožemio kietį armenyje didino visos neariminio žemės dirbimo sistemos. Šlyties pasipriešinimą didino taip pat visos neariminio žemės dirbimo sistemos tiek 0–10 cm... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of investigation – to evaluate effect of reduced soil tillage and plant residue on some rape agroecosystem components. Stationary two – factor field experiment was estab-lished in Aleksandras Stulginskis University at the Experimental station in 1999. Factor A – the use of straw: straw removed (-Š); straw chopped and spread (+Š). Factor B – tillage sys-tems: conventional deep ploughing at 23–25 cm depth in autumn (GA), control; shallow ploughing at 10–12 cm depth in autumn (SA); shallow loosening with tine coulter and disk implements at 8–10 cm depth in autumn (KL); shallow loosening with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (RK); shallow incorporation of green manure with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (ŽTRK) and no tillage, direct sowing (ND). In one field experiment part straw removed, and the other part chopped and spread. Both the background without straw and spread at the background of the straw was investigated all tillage systems. Straw incorporation (+Š) had no significant effect on studied rape agroecosystem components. Shallow loosening with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (RK) and shallow incorporation of green manure with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (ŽTRK) signitificantly increased the number of rape seedlings. All tillage systems in the soil plow layer increased the penetration resistence. All tillage systems significantly inc-reased shear strenght at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm and depth. The... [to full text]

O aumento da produção de cana-de-açúcar no Brasil é de grande relevância para o cenário agroindustrial atual do país. Entretanto, acarreta a um aumento na geração de subprodutos do setor de usinas sucro-alcooleira. Dentre esses subprodutos destaca-se a vinhaça, pois possui uma série de nutrientes em sua composição. Diante do grande volume de vinhaça obtido e de sua aplicação em áreas de cana-de-açúcar, sugerem-se pesquisas em relação à sua aplicação e ao deslocamento de seus principais componentes químicos no perfil do solo, com a intenção de prever e evitar a contaminação de águas subterrâneas. Portanto, durante o primeiro ciclo de cultivo da cana-de-açúcar, os objetivos dessa pesquisa foram: avaliar a distribuição de alguns componentes químicos da vinhaça (nitrato, potássio, cálcio, enxofre e sódio), avaliar a variação de alguns atributos químicos do solo (pH e condutividade elétrica), verificar a ocorrência de variações em algumas propriedades físico-químicas de um Nitossolo (granulometria, condutividade hidráulica e umidade do solo na capacidade de campo), bem como, avaliar o entupimento de gotejadores e a produtividade da cana-de-açucar, diante da aplicação de vinhaça, via gotejamento subsuperficial. A pesquisa foi conduzida na área experimental do Departamento de Engenharia de Biossistemas da ESALQ/USP, diante de um delineamento estatístico inteiramente casualizado com 6 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Os tratamentos implantados foram: T1: Sem irrigação com adubação convencional, T2: Fertirrigada sem vinhaça, T3: Fertirrigada com ½ dose Cetesb (176 m³ ha-1), T4: Fertirrigada com dose Cetesb (352 m³ ha-1), T5: Fertirrigada com 2x dose Cetesb (704 m³ ha-1) e T6: Fertirrigada com 3x dose Cetesb (1056 m³ ha-1). A aplicação de vinhaça foi feita aos tratamentos em um intervalo de tempo quinzenal. As avaliações foram feitas no início e ao final do ciclo da cultura nas camadas de 0,00-0,20 m; 0,20-0,40 m; 0,40-0,60 m e 0,60-0,80 m. Diante dos resultados obtidos pôde-se concluir que a distribuição dos íons está diretamente relacionada com o volume de aplicação da vinhaça e de uma maneira geral houve um aumento dos valores de pH e CE no solo, diante do aumento do volume aplicado, mas evidenciou-se a necessidade de um maior intervalo de tempo para a percepção de suas diferenças. As características físicas do solo não apresentaram variações significativas diante da aplicação de vinhaça, mesmo com altos valores de concentração, durante o primeiro ano de avaliação, porém, sugerese também um maior intervalo de tempo de aplicação e avaliação. O gotejador independente do tratamento não apresentou nenhum tipo de entupimento diante da aplicação de vinhaça e notou-se um aumento da produtividade de cana-de-açucar diante da aplicação de vinhaça, via gotejamento subsuperficial. / The increase in sugarcane production in Brazil shows a great relevance to the current agribusiness scenario of the country. However, it may also result in an increase of the by-product generation from sugar mills. Among these by-products, the vinasse stands out because of its diverse nutrient composition and its use in the sugarcane production as a fertilizer. Given the large volume of vinasse produced and their application in sugarcane fields, there is a need to study fate and transport of different chemical constituents of vinasse through the soil profile to prevent groundwater contamination. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the distribution of important chemical components of vinasse (nitrate, potassium, calcium, sulfur and sodium), to evaluate the variation of soil chemical properties (pH and electric cconductivity (EC)), to verify the occurrence of physico-chemical property (grain size, hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture at field capacity) variation in Nitosol soil, as well to evaluate the clogging in drip irrigation system and sugarcane yield under vinasse application by subsurface drip irrigation during first sugarcane cycle. The research was carried out at the experimental site of the Department of Biosystems Engineering (ESALQ/USP), in completely randomized experimental design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments deployed were: T1: no irrigation with conventional fertilization, T2: fertigated without vinasse, T3: fertigated with ½ Cetesb dose (176 m³ ha-1), T4: fertigated Cetesb dose (352 m³ ha- 1), T5: fertigated with 2x Cetesb dose (704 m³ ha-1), and T6: fertigated with 3x dose Cetesb (1056 m³ ha-1). The vinasse treatment were applied on a biweekly basis. Chemical transport and soil sample analysis were done at the beginning and the end of the cycle in four layers, each with thickness of 0.2 m. Based on these results, it is concluded that the ions distribution is directly related to the application volume of vinasse and in general, there was an increase in pH and EC in the soil, in relation to the increase in the applied volume. Since the duration of this study was one year, the experiments with larger time interval might show a distinct relationship between variation in soil chemical properties and the volume of vinasse applied. However, the analysis did not show significant variation in soil physical characteristics before and after the application of vinasse, even with high concentration values during the first year of the study. This indicates a need for a longer time of application and evaluation. The drip irrigation system used for vinasse application did not show any kind of clogging during the study period and the sugarcane yield increased with vinasse application by subsurface drip irrigation.

Os ecossistemas naturais e agropecuários dependem fundamentalmente do solo como recurso básico para sua funcionalidade. Neste contexto, a qualidade do solo tem tido uma crescente importância global. Os objetivos deste estudo consistiram em propor modificações metodológicas e/ou instrumentais visando determinações mais acuradas dos indicadores da qualidade física do solo mediante o desenvolvimento de (i) um sistema eletro-mecânico que permite a obtenção de amostras indeformadas de solos sem aplicação de golpes; (ii) um penetrômetro estático automatizado, de baixo custo e portátil, para medidas de resistência à penetração (RP) e resistência tênsil (RT) sob regime de velocidade constante de 1,55 mm s-1; (iii) um consolidômetro, de baixo custo e de maior portabilidade, para determinações da curva de compressão do solo, da RP e da RT utilizando propulsão pneumática e (iv) melhorias instrumentais em um permeâmetro de carga constante de ar pela redução de oscilações durante a medição do gradiente de pressão bem como a otimização da seleção de diferentes níveis de vazão mássica de ar. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que (i) o sistema eletromecânico garantiu a preservação da estrutura do solo em amostras coletadas comparado com a amostragem por golpes, principalmente no solo mais argiloso; (ii) a RP e a RT puderam ser determinadas com elevada acurácia à velocidade constante de 1,55 mm s-1; (iii) a curva de compressão do solo foi sensível às diferenças entre os tratamentos (linha e entrelinha da cultura) e a utilização de propulsão pneumática não influenciou os resultados da RP e da RT e (iv) a instrumentação utilizada no permeâmetro de carga constante de ar permitiu realizar determinações da permeabilidade do solo ao ar tanto em campo quanto em laboratório com rapidez e elevada acurácia. / Natural and agricultural ecosystems rely fundamentally on soil as a basic resource for their functionality. In this context, soil quality has had a growing global importance. The objectives of this study were based on proposing methodological and/or instrumental modifications aiming to obtain more accurate determinations of soil physical quality indicators by developing: (i) an electro-mechanical system that allows the extraction of undisturbed soil samples without mechanical impact (no-hammering); (ii) a low cost and portable static automatic penetrometer, for measuring soil penetration resistance (PR) and tensile strength (TS) at a constant speed of 1.55 mm s-1; (iii) a low cost and portable consolidometer, for determination of soil compression curve, PR and TS using pneumatic propulsion and (iv) instrumental improvements to a constant head air permeameter by reducing the oscillation during measuring the pressure head gradient and the optimization of the selection of different levels of air mass flow. The results showed that (i) the electro-mechanical system ensured the preservation of soil structure in undisturbed samples in comparison to samples extracted by hammering procedures, especially in clayey soil; (ii) PR and TS could be determined with high accuracy at the constant speed of 1.55 mm s-1; (iii) the soil compression curve was sensitive to differences between treatments (crop row and inter-row) and the use of pneumatic propulsion did not influence the results of PR and TS, and (iv) the instrumentation used in the constant head air permeameter allowed determination of soil air permeability either on the field or in the laboratory with high speed and accuracy.

Nos últimos anos o interesse pelo estudo da Terra Preta de Índio (TPI) tem aumentado em razão das suas características únicas em relação aos solos normalmente encontrados na região, como sua maior fertilidade natural. Diversos estudos relatam que a presença do chamado carbono pirogênico na composição das TPIs é a responsável por esta superioridade, entretanto ainda não se sabe se este afeta as propriedades físicas dos solos de TPI. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo comparar o comportamento de propriedades físico-hídricas de solos antrópicos (Terra Preta de Índio) com um solo adjacente por meio da determinação de suas propriedades físicas, e verificar a distribuição do carbono pirogênico entre os diferentes compartimentos da matéria orgânica em solos de TPI e adjacentes. Para este estudo foram coletadas amostras indeformadas em anéis volumétricos e blocos em uma área de TPI e adjacente. As áreas estão localizadas na Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, estado do Pará. As propriedades físicas analisadas foram textura, porosidade total, macro e microporosidade, curva de retenção da água no solo, condutividade hidráulica saturada, permeabilidade do solo ao ar e estabilidade de agregados. Para verificar o comportamento da matéria orgânica foi realizado o fracionamento físico, onde foram analisados a distribuição do carbono total e pirogênico nas diferentes frações da matéria orgânica. Verificou-se diferença nas duas áreas quanto às propriedades físicas porosidade total, macro e microporosidade, condutividade hidráulica do solo (Ksat), permeabilidade do solo ao ar (Ka), e retenção de água no solo, entretanto não foi possível verificar diferenças na estabilidade de agregados entre as duas áreas. A distribuição da matéria orgânica nas diferentes frações do solo foi distinta nas duas áreas, onde verificou-se que na área de TPI o C no solo foi predominante na fração macroagregados, enquanto que na área adjacente o carbono se localizou em maior quantidade na fração microagregados. Os valores de carbono pirogênico foram maiores na área de TPI do que na área adjacente, demostrando que a matéria orgânica das TPIs apresenta uma composição diferenciada, modificando o comportamento das propriedades físicas dos solos. / In recent years the interest in the study of Terra Preta de Indio or Amazonian Dark Earths (TPI) has increased, especially because of its unique characteristics when related to typical soils of the region, as its higher natural fertility. Several studies have reported that the presence of so-called pyrogenic carbon in its composition is responsible for this superiority, however it is not known if it affects the physical properties of TPI soils. This research aims to compare the behavior of physical and hydraulic properties of anthropic soils (Terra Preta de Indio) to an adjacent soil by determining its physical properties, and evaluating the distribution of the pyrogenic carbon between the different compartments of organic matter for both soils. For this study, undisturbed soil samples were collected in volumetric cylinders and blocks from a TPI and adjacent area. The areas are located in Caxiuanã National Forest, state of Pará, Brazil. The analyzed physical properties were texture, porosity, macro and microporosity, soil water retention curve, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil permeability to air and aggregate stability. A physical fractionation was performed to verify the behavior of organic matter, which analyzed the distribution of the total and pyrogenic carbon in the different fractions of organic matter. There were difference in the two areas regarding the physical properties as total porosity, macro and microporosity, soil hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), air permeability to soil (Ka), and soil water retention, however it was not possible to see differences in stability aggregates between the two areas. The distribution of organic matter in different soil fractions was different in the two areas, where it was found that in the TPI area, soil carbon was prevalent in the macroaggregates fraction, while the adjacent area had larger amounts in the microaggregates fraction. The values for pyrogenic carbon were higher in the TPI area, showing that the organic matter of TPIs has a different composition which modifies the behavior of physical properties in the soil.

Foram desenvolvidas funções de pedotransferência (PTF) para estimar os parâmetros (\'alfa\', n \'teta\'r e \'teta\'s) do modelo de Van Genuchten (1980) utilizado para descrever curvas de retenção de água no solo. Os dados utilizados foram provenientes de diversas fontes, principalmente de estudos realizados na região Nordeste pelas Universidades, Embrapa e Codevasf, totalizando 786 curvas de retenção, as quais foram divididas em dois conjuntos de dados: 85% para desenvolvimento das PTF; e 15% para teste e validação, considerados como dados independentes. Além do desenvolvimento das PTF de caráter generalizado para todos os solos, foram desenvolvidas PTF específicas para as classes Argissolos, Latossolos, Neossolos e Planossolos. As PTF foram desenvolvidas utilizando técnicas de regressão múltipla, utilizando o procedimento stepwise (forward e backward) para selecionar os melhores preditores. Duas PTF foram desenvolvidas: a) incluindo todos os preditores, densidade do solo, teores de areia, silte e argila e de matéria orgânica e b) apenas com os teores de areia, silte e argila. A avaliação estatística das PTF foi feita de acordo o coeficiente de determinação (R2), o índice de Willmott (d) e o índice confiança (IC). Para avaliação da estimativa do teor de água em potenciais matriciais específicos foi utilizado a raiz do erro médio quadrado (RMSE). A avaliação funcional das PTF paramétricas foi realizada examinando o seu desempenho no contexto do modelo SWAP (Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant). Os parâmetros s, r, e n desenvolvidos por meio de PTF para o modelo de Van Genuchten foram introduzidos no modelo SWAP para verificar a viabilidade da utilização de funções de pedotransferência para descrever atributos físico-hídricos do solo e previsão do rendimento agrícola. Essa viabilidade foi avaliada pelo desempenho do modelo comparando suas estimativas da produtividade agrícola com valores observados. Para os parâmetros e n da equação de Van Genuchten, as PTF demonstraram baixa capacidade preditiva, no entanto, para o parâmetro r a predição foi melhor. Em potenciais matriciais específicos (-10, -33 e -1500 kPa), a capacidade preditiva das PTF foi maior, o que possibilita a utilização em modelos de simulação que requerem apenas aproximações da capacidade de campo, ponto de murcha permanente e água disponível. O desempenho das PTF específicas por classes de solo foi similar ao da PTF Geral, evidenciando que o agrupamento de solos para desenvolver as PTF por classe foi pouco vantajoso. O desempenho na estimativa do teor de água no solo foi melhor para as PTF desenvolvidas com teores granulométricos, matéria orgânica e densidade do solo. Os resultados das simulações de rendimento agrícola utilizando PTF não diferem muito daquelas que empregam outros métodos. Além disso, aplicados em séries de dados mais prolongadas, os erros são reduzidos devido à inerente variabilidade espaço-temporal da produtividade. Palavras-chaves: Pedotransferência; Modelo; Simulação; SWAP; Feijão caupi (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.); Milho (Zea mays L.); Sorgo (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) / Development of pedotransfer functions and their application in agrohydrological models Pedotransfer functions (PTF) were developed to estimate the parameters (,\'alfa\', n \'teta\'r and \'teta\'s) of the Van Genuchten (1980) soil water retention model. Data for 786 retention curves were obtained from several sources, mainly from studies from the Northeastern region of Brazil performed by universities, Embrapa and Codevasf. The data were divided in two groups: 85% of data for PTF development; and 15%, considered to be independent, for testing and validation. Besides development of general PTFs for all soils, for the classes Ultisols, Ferralsols, Entisols and Planosols specific PTFs were developed. Techniques of multiple regression, specifically the procedure stepwise (forward and backward) were used to select the best predictors. Two PTFs were developed: a) including all predictors (soil density and contents of sand, silt, clay and organic matter) and b) including only the contents of sand, silt and clay. The statistical performance of each PTF was evaluated from the coefficient of determination (R2), the Willmott index (d) and the confidence index (IC). To evaluate the prediction of soil water content at specific pressure heads, the root mean squared error (RMSE) was used. The functional evaluation of parametric PTFs was done examining performance of PTF estimated parameters in the context of the model SWAP (Soil-Water-Atmosphere-Plant). The parameters , n, r and s estimated through PTF were introduced in the model to evaluate, by comparison to observed yields, the performance of the PTF when its predictions were used to estimate agricultural productivity. The PTFs showed a low predictive capacity for parameters and n, however, for parameters r and s the fits were better. At specific pressure heads (-10, -33 and -1500 kPa), the predictive performance of the PTF was better, allowing the use in simulation models that require only values of field capacity, permanent wilting point and available water content. The performance of the specific PTF for soil classes was better than the general PTF, but the difference was small, showing that grouping of soils to develop PTF per class seems to be of little advantage. The results of the simulations of agricultural productivity, using PTF, are similar to those that use more traditional methods. Moreover, when applied in long data series the errors are reduced due to the inherent space-temporary variability of the productivity. Keywords: Pedotransfer; Model; Simulation; SWAP; Corn (Zea mays L.); Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.); Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)