O presente trabalho teve como objetivo quantificar e caracterizar a variabilidade espaço-temporal da armazenagem, do gradiente de potencial total e do potencial mátrico da água em um Latossolo Amarelo argissólico cultivado com citros. A parcela experimental foi montada em um solo sob uma cultura de citros com 10 anos de idade, consistindo de 40 pontos de observação ao longo de duas transeções, com espaçamento de 4 m x 7 m. Em cada ponto de observação foram instalados a) um tubo de acesso à sonda de nêutrons até a profundidade de 1,20 m, para a quantificação da armazenagem da água no solo, e b) três tensiômetros nas profundidades de 1,00 m, 1,10 m e 1,20 m, para a quantificação do potencial mátrico e do gradiente de potencial total da água no solo. As medições foram feitas ao longo de dois anos, em períodos compreendidos entre novembro e julho do ano seguinte. As medições de potencial mátrico foram feitas diariamente e as de armazenagem semanalmente. Em cada ponto de observação foram retiradas amostras de solo com estrutura deformada para a quantificação das frações granulométricas ao longo do perfil. Em área adjacente instalou-se um pluviômetro acoplado a um “data logger” para a quantificação da entrada de água na área por precipitação pluvial. Os valores das frações granulométricas apresentaram distribuição normal e foram uniformes em todos os pontos, apontando para um gradiente entre o horizonte A e o B textural. Isso permitiu o uso da média dos valores dos 40 pontos por profundidade, para fins de comparação. Os valores de armazenagem, de gradiente de potencial total e de potencial mátrico da água no solo não tiveram correlação significativa a 5% de probabilidade com os valores de argila e areia, entretanto os valores de correlação entre armazenagem/gradiente e argila foram, na maioria das datas analisadas, positivos, enquanto que para os valores de areia a correlação foi negativa. A distribuição dos valores de gradiente de potencial tornou-se mais dispersa quanto mais seco o solo esteve. A estabilidade temporal foi observada pelo comportamento dos valores para os 40 pontos ao longo do tempo, mostrando que os pontos mantiveram a sua característica independentemente do tempo de amostragem, evidenciando desta forma a estabilidade temporal, o que pôde ser comprovado por meio do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson entre datas. Por meio da técnica da diferença relativa foi possível identificar os pontos que, independentemente tempo, estimam a média real do campo, os mais secos e os mais úmidos. O ponto 12 foi escolhido, em função do valor da diferença relativa, como o ponto representativo da média para o gradiente de potencial total, para os valores de armazenagem identificou-se como o ponto 15 como o mais seco e o 05 como o mais úmido. O teste não-paramétrico de Spearman, como sugerido por Vachaud et al. (1985), não diferiu significativamente do teste paramétrico, mais simples, sugerido por Kachanoski & De Jong (1988). / The objective of this work was to quantify and to characterize spatial and temporal variability of water storage, total potential gradient and matric potential in a yellow latosol cropped to citrus. The experiment was carried out at campus of Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, University of São Paulo, in the municipality of Piracicaba (22º42’43’’ S, 47º37’10’’ W, 546 m). The experimental plot was installed in the soil under a 10 years old citrus crop, being made up of 40 observation points along two transects in a 4 m x 7 m spacing. In each observation point were installed a) one aluminum tube to access a neutron probe till the depth of 1.20 m, to quantify the soil water storage and b) three mercury tensiometers at depths of 1.00 m, 1.10 m and 1.20 m to estimate matric potential and total potential gradient. Measurements were made during two years in the periods between November and July of the next year. Matric potential measurements were made daily and those of soil water storage, weekly. From each observation point were also taken disturbed soil samples for soil mechanical analysis along the profile. A rain gage coupled to a data logger were also installed just beside the transects. The percent values of sand clay and silt were normal distributed and uniform in all points, which permitted the use of a mean of the 40 points in each sampled depth. Soil water storage, matric potential and total potential gradient values did not have significant correlation, at the level of 5% of probability, with the percent values of clay and sand, eventhough the correlation values between storage/gradient and clay were, in almost all analyzed date, positive, whereas those for sand, negative. The dispersion of matric potential and total potential gradient values was higher as the soil became dryer. All the 40 points showed temporal stability for the measured parameters, that is, they maintened their characteristics independently of sampling time; this was proven by means of the Pearson correlation coefficient among dates. By means of the relative difference technique, it was possible to identify the points that, independently of time, estimate the real field mean, the dryer points and the moister points. Point 12 was chosen, by this technique, as the representative for the mean total potential gradient; for the soil-water storage, point 15 was identified as the dryer point and point 05 was identified as the moister one. The non-parametric test of Spearman, as suggested by Vachaud et al. (1985), was not significantly different of the simpler parametric test, suggested by Kachanoski and De Jong (1988).

ABSTRACT SOIL AND WATER ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION Maral, Nuh M. Sc., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. G. inci G&ouml / kmen May 2010, 108 pages In Turkey, usage of increasing amounts of fertilizers and pesticides by some unconscious farmers cause soil pollution and soil infertility for the crop production. Usage of water in excessive amounts and/or in poor quality for irrigation creates problems during the plant production. So in this study, soil and water samples were analyzed by using simple and reliable techniques for the soil and water quality in laboratories of METU and Soil Fertilizer and Water Resources Central Research Institute Laboratory in Ankara. The soil and water samples were collected using the standard techniques from Ankara, Bolu, &Ccedil / orum and Kirikkale. According to the soil test results, the textures of the soil samples are found as loam and clay loam. The total salt content of the soil samples are between 0.033 &ndash / 0.063 % (w/w), meaning they are low salinity soils (total salt less than 0.15 % w/w). The pH of the soil samples are between 7.86&ndash / 8.15, they are slightly alkaline. The phosphorus concentrations of soil samples are in a range 4.95 to 35.45 P2O5 kg/da. Some of the soil samples have too high phosphorus content (greater than 12 P2O5 kg/da). The potassium content of soil samples are found between 141&ndash / 286 K2O kg/da, so the soil is efficient for crop production. Lime content of the soil samples is between 1.04&ndash / 2.67 % (w/w) CaCO3. It means all of the soil samples are calcareous but it is not too high for the agricultural production. Organic matter content of soil samples are found between 0.83&ndash / 2.04 % (w/w). This means the soils are limited in their organic matter content for the crop production. Analysis of 22 water samples yielded EC values between 0.384 &ndash / 1.875 dS/m. Water samples have moderate to high-salinity (if EC values between 0.205 and 2.250 dS/m), yet these can be used for the irrigation of the crops. pH values of water samples are found between 7.18-8.10, meaning that they are slightly alkaline. Bicarbonate concentrations of 19 of the water samples are greater than 200 mg/L. These waters may not be suitable for irrigation of ornamental plants. All of the water samples, except water samples from G&ouml / lbaSi, have sodium absorption ratio (SAR) values between 1 and 9. Water samples with low SAR values, except water samples from G&ouml / lbaSi, can be used for irrigation of almost all soils with little danger of developing harmful levels of sodium. The Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) values of water samples Ankara G&ouml / lbaSi and Sincan-1 are greater than 2.50 meq/L and these water samples are not suitable for the irrigation. RSC values of Etimesgut, Sincan-2 and Kazan water samples are positive and lower than the value 2.00 meq /L. All the other water samples have negative RSC values so they are the safe to use for irrigation. It has been observed that development of practical field analysis techniques for all soil and water quality parameters may be possible with exception of micronutrient determination. For determining soil and water quality parameters in the rural areas there is a need to establish a small laboratory with necessary equipment and apparatus and training one or two farmers. With the experience gained in this study, some of these techniques may be adapted to the rural field applications, so soil and water may be tested by the farmers for better yields.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by Rodrigo Garcia Brunini null (rgbrunini@gmail.com) on 2016-02-26T17:17:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Rodrigo_Garcia_Brunini_2016.pdf: 1968086 bytes, checksum: 3bf99718970a4fb4c41a3c6f92e68f89 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-02-26T20:14:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 brunini_rg_me_jabo.pdf: 1968086 bytes, checksum: 3bf99718970a4fb4c41a3c6f92e68f89 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-26T20:14:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 brunini_rg_me_jabo.pdf: 1968086 bytes, checksum: 3bf99718970a4fb4c41a3c6f92e68f89 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-18 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A cana-de-açúcar é uma cultura de fundamental importância para o país. Grande parte dos índices de seca ou estiagem agrícola consideram, ou somente a chuva, ou em alguns casos a interação entra água disponível no solo, como passivas, na evapotranspiração real e a potencial. Com este trabalho o objetivo foi de determinar o índice de estresse hídrico diário baseado na termometria a infravermelho, para a cana-de-açúcar em superfícies irrigadas. Foram avaliados dados meteorológicos do ambiente, o índice de estresse hídrico da planta com o uso do termômetro de infravermelho, o potencial de água no solo e analisada a condução do sistema produtivo durante o período de coleta de dados. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na área experimental do Departamento de Engenharia Rural da FCAV/UNESP, em uma estrutura denominada “Bacia Hidrográfica Experimental”, utilizando superfícies caracterizadas como HNI (superfície horizontal sem irrigação), HI (superfície horizontal irrigada), 20N (superfície com 20% de declividade, exposição norte e irrigada), 40N (superfície com 40% de declividade, exposição norte e irrigada), 20S (superfície com 20% de declividade, exposição sul e irrigada), e 40S (superfície com 40% de declividade, exposição sul e irrigada). Os resultados deste estudo indicaram que: o índice de estresse hídrico diário acima de 5°C compromete negativamente a produtividade da cultura; a superfície de exposição sul com 20% de declividade apresentou maior produtividade sobre as demais superfícies estudadas; e a exposição e declividade do terreno influenciaram no manejo da irrigação e na produtividade para cada superfície estudada. / The sugarcane is a crop of vital importance to the country. Much of the drought indices or agricultural drought consider, or only the rain, or in some cases the interaction enters water available in the soil, as passive, the actual evapotranspiration and potential. With this work, the objective was to enter the daily water stress index based on the infrared thermometry, for sugarcane in irrigated areas. They evaluated environmental meteorological data, the water stress index of the plant with the use of infrared thermometer, the water potential in the soil and analyzed driving the production system during the data collection period. The research was conducted in the experimental area of the Department of Rural Engineering FCAV / UNESP, in a structure called "Basin Experimental", using surfaces characterized as HNI (horizontal surface without irrigation), HI (irrigated horizontal surface), 20N (surface 20% slope, north and irrigated exposure), 40N (surface with 40% slope, north and irrigated exposure), 20S (surface with 20% slope, south and irrigated exposure) and 40S (surface with 40% slope , south and irrigated exposure). The results of this study indicated that: the daily water stress index above 5°C adversely compromises the productivity of culture; south exhibition area with 20% slope had higher productivity on the other surfaces studied and exposure; and slope of the terrain influence the management of irrigation and productivity for each study area.

Submitted by Paulo José Desidério de Oliveira (fluirti@gmail.com) on 2018-04-27T15:32:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Paulo_José_Desidério_de_Oliveira_2018.pdf: 3904929 bytes, checksum: 90a95ffba4e0e936c725840ef0412821 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alexandra Maria Donadon Lusser Segali null (alexmar@fcav.unesp.br) on 2018-05-02T18:56:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_pjd_dr_jabo.pdf: 3904929 bytes, checksum: 90a95ffba4e0e936c725840ef0412821 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-02T18:57:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_pjd_dr_jabo.pdf: 3904929 bytes, checksum: 90a95ffba4e0e936c725840ef0412821 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-06 / A cebola é uma das hortaliças mais consumidas no mundo, e sua produção é de grande importância econômica e social no Brasil, gerando centenas de milhares de empregos diretos e indiretos, no entanto, a média de produtividade nacional ainda é relativamente baixa, comparada às médias obtidas por países concorrentes, havendo assim a necessidade de se melhorar a produtividade e qualidade do produto, desenvolvendo-se opções e competências para que os produtores possam concorrer com mais igualdade em um mercado altamente competitivo. O uso de tecnologias e métodos em favor do conhecimento de índices de estresse hídrico no desenvolvimento da cultura e do manejo eficiente da água para irrigação é essencial para ajudar a promover aumento da produtividade com qualidade e economia. Com este trabalho, objetivou-se aplicar irrigação de precisão para a cultura de cebola. Para isso avariaram-se métodos para obtenção da evapotranspiração de referência (ETo), disponibilidade de água no solo, índices de estresse hídrico da cultura (IEHC), e suas relações com o desenvolvimento e produtividade, além da estimativa de gastos com energia elétrica nos eventos de irrigação, utilizando-se de métodos, técnicas, equipamentos e instrumentos de baixo custo com requisitos de precisão e exatidão. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no sítio Santo Antônio, localizado no município Monte Alto, SP, onde foi instalado um experimento em uma área contendo dois tratamentos com diferentes regimes de irrigação, sendo irrigações baseadas no método de Hargreaves (T1), e irrigações baseadas no método de Penman-Monteith (T2). Cada tratamento foi dividido em quatro blocos e cada bloco, com quatro repetições para os registros dos índices de estresse hídrico da cultura. Em ambos os tratamentos os foram obtidas informações meteorológicas, físico-hídricas do solo e índice de estresse hídrico da cultura instalada por meio dos instrumentos calibrados para essa finalidade. As análises foram realizas em ambiente real de produção comercial e em laboratório. Os resultados indicaram que o monitoramento da água disponível no solo foi possível em função dos tensiômetros instalados e das irrigações aplicadas. O método de Hargreaves superestimou a ETo, no entanto sua aplicação foi viável pela quantidade de variáveis exigidas, simplicidade de cálculo, manutenção das plantas em menor IEHC e produtividade obtida. A variabilidade dos índices de estresse hídrico em todos os blocos foi de 1,9 °C a 2,4 °C, sendo maior na fase de bulbificação, onde ocorreu maior demanda hídrica pela cultura. Verificou-se ainda, que o IEHC também foi maior no tratamento T2, onde foi aplicado menor volume de água, percebendo-se que quanto maior o IEHC obtido, menor foi o saldo da água disponível do solo, no mesmo período. Para toda a área, o IEHC em 1,9 ºC correspondeu a 50% da capacidade de agua disponível no solo. Os resultados das pesquisas demonstraram ser viável a utilização de instrumentos de baixo custo e métodos científicos consagrados, de simples aplicação no manejo da água para irrigação, com precisão e qualidade, para a cultura de cebola na região de Monte Alto, SP. / Onion is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world, and its production is of great economic and social importance in Brazil, generating hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs, however, the average national productivity is still relatively low, compared to the averages obtained by competing countries, thus making it necessary to improve productivity and product quality, developing options and skills so that producers can compete more evenly in a highly competitive market. The use of technologies and methods in favor of knowledge of water stress indices in crop development and efficient water management for irrigation is essential to help promote increased productivity with quality and economy. With this work, the objective was to apply precision irrigation to the onion culture. For this, methods to obtain reference evapotranspiration (ETo), soil water availability, crop water stress indexes (IEHC), and their relationship with development and productivity were analyzed, as well as the estimation of expenditures with electric energy in the irrigation events using low-cost methods, techniques, equipment and instruments with precision and accuracy requirements. The research was carried out in the Santo Antônio site, located in the municipality of Monte Alto, SP, Brazil, where an experiment was installed in an area containing two treatments with different irrigation regimes, being irrigations based on the Hargreaves method (T1), and irrigations based in the Penman-Monteith method (T2). Each treatment was divided into four blocks and each block, with four replicates for the records of the water stress indices of the culture. In both treatments, the meteorological, physical-water information of the soil and water stress index of the culture were obtained through the instruments calibrated for this purpose. The analyzes were carried out in real commercial production environment and in the laboratory. The results indicated that the monitoring of available water in the soil was possible due to installed tensiometers and applied irrigations. The Hargreaves method overestimated the ETo, however its application was viable due to the quantity of variables required, simplicity of calculation, maintenance of the plants in lower IEHC and productivity obtained. The variability of the water stress indices in all the blocks was of 1,9 °C to 2,4 °C, being greater in the phase of bulbification, where greater water demand occurred by the culture. It was also verified that the IEHC was also higher in the treatment T2, where it was applied a lower volume of water, noting that the higher the IEHC obtained, the lower the available soil water balance in the same period. For the entire area, the IEHC at 1,9 °C corresponded to 50% of the available water capacity in the soil. The results of the researches demonstrated the feasibility of using low cost instruments and established scientific methods, simple application in the water management for irrigation, with precision and quality, for the onion culture in the Monte Alto region, SP.

Climate change is leading to in an increase in frequency and severity of wildfires, which in turn can result in the formation of runoff-initiated post-wildfire debris flows. This type of debris flows is, like most debris flows, triggered by heavy precipitation events. Debris flows have the potential to cause much damage, and therefore it is important to analyse when and where the risk of these flows exists. This study aims to identify shared characteristics of basins that experienced post-wildfire debris flows in order to improve future risk analyses regarding such flows. These characteristics were studied through the analysis of 42 basins in 10 burned areas across western North America, which experienced a total of 67 post-wildfire debris flows between 2000 and 2018. Literature research and existing databases revealed the bedrock, soil texture and the timing of the flows compared to the wildfires. Spatial analysis using ArcMap allowed for the analysis of the burn severity of the basins, the hypsometry of the basins, and the mean slope of the basins. Analysis of these characteristics revealed the importance of the hypsometric integral, the soil texture, and the mean slope angle of the basins. In general, the hypsometric integral tends to fall between 0.50 and 0.60 and only soils with a coarse texture were identified for the basins. The mean slope angle of the basins is commonly between 25-30o, with a wider range of slopes being able to generate debris flows shortly after the fire. If multiple basins in a small area are burned, those with steeper slope angles have a higher potential to generate debris flows, while basins with steeper slopes do not have a higher risk on large regional scales. In order to generate post-wildfire debris flows the basin also needs to be burned at a large extent at low to medium severity, resulting in an extensive and strong water-repellent layer required to generate the runoff that is needed to generate a debris flow. Seasonal wetting during winters and drying of the soil during summers can reduce or enhance runoff respectively as well. As a result, post-wildfire debris flows occur mostly during the late summer months shortly after a wildfire when precipitation is increasing through summer storms, or a year later when the soil is dried and primed during the summer followed by such a summer storm. Fires during winter and thus outside the traditional wildfire season can lead to post-wildfire debris flows during winter as well due to the strength of the fresh water-repellent layer. Climate change which will lead to more fires during late autumn and winter months can thereby result in post-wildfire debris flows during winter, rather than only during the summer months following wildfires in the traditional fire season. / Jordskred uppstår när en sammanhängande jordmassa kommer i snabb rörelse. Det är en typ av naturolyckor som kan skada både infrastruktur och människor. Sannolikheten att ett jordskred inträffar ökar efter skogsbränder. Samtidigt kan klimatförändringar leda till en ökning av skogsbränder vilket i sin tur kan leda till en ökad risk för jordskred i framtiden. Syftet med det här projektet är att bidra till bedömningen av risken av jordskred till följd av skogsbänder i västra Nordamerika och att identifiera andra områden som också har en stor risk att drabbs av skred efter skogsbränder genom att identifiera riskfaktorer. Under projektets gång skapades en databas med områden där jordskred inträffade efter skogsbränder i västra Nordamerika. Den vetenskapliga litteraturen visade några egenskaper av skred och områdena, t.ex. när branden och skredet hände, vilken berggrund finns i området och texturen av jordarten i området. Dessutom användandes GIS (Geographical Information System) med satellitbilder och DEM (Digital Elevation models), som visade information om brandskador samt de geomorfologiska karaktärerna av områden. Resultaten visade att formationen av jordskred kräver omfattande låga till måttliga brandskador som resulterar i ett starkt vattenavvisande jordlager. Detta jordlager minskar infiltrationskapaciteten av jorden och resulterar i mer ytavrinning vilket orsakar skred till följd av brand. Även en grov textur av jordlagret är viktig eftersom den också bidrar till ett starkt vattenavvisande jordlager. Dessutom kan askpartiklar bli fångade in i stora porer i jord med en grov textur vilket minskar infiltrationskapaciteten och ökar ytavrinningen. Det finns alltså två krav för att ett jordskred ska inträffa efter en skogsbrand: i) omfattande låga-måttliga brandskador, och ii) en grov textur av jorden. Vidare finns det några ytterligare egenskaper som ökar risken för skred efter skogsbränder om de två kraven är uppfyllda. Den hypsometriska integralen (ett sätt att uttrycka hypsometrin av en dal) ligger oftast mellan 0.50-0.60 vilket är normal för en geomorfologiskt sett mogna område. Dessutom hade de flesta områdena i projektet en medellutning mellan 25o och 30o. Dock fanns det även tillfällen där värdena låg utanför dessa intervaller. Därför kan dessa värden i sig inte användas som riskfaktorer, utan borde de även kombineras med de övriga egenskaperna som beskrivs i den här undersökningen. Det är också relevant att veta när jordskred inträffar till följd av skogsbränder. Resultaten visade att skred kan hända strax efter skogsbränder i slutet av sommaren när det finns kraftigt regn. Det är då som det vattenavvisande jordlagret är som starkast. Det vattenavvisande lagret minskar i styrkan under året, men det är också möjligt att det inträffar ett jordskred under sommaren året efter en skogsbrand. Då är jorden torr i slutet av sommaren när kraftigt regn inträffar efter torra månader. Torr jorden bidrar även till en minskad infiltrationskapacitet. Regn i vinter gör jorden blöt vilket ökar infiltrationskapaciteten av jorden. Dessutom sker det även skogsbränder utanför den traditionella skogsbrandsäsongen nuförtiden, t.ex. tidigt i vintern. I så fall kan jordskred också inträffa under samma vinter strax efter skogsbranden, därför att det vattenavvisande jordlagret som skapas i branden fortfarande är starkt då. Som nämnts tidigare finns det en riskprofil som kan användas för att identifiera områden som har en hög risk för jordskred efter skogsbränder, men möjligheten att ett jordskred inträffar under vintern istället för (slutet av) sommaren bör även iakttas. Risken växer nämligen i samband med klimatförändringar som leder till mer skogsbränder; inte bara under sommaren, utan även under vintern.

During the last two decades, the applications of fluorocarbon based chemicals to provide soil resistant or soil release properties for automotive interior and upholstery have increased tremendously. But, recent studies showed that the soil resistant treatment based on fluorochemicals has detrimental effects on the environment as well as on humans due to the presence of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) content. PFOS and PFOA are toxic, bio accumulative and bio persistent fluoro-organic compounds. This project focus on PFOS and PFOA-free soil resistant chemicals and their application on interior textiles used for automotive. Literature study was done by keeping in mind all the aspects regarding soil and nature of soils, soil resistant mechanism, PFOA and PFOS-free soil resistant chemicals, chemistry of the chemicals, area of the application and the method of application. Experimental application of PFOA and PFOS-free soil resistant chemicals by using different concentrations on 100% Polyester dyed and unfinished fabric was performed with Pad-Dry-Cure method. Experimental application was carried out to evaluate the soil resistant treated samples for soil resistant, clean ability and colour change results. At the end, the comparison of the results of three mentioned evaluations gave us the best possible alternatives. / Program: Magisterutbildning i textilteknologi

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Orientador: Maria Aparecida Marin Morales / Banca: Vera Maria Ferrão Vargas / Banca: Mary Rosa Rodrigues de Marchi / Banca: Danielle Palma de Oliveira / Banca: Paula Suares Rocha / Resumo: A questão energética é hoje um tema de preocupação mundial. A limitação das fontes de energia fóssil e seus efeitos indesejáveis ao meio ambiente têm estimulado a busca de novas fontes alternativas, desde que renováveis. Em diversos países, como no Brasil, têm sido destinados grandes incentivos ao desenvolvimento do setor de biocombustíveis, no qual se inclui o biodiesel. O futuro promissor do biodiesel está relacionado não apenas ao fato de ser um combustível renovável, mas também às suas contribuições na redução da emissão de poluentes atmosféricos e à sua maior degradabilidade, em relação aos combustíveis fósseis. No entanto, poucos são os estudos realizados com o biodiesel para avaliar os seus possíveis impactos, quando usados puro ou em misturas ao óleo diesel, sobre o ambiente (principalmente corpos d'águas e solos) e sobre os organismos vivos, em caso de uma possível contaminação ambiental. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a citotoxicidade, genotoxicidade e mutagenicidade do biodiesel e de suas misturas com diesel (B5, B20 e B50), por meio de simulações de vazamento em água e solo. As simulações foram realizadas no verão, para caracterizar um vazamento em condições tropicais, sendo aplicados diferentes ensaios biológicos [teste de Allium cepa, ensaio Salmonella/microssoma, ensaios de mutagenicidade com células CHO-K1 e HepG2 in vitro, ensaio para detecção de indução de morte celular (alterações do ΔΨm, externalização da fosfatidilserina), avaliação da citotoxicidade em tempo real (sistema xCELLigence™)] nas amostras de água e solo obtidas nos experimentos. Foi observada no presente estudo uma significativa citotoxicidade, que foi relacionada com constituintes do óleo diesel, mais especificamente, com os hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (PAHs). Já os efeitos genotóxicos/mutagênicos, observados... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The energy-related issue is currently a subject that causes world concern. The limitations of fossil energy sources and their undesirable effects upon the environment have encouraged the search for new alternative sources, as long as they are renewable ones. In several countries, like Brazil, great incentives have been allocated to the development of the biofuel sector, and that includes biodiesel. The promising future of biodiesel is related not only the fact of being a renewable biofuel, but also to its contribution to reducing release of air pollutants and its higher degradability when compared to fossil fuels. Nevertheless, not enough studies have been conducted with biodiesel to evaluate their possible impacts - either when they are used crude or in biodiesel blends - upon both the environment (especially water bodies and soils) and living organisms, should there be environmental contamination. The aim of this study was to assess toxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity of biodiesel and its diesel blends (B5, B20 and B50), by simulating spills into water and soil. The simulations were carried out in the summer in order to characterize a spill under tropical conditions, and different assays [Allium cepa test, Salmonella mutagenicity assay, in vitro mutagenicity assays with CHO-K1 and HepG2 cells line, detection of cell death inductions (changes in ΔΨm, phosphatidylserine externalization), cytotoxicity assessment by xCELLigence™ system] were conducted using soil and water samples obtained in the experiment. In this study, significant citotoxicity was observed, which was found to be related to biodiesel contaminants, even more specifically, to its polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). On the other hand, the genotoxic/mutagenic effects observed in the other assays done with diesel and biodiesel proved to result from the action of pollutants present in the raw material used... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor