Development and validation of a siphoning prototype for surface runoff evaluation.

The degradation of soil and water quality encourages research to assess the effects of rainfall on the losses of soil and chemical elements that result from surface runoff. In seasons of high surface runoff, the collectors must support the total volume drained or allow its correct estimation to avoid misinterpretation of the data. The present investigation aimed to develop and validate a compact and low-cost system to quantify surface runoff, sediments, and chemical elements losses using the bucket-siphon sampler system (BS3) siphoning method. The tests performed within the system used the runoff collected in a Nitisol or solutions constructed at the laboratory through mixing soil (i.e., Nitisol or Cambisol) with tap water. The BS3 method was efficient in estimating the total volume of water runoff and the concentration of sediments and P in the surface runoff. The maximum flow rate supported by the BS3 method, as presented here, is 0.035 L s-1 , which considering a 10-m² plot is equivalent to 12.6 mm h-1 . Due to the craft characteristics of the system, we recommend the calibration of each unit built to obtain a precise ratio between the volume stored and discarded by the siphoning. The prototype developed here is suitable for quantifying runoff volume, sediment, and P losses in field plots and has been manufactured under US$15.00.

Accuracy of methods to estimate potential acidity and lime requirement in soils of west region of Santa Catarina / Exatidão de métodospara estimativa da acidez potencial e necessidade de calcário em solos da região oeste de Santa Catarina

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to compare two methods of evaluation of potencial acidity (H+Al) and two methods to estimate liming requirement (LR) for soils from the west region of Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Fourteen soils were incubated with 7 lime rates for 120 days, obtaining the real values of H+Al at pH 7.0 and LR. These values were used as reference to evaluate the accuracy of two H+Al estimating methods: SMP buffer and calcium acetate at pH 7.0, and to evaluate the accuracy of two LR methods: base saturation (BS) and SMP index. On average, H+Al was underestimated in 6 and 40% by SMP and calcium acetate methods, respectively, especially in soils with high buffer capacity. The LR was underestimated in 20 and 30% by SMP index and BS, respectively. The SMP Index showed a better LR estimative than BS, especially in soils with high buffer capacity.

RESUMO: O estudo objetivou comparar dois métodos de avaliação de acidez potencial (H+Al) e de estimativa da necessidade de calagem (NC) para solos da região Oeste de Santa Catarina (SC). Quatorze solos foram incubados com 7 doses de calcário durante 120 dias, obtendo-se ao final os valores reais de H+Al a pH 7,0 e a NC dos solos. Esses valores serviram de referência para avaliar a exatidão dos métodos de estimativa do H+Al: tampão SMP e acetato de cálcio a pH 7,0 e a exatidão dos métodos de estimativa da NC: índice SMP e saturação por bases (V%). Em média, o H+Al foi subestimado em 6 e 40% pelos métodos SMP e acetato de cálcio, respectivamente, sendo mais problemático nos solos de maior tamponamento. Já a NC foi subestimada em 20 e 30% pelo Índice SMP e V%, respectivamente. O índice SMP estimou melhor a NC que o método V%, principalmente em solos de maior tamponamento.