Comportamento geoquímico do fósforo em sistemas lacustres tropicais

Considerando a multiplicidade dos impactos ambientais associados às albufeiras pretendeu-se verificar a disponibilidade da utilização, como recurso agrícola, dos sedimentos desenvolvidos sob clima tropical. Estudaram-se duas albufeiras, Três Marias e Tucuruí situadas no Brasil, cujos materiais depositados apresentam forte componente siltosa e argilosa. Possuindo valores de matéria orgânica considerados médios, as amostras têm valores de pH (H20) ácidos, elevados teores de Fe203 e Ah03 e baixa diversidade de minerais argilosos (apenas ilite e caulinite). Apesar das quantidades totais de fósforo serem significativas, os valores da forma disponível deste elemento não ultrapassam o 1%. Através da análise de clusters, correlações de Pearson e fraccionamento químico do fósforo inorgânico, concluiu-se que o elemento que influencia a retenção deste elemento nos sedimentos é o ferro. Embora com baixos teores de fósforo sob forma imediatamente disponível, os sedimentos apresentam boa qualidade para fins agrícolas pois, para diferentes variáveis, ultrapassam os valores médios dos solos minerais. ABSTRACT; considering the diversity of environmental impacts related to dam reservoirs, this study aims at verifying the suitability of sediments accumulated in tropical climates, as agricultural resource. We have studied two Brazilian reservoirs, Três Marias and Tucuruí, whose sediments were classified, respectively, as silty clay and clayey silt. The accumulated material has medium contents of organic matter, acid values of pH(H20), high contents of Fe203 and Al203, and low diversity of clay mineral groups (only illite and kaolinite). Although sediments have significant amounts of phosphorus, the available form of this element never exceeds 1%. Data on statistical analysis of clusters, Pearson correlations and chemical fractionation of inorganic phosphorus, indicates that phosphorus adsorption capacity of sediments is predominantly associated with Fe. Even considering the low levels of the readily available form of phosphorus, for most variables, sediments exceed medium values for mineral soils, making this material advantageous for plant nutrition.

Methods of earth building in the Huila Province, Angola

In Angola, the construction made of raw earth is a cultural heritage widely used by low income households, representing over 80% of the population [1, 3]. In Huila province is evident construction in raw earth in a large scale, either in urban or in periurban and rural areas. The construction methods follow the ancestral standards, distributed throughout the region of Huila, being built by the several ethnic groups. Among the construction techniques in earth, stand out: the adobe, wattle-and-daub and more recently on CEB (Compressed Earth Block). The type of soil used to make the adobes is mainly silty-clayed sand [1]. The most applied materials are: rods, reeds, wood, grass, straw, soil and stone, almost with the same characteristics [2]. The manufacture of adobe, consists essentially in mixing clay and grass (plant fibers), then put the mixture inside a wooden mold, having a size of 42 cm long and 18 cm high and taking three to four days to dry and be applied in housing construction. The application of these materials makes the construction less expensive because they are collected, transformed and applied by the owner himself of housing without any project, based only on the result of the practice and experience acquired from their ancestors. They are simple constructions, presenting a typology of grouped and isolated single-family housing, ranging between 2 and 3 bedrooms [2]. The construction techniques used in such small housings have positive environmental aspects, both as regards the materials employed, such as the manner in which the constructions are raised, showing special concerns for the quality improvement of them, as regards the resistance, durability and comfort [4].