Influence of a vinasse-distributing lake on water quality of the groundwater

  • Mário Monteiro Rolim Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
  • Marília Regina Costa Castro Lyra Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco – UFRPE
  • Anamaria de Sousa Duarte Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
  • Pedro Róbinson Medeiros Fernandes Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
  • Enio Farias de França e Silva Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
  • Elvira Maria Régis Pedrosa Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco
Keywords: sugarcane, residue, fertirrigation, infiltration, potassium

Abstract

Vinasse is an organic matter and nutrient-rich residue generated during alcohol distillation. However, if applied to crops in excess, it may disturb the complex balance of soil absoption and contaminate groundwater. The goal of this research was to evaluate the effect of a vinasse-distributing pool on the quality of groundwater in a sugarcane field in Pernambuco State, Brazil. Samples were collected from 10 observation wells along three parallel transects around the vinasse-distributing pool. The quality of groundwater as well as the fluvial water of the Ipojuca River was assessed as a control for ocean intrusion. The following parameters were measured: CE, SDT, pH, COD, BOD, NO3-, NO2-, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, Cl- and HCO3-. Storing vinasse in the distribution lake disturbed CE, COD and BOD values as well TDS, Cl-, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations in groundwater.

Published
26/04/2013
Issue
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2013)
Section
Papers

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