ABSTRACT
The objectives of this study were to determine the influence of different soil tillage methods on the loss of heavy metals by erosion in Paty do Alferes County, State of Rio de Janeiro. The experiment was conducted from December of 1996 to March of 1997, and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) was the cultivated crop. Four Wichmeier plots were installed, with an area of 22 x 4 m. The treatments utilized were the following: (i) tillage with machinery and operation down hill and burning of the grassland (MAQ); (ii) tillage with machinery and operation down and without burning of grassland between lines of crop (MANQ); (iii) tillage with animal traction and following the natural contour of the hill, strip cropping grass each 7 m (AA); and minimum tillage, (CM). The highest losses of heavy metals by erosion were in the MAQ treatment.. The results obtained in this work allow to end that the intensive use of agrochemicals associated the high soil losses by erosion can determine serious risks of contamination of the water from the main stream in Caetés..
Key words
contamination of soils; heavy metals; sediments; water; soil tillage methods; erosion.