Sugarcane Monoculture Research Articles

Study of postures in sugarcane cutters in the Pontal of Paranapanema-SP, Brazil

The expansion of sugarcane monoculture in Brazil in the last decades has pointed out to the necessity of considering the question of sugarcane cutters occupational health. In this work we present a cross-sectional study aiming to examine the occupational posture of a group of sugarcane cutters, which work in a cane field located in the region of Pontal do Paranapanema- SP, Brazil. The study was made using the Ergonomic Analysis of Work - EAW methodology and the postural analysis method by Win-OWAS. Through the obtained records of postures, it was observed that during a workday the sugarcane cutters remain standing erect on two legs or in one leg 66% of the time and that their trunk remain tilted and in rotation, according to 63% of the positions categorized. It was also observed that the sugarcane cutter trunk performs repetitive and boundless movements during his routine of work, which can expose this individual to additional wear of their musculoskeletal functions. The activities in which the individual engages have favorable or adverse influence on his posture. The repetitive movements involved in specialized occupations are equivalent to repeated exercises, thus may be responsible for the excessive development of certain muscle groups. The study suggests that the postures adopted by sugarcane cutters can overload their musculoskeletal system and predispose the cutters to work-related musculoskeletal diseases.

AS PARTICULARIDADES DA EXPLORAÇÃO CANAVIEIRA EM GOIÁS: o caso do município de Inhumas

This article presents partial results from a survey entitled "City of Inhumas: with and without floor edge on the border of metropolises." The overall objective is to identify the social and environmental impacts of the advance of cane sugar in the state of Goias and, specifically, to understand the consequences of the advance of agribusiness on the fringe of the metropolis. The methodology used consisted at first in secondary data collection by the IBGE, SEPLAN, CEASA, RAIS, SEFAZ, EMBRAPA and in a second stage, conducting semi-structured interviews with cane cutters in the city, small landowners, Residents and traders in the region, to evaluate the impacts of the expansion of sugarcane in the region. The results indicated the environmental and social impacts of Inhumas municipality and region, associated with the monoculture of sugarcane, such as homogeneity in the production process, because the land use aims to produce large economic scale, the logic of the agribusiness of cane sugar has been generating social exclusion, for leases of land for planting sugarcane are expropriating the property of the small population, and thus pushing them to the city.

Produtividade de colmos, índice de área foliar e acúmulo de N na soca de cana-de-açúcar em cultivo intercalar com Crotalaria juncea L

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do cultivo de Crotalaria juncea semeada nas entrelinhas da soca de cana-de-açúcar, na produtividade de colmos, no índice de área foliar e no acúmulo de N em cana de açúcar. A leguminosa foi semeada em faixas em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com nove tratamentos e quatro repetições. O tratamento em que duas linhas de crotalária foram semeadas aos 51 dias após o corte da cana e cortada aos 110 dias após sua semeadura obteve produtividade média estatisticamente similar à daquela constatada no monocultivo da cana-de-açúcar com adubação de cobertura e com controle de plantas daninhas, mas superior à do tratamento em monocultivo não adubado e sem controle de plantas daninhas. Nos tratamentos consorciados com a leguminosa foram obtidos maiores teores de nitrogênio foliar do que naqueles em monocultivo.

Agricultura familiar e agroindústria canavieira: impasses sociais

A Política Agroenergética para produção de biocombustíveis é apresentada sob os pressupostos do desenvolvimento sustentável. O álcool, produzido a partir da cana-de-açúcar, aparece como a alternativa mais viável, o que estimula a expansão e redistribuição espacial da produção canavieira. O estado de Goiás está entre as principais rotas de ampliação da cana. O objetivo do artigo é compreender o debate das questões sociais no plano dos discursos oficiais em torno do Plano Nacional de Agroenergia, bem como as contradições sociais associadas à expansão da monocultura canavieira em regiões de predomínio da agricultura familiar. O desenvolvimento do tema baseou-se num estudo de caso, realizado no município de Itapuranga (GO), valendo-se de uma abordagem qualitativa e da combinação das técnicas de pesquisa bibliográfica, observação e, principalmente, entrevistas. Constatou-se que a expansão do cultivo da cana-de-açúcar contribuiu para transformar o contexto social de Itapuranga e provocar alterações consideráveis na dinâmica produtiva e organizacional dos agricultores familiares.

Participatory emergy synthesis of integrated food and biofuel production: a case study from Brazil

Large-scale production of biofuels is increasingly touted in national policies and international trade agreements. This global trend is particularly clear in Brazil. However, the sugarcane monocultures promoted in the country depend on a range of fossil fuel derivates, industrial inputs, chemical fertilizers, agrochemicals, machinery, labor exploitation and various other non-renewable resources, making it a questionable alternative to substitute fossil energy sources. In parallel, an alternative approach has recently emerged in southern Brazil, which promotes integrated food and energy production in small-scale, family managed production units, based on agro-ecological principles and local market orientation. This paper explores the potential of this alternative for more environmentally sustainable and socially fair production of food and biofuels. The scope of the paper is interdisciplinary, in combining environmental and social information from participatory fieldwork and interviews with farmers. Resource flows at farm level are identified and illustrated in diagrams, and interactions between farmers and institutions at local and global levels. The paper also explores opportunities for cross-fertilization between the two approaches applied: emergy synthesis (ES) and participatory learning and action (PLA). Integration was operationalized by drawing emergy diagrams together with local farmers, supported by PLA tools. The result is a systems description that adds information provided by farmers to an understanding based on general systems principles. Apart from accounting for the empirical results from this approach, lessons learned are used for proposing a new framework for participatory emergy synthesis (P-ES), which would facilitate more interdisciplinary and participatory evaluation of agricultural systems.

CARTOGRAFIA GEOMORFOLÓGICA COMO SUBSÍDIO PARA A ANÁLISE DAS INTERFERÊNCIAS DO USO DA TERRA NO DESENCADEAMENTO DOS PROCESSOS EROSIVOS: UM ESTUDO EM ÁREA CANAVIEIRA.

O trabalho teve como objetivo principal analisar a dinâmica geomorfológica e sua relação com a interferência e apropriação humana do relevo, mediante a interpretação de forma integrada, perante uma abordagem sistêmica, de documentos cartográficos elaborados a partir de técnicas da cartografia geomorfológica e de uso da terra. Por meio de pares estereoscópicos de fotografias aéreas foram elaborados as Cartas Geomorfológica e de Uso da Terra, respectivamente fundamentadas nos procedimentos técnicos de Tricart (1965) e Ceron e Diniz (1966). A unidade de análise da pesquisa refere-se à Bacia do Ribeirão Tijuco Preto (SP) que se encontra posicionada na Província Geomorfológica da Depressão Periférica Paulista, estabelecendo-se entre as latitudes 22º42’17’’e 22º51’’36’’ S, e as longitudes 47º30’30’’ e 47º37’03’’. De forma geral, pôde-se constatar que esta Bacia vem sofrendo o desencadeamento de processos erosivos lineares, onde foram mapeados em grande número sulcos erosivos, ravinamentos e voçorocamentos, além de inúmeras rupturas de declive. Tais processos estão associados a uma conjunção de condicionantes, onde o condicionante antrópico está majoritariamente representado pela monocultura canavieira e pela urbanização, sendo agentes cruciais no desencadeamento dos processos erosivos e na interferência direta na dinâmica do escoamento fluvial e pluvial da Bacia do Ribeirão Tijuco Preto.

Multivariate approach to characterizing soil microbial communities in pristine and agricultural sites in Northwest Argentina

Land use effects on microbial communities may have profound impacts on agricultural productivity and ecosystem sustainability as they are critical in soil quality and health. The main aim of this study was to characterize the microbial communities of pristine and agricultural soils in the central Yungas region in Northwest Argentina. As a first step in the development of biological indicators of soil quality in this region, a comprehensive approach involving a structural and functional evaluation of microbial communities was used to detect changes in soil as consequence of land use. The sites selected included two pristine montane forest sites (MF1 and MF2), two plots under sugarcane monoculture for 40 and 100 years (SC40 and SC100), one plot under 20 years of soybean monoculture (SB20), a recently deforested and soybean cropped site (RC), and two reference sites of native forest adjacent to the sugarcane and soybean plots (PF1 and PF2). We used three microbial community profiling methods: denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of PCR amplified 16S rRNA genes, community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) using a BD oxygen biosensor system (BDOBS-CLPP) and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Deforestation and agriculture caused expected increases in pH and decreases in organic carbon and microbial biomass. Additionally, shifts in the microbial community structure and physiology were detected with disturbance, including reduced diversity based on PLFA data. The higher respiratory response to several carbon substrates observed in agricultural soils suggested the presence of microbial communities with lower growth yield efficiency that could further reduce carbon storage in these soils. Using an integrated multivariate analysis of all data measured in this study we propose a minimum data set of variables (organic carbon, pH, sucrose and valeric acid utilizations, a17:0 and a15:0 PLFA biomarkers and the value of impact on microbial diversity) to be used for future studies of soil quality in Northwest Argentina.

Growth and yield responses to amendments to the sugarcane monoculture: towards identifying the reasons behind the response to breaks

Experiments involving breaks to the sugarcane monoculture, soil fumigation and the application of biocides were conducted in Bundaberg, the Burdekin Valley and at Tully, three sugarcane-growing regions in Queensland, Australia. The aim was to elucidate the cause(s) of previously observed positive yield responses to breaks in the monoculture and assess persistence into a subsequent cane cycle. In all three experiments there was a positive response in the plant cane crop to fumigation of land that was under sugarcane monoculture, the response being 32, 39 and 21% for the Burdekin, Tully and Bundaberg experiments, respectively. Further, at Tully, the response was maintained into the ratoons. Fumigation after breaks also enhanced yields but the results were variable and were generally less than the response following sugarcane monoculture. At Tully, fumigating after bare fallow, grain crop and pasture breaks enhanced cane yields by 23, 26 and 29%, respectively, while in the Burdekin, responses to fumigation were much smaller at 9% (bare fallow), 4% (grain crop) and 8% (pasture). In Bundaberg, responses ranged from nil following a long-term (70 months) grass pasture up to 35% following a short-term (12 months) grass pasture, with a general trend for the response to fumigation being larger following short-term than long-term breaks. In the Tully experiment, biocides had variable effects on sugarcane growth and yield. Fungicide application produced as good a yield as fumigation whereas nematicides had little direct influence. However, when combined with fungicides, nematicides provided a synergistic effect in terms of shoot development. The results suggested that at the Tully site, fungi were the major detrimental biota associated with poor yields in long-term sugarcane monoculture, but nematodes had some influence once fungi were controlled. In two additional experiments at Bundaberg and Burdekin, it was shown that if the cane stool was removed after the plant crop (Bundaberg) and second ratoon (Burdekin) and sugarcane re-planted, there were no residual effects of breaks and fumigation. Thus it appears that the positive effects of breaks and fumigation measured in the ratoons were more associated with the development of a healthy stool in the plant crop than any residual effect on soil biota. In general the similarly positive response to fumigation and breaks indicated that a considerable part of the overall response to breaks was due to reducing the adverse effect of detrimental soil biota (largely fungi although there was an effect on nematodes). The type and duration of break was also important with long-term pasture being the most effective. However, the duration of the fumigation and break effects on soil biota only lasted for the plant crop.

Growth and yield responses to amendments to the sugarcane monoculture: effects of crop, pasture and bare fallow breaks and soil fumigation on plant and ratoon crops

Yield decline has been a major issue limiting productivity improvement in the Australian sugar industry since the early 1970s and is suspected to be largely due to growing sugarcane in a long-term monoculture. In order to address this issue, rotation experiments were established in several sugarcane-growing regions in Queensland, Australia, to ascertain whether breaking the sugarcane monoculture could, at least in part, assist in overcoming yield decline. The rotation experiments involved other crop species, pasture and bare fallow for different periods of time. When cane was replanted, the growth and yield following breaks was compared with that in a sugarcane monoculture system where the soil was unamended or fumigated before replanting. Yield increases were recorded in the plant and first ratoon (R1) crops in all experiments: in response to soil fumigation (average of 42 and 18%, respectively), and breaks (average of 27 and 30%, respectively). The data indicated that the response to breaks, while smaller in the plant crop, may have greater longevity than the response to fumigation. Further, there were indications that the response to breaks could continue into later ratoons (R2 and R3). Break type had little overall effect with the average response in the plant and R1 crops being 35% for breaks in excess of 30 months. Breaks of longer duration produced larger yield responses: 17% (<12 months), 24% (18–30 months) and 28% (>30 months) in the plant crop. However, the average yield increase over a plant and three ratoon crops when one cane crop was missed (6–12 months’ break) and a grain legume or maize break included was ~20%. Yield increases with breaks and fumigation were due to either increased stalk number, increased individual stalk weight or a combination of both. The component accounting for the majority of the variance changed between experiments, with a general trend for individual stalk weight to have more impact under better late season growing conditions and/or conditions that hampered early stalk development, while stalk number was more important under conditions of late season water stress and/or low radiation input. The results demonstrate that the long-term sugarcane monoculture is having an adverse effect on productivity. Further, breaking the sugarcane monoculture and sacrificing one sugarcane crop is likely to have minimal impact on the supply of cane to the mill. The increase in yield during other stages of the cane cycle is likely to compensate for the loss of 1 year of sugarcane, especially as the crop that is sacrificed is the last and almost always lowest-yielding ratoon.

Microbial communities in sugarcane field soils with and without a sugarcane cropping history

Microbial communities in rhizosphere soil from sugarcane (Saccharum inter-specific hybrids) and bulk soil were compared at paired field sites with and without a sugarcane cropping history to determine whether monoculture affects soil microbial community composition. Differences were evaluated for culturable microorganisms and functional diversity indicated by community level physiological profiles (CLPP). Qualitative differences in rhizosphere bacterial communities were detected between sites with no sugarcane cropping history (Nsite) and sites with a long-term sugarcane cropping history (Lsite). More fluorescent pseudomonads were detected in Nsite than Lsite rhizosphere soil at two of three sites, and Actinobacteria were more numerous in Nsite than Lsite rhizosphere soil at one site. Fusarial fungi were more numerous in Nsite than Lsite rhizosphere soils. Bacteria were more numerous in rhizosphere soil compared to bulk soil. Total bacterial, pseudomonad, and Actinobacteria population densities were greater in bulk soil from an Nsite compared to an Lsite. CLPP distinguished bulk from rhizosphere soil at one of two sites and Nsite and Lsite rhizosphere soils at two of four sites. Site affected CLPP similarity more than cropping history. The results demonstrated that sugarcane monoculture can affect the composition of the microbial community in field soil. The findings have possible implications for reduced yields associated with sugarcane monoculture.

Effects of sugar cane monocultures on origin and characteristics of dissolved organic matter in the Manguaba lagoon in northeast Brazil

Brazil has extensive sugar cane monocultures, which significantly alter hydrogeochemical material fluxes. We studied dissolved organic matter (OM) fluxes in the Manguaba lagoon–estuary system, which drains a sugar cane monoculture-dominated hinterland and discharges into the Atlantic coastal ocean. The OM fluxes into the lagoon originate from baseflow, field runoff and sugar cane factory effluents. In the study, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, δ 13C DOC and UV absorbance were analysed along a freshwater–seawater salinity gradient that encompasses river (DOC 9–11 mg l −1, δ 13C −22.2‰ to −25.5‰); lagoon (4–11 mg l −1, −20.5‰ to −24.8‰); estuary (3–9 mg l −1, −22.6‰ to −25.3‰) and coastal waters (1.64 mg l −1, −21‰) with different intra-seasonal runoff conditions. We used the carbon isotope data to quantify the sugar cane derived DOC. Where river water meets brackish lagoon water, substantial loss of DOC occurs during rainy conditions, when suspended sediment from eroded fields in the river is very high. During dry weather, at much lower suspension levels, DOC increases, however, presumably from addition of photolysed resuspended sedimentary OM. In the estuary, mixing of DOC is strictly conservative. Ca. 1/3 of riverine DOM discharged into the lagoon has a sugar cane source. Within the lagoon on avg. 20% of the bulk DOM is comprised of sugar cane DOM, whereas during heavy rainfall the amount increases to 31%, due to intensified drainage flow and soil erosion. In the estuary, 14–26% is of sugar cane origin. The sugar cane-derived component follows the mixing patterns of bulk DOM.

The impact of an improved sugarcane farming system on chemical, biochemical and biological properties associated with soil health

This study compared the properties of conventionally managed sugarcane soils (sugarcane monoculture, extensive tillage during the replanting operation, random traffic from harvest machinery and crop residues sometimes burnt) with soils under a new sugarcane farming system based on crop rotation, minimum tillage, controlled traffic and residue retention. Soils under perennial pasture were included as a standard reference. Adjacent fields under the three land management practices (new sugarcane, conventional sugarcane and pasture) were sampled at 11 sites in tropical and sub-tropical Australia and a range of soil properties were measured (texture, soil chemical parameters, enzyme activity, composition of the nematode community, catabolism of C sources using Biolog Ecoplates ®). For most parameters, differences between soils under the new and conventional sugarcane farming system were not significant. Pasture soils were markedly different. They had nearly twice as much total C, total N, permanganate-oxidisable C and water-soluble C as cropped soils and this impacted on their biochemical and biological status. Thus cellulase activity and microbial activity (measured as the rate of degradation of fluorescein diacetate) were respectively five and two times higher in pasture soils than in soils cropped to sugarcane. Analysis of nematode assemblages indicated that total numbers of free-living nematodes and the ratio of free-living to plant-parasitic nematodes were higher in pasture than sugarcane soils and that fungal-feeding nematodes were more predominant under pasture than sugarcane. These results indicate that the biological status of sugarcane soils is poor relative to soils under permanent grass pasture. However, sugarcane soils managed under the new farming system for 5–7 years had a lower C/N ratio, more free-living nematodes and a greater proportion of fungivorous to bacterivorous nematodes than conventionally managed soils, indicating a shift towards the biological properties of pasture soils. Since such improvements in the health of non-tilled sugarcane soils are likely to continue for many years, the data obtained in this study will be a useful benchmark for future studies.

A EXPANSÃO DA CANA-DE-AÇÚCAR NO CERRADO E NO ESTADO DE GOIÁS: ELEMENTOS PARA UMA ANÁLISE ESPACIAL DO PROCESSO

The Cerrado biome, particularly in Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul states, it is having one process of expansion of sugarcane monoculture since last years of XX century, but intensified since 2007.The aim of this paper is to present one evaluation of the expansion areas mainly Goiás state´s South Region and its microregions Meia Ponte and Quirinópolis, bys study of land use changes focusing the substitution of cultures and livestock areas. In conclusion the spatially axes of sugarcane expansion is the same of agricultural frontier from 70s and the environmental direct and indirect impacts was not sufficiently studied in detailed scales.

Influence of Sugarcane Cropping on the Quality of an Oxisol and an Inceptisol in Mauritius

Productive capacity of Mauritius soils could be declining with sugarcane monoculture. Effects of short- and long-term sugarcane cropping on quality of an Oxisol and an Inceptisol were assessed to a depth of 50 cm. In the short term (<25 years), cropping led to less organic matter and topsoil microbial biomass (0 to 15 cm), probably through increased microbial breakdown of organic matter (OM) and downward movement by tillage. The pH of both soils and the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the Oxisol increased following application of lime, fertilizers, and organic amendments. Physical properties were also affected. Aggregate stability decreased and topsoil was compacted, whereas plant-available water and permeability improved. In the long-term (>50 years), OM and microbial biomass increased with inputs of crop residues, whereas exchangeable base levels improved in the Inceptisol with organic amendments. Physical properties did not change much in the long term, even if some improvement was noted in structural and hydraulic properties.

Pollution source evaluation using petroleum and aliphatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from two Brazilian estuarine systems

The levels of aliphatic hydrocarbons, including petroleum biomarkers (hopanes and steranes) were measured in surface sediments from two Brazilian estuarine systems affected by sugar cane monoculture and urbanization in order to identify their sources. The total aliphatic hydrocarbon fraction (TAH) concentration in the sediments ranged from 0.39 to 43.83 μg g −1 in the Mundaú–Manguaba estuarine-lagoon system and from 6.40 to 94.27 μg g −1 in the Paraiba do Sul River estuary. The levels of TAH in both study areas are relatively low. The carbon preference index (CPI) calculated for the C 23–C 34 range indicates that n-alkanes are mainly inherited from cuticular waxes of higher plants. However, the presence of hopanes and steranes indicates petrogenic input. The low values for the hopanes/ n-alkanes (Hop/ n-alk) and unresolved complex mixture (UCM)/ n-alk ratios indicate that the pollution is diluted with natural input.

Bird richness and composition in a Cerrado fragment in the State of São Paulo

Bird species richness is an important measure for monitoring biodiversity changes. We analysed avifauna richness and composition in a 472 ha protected cerrado fragment and surroundings at Fazenda Canchim (RL-CPPSE), São Carlos, in the State of São Paulo (SP). We carried out 95.1 hours of observation (22 visits) at irregular intervals from May 2004 to December 2006. Qualitative surveys were done walking through tracks inside the fragment and on the roads at its edge. We recorded 160 species, six of which were endemic to Cerrado domain, 22 migratory, seven threatened within the State of São Paulo, and two globally threatened. We found 28 species in the cerradão, 110 in the cerrado sensu stricto, 13 in the gallery forest, 26 in the reservoir border, 26 in pasturelands and sugar cane monoculture and 55 in an anthropic area. Most of the species had low frequency of occurrence in all vegetation forms. Insectivores were the major trophic category (46.9%), which is typical in tropical regions, and it is also related to resource availability. Omnivores followed with 19.4%, granivores with 8.8% and frugivores with 7.5%. We conclude that, despite its size and conservation status, our study area has a remarkable bird community and must be considered as a priority conservation area to preserve bird species in Sao Paulo State.

Triazines in the tropical lagoon system of Mundaú-Manguaba, NE-Brazil

This study addresses triazines in the tropical and eutrophic Mundau-Manguaba estuarine-lagoon system (MMELS) located in the State of Alagoas, NE-Brazil, affected by sugar-cane monoculture in its lower drainage basin. Water and sediment samples from MMELS were collected during the wet post-harvest season (August/2006) and the dry harvest season (February/2008). Trace analysis of the triazines atrazine, simazine, deethylatrazine, deisopropylatrazine and deethyldeisopropylatrazine were performed in surface sediments, suspended particulate matter and in the dissolved fraction in water. Water samples were filtered and after the analytical procedures, the resulting extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Additionally, the analytical method for suspended particulate matter was evaluated, the recovery being between 72-123 % with relative standard deviations of 4.2-22 % and limits of detection around 0.2-0.3 ng L-1. Sediments fortified at 10, 20 and 50 ng g-1 were extracted with the ASE system and recovery experiments lied between 68-133 % with relative standard deviations of 2-34 %. The limits of detection were of 0.6-1.2 ng g-1. Atrazine was the sole triazine detected and only in suspended particulate matter during the wet season at four sites, with low concentrations of 3.1, 2.7, 1.6 and 0.7 ng L-1. This suggests that triazines are either largely retained and transformed within the sugar-cane fields and/or are readily diluted in the waters and degraded due to the intense metabolism of MMELS.

Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from two Brazilian estuarine systems

This study focuses on the tropical estuarine systems of Mundau-Manguaba (MMELS) and Paraiba do Sul River (PSR), Brazil, affected by sugarcane monoculture practices and also urbanization. The levels of 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 16 of which are classified as priority pollutants by the US-EPA and perylene (a biogenic PAH) were measured in surface sediments to identify pollution sources and determine baseline data looking for future management strategies. The Σ16PAH ranged from 2.90 to 231.30 μg kg-1 in MMELS and from 87.10 to 9344.29 μg kg-1 in the PSR. PAH isomeric ratios suggested mainly pyrogenic input.

Sources, distribution and variability of hydrocarbons in total atmospheric suspended particulates of two Brazilian areas influenced by sugarcane burning

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs), such as n-alkanes, hopanes and steranes, were studied in relation to total atmospheric suspended particulates (TSP). Two representative Brazilian cities affected by sugarcane monoculture practices, with their rural surroundings, were chosen for the study. The cities chosen were Maceio (state of Alagoas, NE-Brazil) and Campos dos Goytacazes (state of Rio de Janeiro, SE-Brazil). Samples were collected during the harvesting period, when sugarcane burning occurs, and during the non-harvesting period. The aliphatic hydrocarbon fingerprints suggest a marked contribution of biogenic inputs and a slight contamination by aliphatics in areas far from the urban regions. In the urban areas, some petroleum contributions were observed, marked by the presence of hopanes (m/z 191) and steranes (m/z 217) in the mass chromatographic profiles. A marked increase in PAH concentrations was detected during the sugarcane burning periods, mainly at Campos dos Goytacazes. In a similar approach, n-alkane concentrations and BaP/nC24 ratios were higher during the sugarcane burning periods. These increases were mainly associated with PAH production by the pyrogenic process in relation to aliphatic hydrocarbons with the same carbon numbers. The PAH isomeric ratios and the mixture of petrogenic and pyrogenic compounds of the TSP suggest atmospheric contamination for all regions as a whole, but the more elevated pyrogenic contribution during the sugarcane burning period implies that the impact of this activity is relevant.

Response of estuarine meiofauna assemblage to effects of fertilizer enrichment used in the sugar cane monoculture. Pernambuco, Brazil

In situ application of inorganic fertilizer was used to simulate environmental eutrophication associated with the sugar cane monoculture. Meiofauna community structure is herein used to assess this experimental impact. Nine quadrangular areas (4m² each) were randomly defined in the midlittoral estuarine area. Three of these areas received a high dose of sugar cane fertilizer (375 g/m² Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium), three areas received a low dose of the fertilizer (187.5 g/m²) and the other three areas represented the control. The fertilizer was applied every week. Environmental parameters and meiofauna were sampled using three-to-four week intervals. Six samplings were subsequently performed maintaining this interval. Meiofauna was counted and identified to major taxonomic groups. Meiofauna community structure varied throughout the experimental areas. Control areas maintained their abundance values during the study period, but within the enriched areas meiofauna abundance decreased greatly. MDS and ANOSIM analysis showed significant variation in the meiofauna community structure among experimental areas and also along the experimental period in the enriched areas.