This book aims to present research carried out by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and its partners regarding United Nations? Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14), whose title is Life below water. This goal is part of a set of 17 goals agreed upon in 2015 by the UN member states, as part of a plan of action to eradicate poverty, protect the planet and ensure that people achieve peace and prosperity: the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. | Translated by Paulo de Holanda Morais.

Abstract: The Programa Água Doce-PAD(in English: Fresh Water Program) promoted by the Brazilian Federal Government under the coordinationof the Environmental Ministry, seeks to promote sustainable use of groundwater resources and provide potable water for human consumption in areas withcriticalwater scarcity in the Brazilian Semiarid region, through the use of the Reverse Osmosis Technique. The Program is guided by the following principles: community empowerment, environmental sustainability and technicalcapacity building. The methodology that led the Program to becomea success case was conceived in 2003, through a participatory process with the contribution of public Brazilian institutions such as: Federal University of Campina Grande-UFCG (Social Engagement Procedure); Brazilian Geologic Service-CPRM (Ground Water information), Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation ?EMBRAPA (Methodology for the reuse of desalinated water concentrate), besides 10 Brazilian State ?s Governments and the civil society. The Program was launched in 2004.Ithas, presently,more than 460 installed Desalination Plants, which, together,can producea total of approximately 1.5 million liters (around 400,000 gallons) of potable water per day (considering a 8h/per dayproduction).It has,so far,benefited about 184,000 people in over 460 rural communities spread throughout the Brazilian semiarid region, ensuring safe water access to its residents. The program has already trained more than 1,000 people, including state technicians and operators of desalination systems. The Program contributes to improving the health and life quality of people in the semiarid regionas it takesinto account the naturaland socialpotential of each communitie, ensuring ways to address the vulnerabilities to which they are subjected becauseof climate variability. Social engagement is a mandatory aspect for the Program?s success. Local communities are stimulated to gain their independence by having, through the PAD methodology, their empowerment encouraged and demanded.The ultimate goal of the first large scaleplan is to take Desalination Systems to at least 1,300 communities throughout the Brazilian Semiaridregion. The Environmental Ministry is seeking to improve the systems with solar energy and automatized machinery,looking forward to improve local communities? independence.

In this book, Embrapa exposes its interfaces and synergies with SDG 6 (ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all) and its respective targets, showing the alignment of this SDG with 3 of its 5 impact axes and with 4 of the 12 strategic objectives, expressed in its VI Plano Diretor (VI Master Plan). | Translated by Paulo de Holanda Morais.

A água é material vital para a agricultura. Assim, a análise desse recurso natural tem sido conduzida em diversos laboratórios da Embrapa, visando conhecer suas características químicas antes de utilizá-Ia para os mais variados fins.

o objetivo de amostragem é coletar volume de água pequeno o bastante para ser transportado convenientemente e manuseado no laboratório e que represente, o mais acuradamente possível, o material coletado.

DMulching contributes to the maintenance of soil moisture at reasonable levels for crop growth. It influences the crop water demand and irrigation time. The aim of this study was to estimate evapotranspiration and root water uptake by the ?BRS Princesa? banana cultivar through a simple approach using some components of soil water balance within the root zone in bare and mulched soil irrigated by drip and micro sprinkler systems. The experimental design was completely randomized in split plots with six replicates. The plots consisted of two irrigation systems (drip and micro sprinkler), the subplots consisted of two soil surface conditions: with and without mulch. The alternative approach for soil water percolation in the soil water balance allowed obtaining ETc under field condition with reasonable accuracy. ETc estimated from the root zone water balance is lower than ETc from FAO Penman-Monteith equation. Root water extraction in the mulched soil under drip irrigation is higher than that under micro sprinkler irrigation.

Elaborada para Curso Sobre Conservação e Manejo de Solos da Amazônia, 1983. Publicação não convencional. Mimeografado