Stream water quality is controlled by the interaction of natural and anthropogenic factors over a range of temporal and spatial scales. Among these anthropogenic factors, land cover changes at catchment scale can affect stream water quality. This work aims to evaluate the influence of land use and seasonality on stream water quality in a representative tropical headwater catchment named as Córrego Água Limpa (Sao Paulo, Brasil), which is highly influenced by intensive agricultural activities and urban areas. Two systematic sampling approach campaigns were implemented with six sampling points along the stream of the headwater catchment to evaluate water quality during the rainy and dry seasons. Three replicates were collected at each sampling point in 2011. Electrical conductivity, nitrates, nitrites, sodium superoxide, Chemical Oxygen Demand (DQO), colour, turbidity, suspended solids, soluble solids and total solids were measured. Water quality parameters differed among sampling points, being lower at the headwater sampling point (0m above sea level), and then progressively higher until the last downstream sampling point (2500m above sea level). For the dry season, the mean discharge was 39.5ls⁻¹ (from April to September) whereas 113.0ls⁻¹ were averaged during the rainy season (from October to March). In addition, significant temporal and spatial differences were observed (P<0.05) for the fourteen parameters during the rainy and dry period. The study enhance significant relationships among land use and water quality and its temporal effect, showing seasonal differences between the land use and water quality connection, highlighting the importance of multiple spatial and temporal scales for understanding the impacts of human activities on catchment ecosystem services.

A necessidade de uso de águas salinas na agricultura é crescente, devido à pressão sobre águas de boa qualidade, principalmente para consumo humano. Com este objetivo, foram estudados os efeitos de quatro níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação (CEa: 0,1; 5,0; 10,0 e 15,0dS m-1), obtidos mediante adição de NaCl sobre o desenvolvimento do coqueiro (Cocos nucifera L.) cv. "Anão Verde", com 3,5 anos de idade. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos casualizados, em solo arenoso, irrigado por microaspersão, no município de Parnamirim-RN, no período de janeiro de 2000 a março de 2001. A salinidade da água aumentou os intervalos de emissão foliar e de inflorescência e o número de flores femininas, bem como os teores de Na e de Cl na folha número 14, acompanhado de relações antagônicas entre Na-Ca, Na-K e Cl-N e sinergismo entre Na-Mg, mas sem manifestar sintomas visuais de efeitos tóxicos. Os teores ótimos de Na e Cl na folha 14 foram, respectivamente, 0,207 e 0,580%.<br>The necessity to use saline waters in agriculture has increased due to pressure on good quality water, principally, for human consumption. With this objective, the effects of four levels of electrical conductivity (0.1, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0dS m-1) of irrigation water obtained by addition of NaCl were studied on the development of 3.5 years old coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) cv. 'Anão Verde'. The experiment was conducted in a sandy soil adopting a completely randomized block design and micro sprinkler irrigation system in the municipality of Parnamirim - RN, Brazil, during the period of January, 2000 to March, 2001. The salinity of water increased the interval of leaf emission and inflorescences and the number of female flowers per inflorescence as well as the contents of Na and Cl in leaf 14, accompanied by antagonism between Na-Ca, Na-K and Cl-N, and synergism between Na-Mg but without any visual symptoms of toxic effects. The optimum levels of Na and Cl in 14th leaf were found to be 0.207 and 0.580%.

As 70% of potable water on the planet is used in agriculture, alternatives are needed to reduce itsconsumption and optimize the use of water for cultivation. Hydrogels are hydro polymers capable of absorbinglarge quantities of water and have been used as an alternative to improve water storage in areas of shortage.This study aimed to assess the use of different doses of hydrogels for water storage in soil, emphasizing theadvantages and disadvantages of each dose. The doses of the hydrogel used were (4, 8 and 12 g per pot) to analysethe efficiency of the product compared to the control, depending on the availability of moisture and increase inelectrical conductivity. These variables were determined with the use of time-domain reflectometer (TDR) probe.The dose of 4 g per pot was more viable, compared to the manufacturer’s recommendation (8 g per hole, underfield conditions), because it presented similar moisture content, lower electrical conductivity and lower cost.The higher dose (12 g per pot) caused swelling of the soil resulting in loss of product and soil and possible rootstrangulation. | Frente ao uso de 70% de água potável do planeta que a agricultura consome, alternativas são necessáriaspara reduzir o consumo e otimizar o uso da água durante o cultivo. Os hidrogeis são polímeros hidrorretentorescapazes de absorver grande quantidade de água e estão sendo utilizados como alternativa viável para melhoraro armazenamento de água em áreas de escassez. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a utilização dediferentes dosagens de hidrogel no armazenamento de água no solo destacando-se as vantagens e desvantagensde cada dosagem. Utilizaram-se três diferentes dosagens do hidrogel (4, 8 e 12 g por vaso com 8 kg de solo)permitindo analisar a eficiência do produto comparado à testemunha em função da disponibilidade de águae do aumento da condutividade elétrica do solo. Essas variáveis foram determinadas com o uso de sondas dereflectometria no domínio do tempo (TDR). A dosagem de 4 g por vaso mostrou-se viável pois comparada àrecomendação do fabricante (8 g por cova, em condições de campo), apresentou teor de água semelhante, menorcondutividade elétrica do solo e menor custo de implantação. A maior dosagem (12 g por vaso) causou inchaço dosolo acarretando em perda do produto, solo e possível estrangulamento radicular.

Se exponen algunos criterios sobre la calidad del agua para riego en lo que respecta a salinidad, sodicidad y toxicidad. Se señalan los parámetros a determinar cuando se evalúa la calidad de agua que incluyen Ph, contenido total de sales disueltas. Contenido de K, Cl, Na, B, índice de Mg, relación de adsorción de Na, Carbonato de Sodio residual y dureza. Se indican las normas de calidad de aguas de riego y su clasificació

Foram estudados, neste trabalho, os efeitos de quatro níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação (0,1, 5,0, 10,0 e 15,0 dS m-1) obtidos mediante adição de NaCl, na qualidade de frutos de coco (Cocos nucifera L.) cultivar Anão Verde do Jiqui, com 3,5 anos de idade e na salinização do solo. O ensaio foi conduzido em blocos inteiramente ao acaso, em solo de textura arenosa não salino, utilizando-se de sistema de irrigação por microaspersão, no município de Parnamirim, RN, durante o período de janeiro/2000 a março/2001. A qualidade do fruto foi avaliada com base no peso médio, volume de água, ºbrix, e composição iônica da água. A salinidade da água de irrigação reduziu o peso médio e o volume de água dos frutos, elevando o teor de açucares (ºbrix) a concentração iônica expressa pela condutividade elétrica (CE) da água do fruto. Os íons em maior concentração na água de coco foram o cloreto e o potássio. A CE do extrato de saturação do solo, 11 meses após iniciada a irrigação, aumentou até à profundidade de 0,80 m, em função da concentração salina da água de irrigação, atingindo valores superiores a 4 dS m-1 principalmente nos últimos dois níveis de CE (10 e 15 dS m-1).<br>The effects of 4 levels of water salinity (0.1, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 dS m-1) obtained by addition of NaCl were studied on quality of 3.5 years old dwarf green coconut (Cocos nucífera L.). The experiment was carried out in a completly randomized block design in an initially non-saline sandy soil, using a micro sprinkler irrigation system in the municipality of Parnamirim-RN, Brazil, during the period of January 2000 to March 2001. The quality of fruit was evaluated by means of fruit weight, volume of water, ºbrix, and ionic composition of coconut water. The salinity of irrigation water reduced the mean weight and volume of fruit water but increased the ionic concentration expressed as electrical conductivity (EC) of coconut water and sugar content (ºbrix). The chloride and potassium ions were found to be present in higher proportions. After 11 months of irrigation with saline waters, the EC of saturation extract of soil, up to 0.80 m depth, increased in accordance with the salinity of irrigation water reaching values higher than 4 dS m-1 in treatments with EC of 10 and 15 dS m-1.

Se exponen algunos criterios sobre la calidad del agua para riego en lo que respecta a salinidad, sodicidad y toxicidad. Se senalan los parametros a determinar cuando se evalua la calidad de agua que incluyen Ph, contenido total de sales disueltas. Contenido de K, Cl, Na, B, indice de Mg, relacion de adsorcion de Na, Carbonato de Sodio residual y dureza. Se indican las normas de calidad de aguas de riego y su clasificacio.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inorganic parameters in the water of the Texcoco river. Sampling took place at 10 sites along the watershed (between 2500 and 2240 m above sea level) during the four seasons of the year for three years, with repetitions. The diagnostic parameters and methods used were, for potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium, the internal method MI-AM-011 (atomic absorption); phosphates with MI-FQUAR-012, chlorides NMX-AA-073-1981, electrical conductivity and nitrogen of nitrates NOM-AA-93-1984 and NOM-AA-79-1986, pH NMX-AA-08-1980. The three-year average concentrations of calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, nitrates, and electrical conductivity were low. However, the concentrations of sodium and electrical conductivity were close to medium quality. The concentrations of sodium during Years 2 and 3 were classified as medium. The concentration of phosphates was high. Electrical conductivity during Years 1 and 3 were classified as medium. The concentrations of sodium and electrical conductivity in Seasons 1 and 4 grade a medium quality. The concentration of phosphates during the four seasons and three years were classified as high. Variability of cations and anions at different times of the year was an almost generalized behavior and statistically significant.