A fauna edáfica é sensível e responde, com relativa rapidez, ao impacto de diferentes tipos de sistemas de produção, possibilitando, deste modo, o seu uso como componente ativo na avaliação da qualidade do solo. O presente trabalho objetivou determinar a influência do cultivo de aveia preta, nabo e ervilhaca e dos consórcios nabo/aveia preta e ervilhaca/nabo/aveia preta, na estrutura e composição da fauna edáfica. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 6x4, sendo seis culturas de cobertura do solo (aveia preta, nabo, ervilhaca, consórcio nabo/aveia preta, consórcio ervilhaca/nabo/aveia preta e pousio) e quatro épocas de coleta (0, 50, 100 e 150 dias após a semeadura), com quatro repetições. Após a coleta da fauna do solo, foram determinados a abundância de indivíduos, número de colêmbolos, riqueza de Margalef, índice de diversidade de Shannon, equabilidade de Pielou e dominância de Simpson. A utilização dos consórcios nabo/aveia preta e ervilhaca/nabo/aveia preta favoreceu a abundância de indivíduos e o número de colêmbolos, já nos primeiros 50 dias. O consórcio ervilhaca/nabo/aveia preta reduziu a diversidade de Shannon, por aumentar a população de colêmbolos. A maior diversidade de espécies foi observada aos 100 dias, após a implantação das culturas. A fauna edáfica foi influenciada pela fase vegetativa e pelo tipo de cultura de cobertura do solo.

The development of the primary sector by expansion of cultivation areas and the raise of productive indexes promotes a larger use of agrotoxics, causing problems related to the inefficiency of applications, which becomes an issue to be studied, especially regarding the quality of sprayers and the precision of spraying. The goal of the present paper is to determine the condition and conservation of agricultural sprayers used in the West border and the Central region of Rio Grande do Sul state (RS), in southern Brazil, as well as identifying the most recurring problems, and assessing the applicability of ISO 16122 in the country’s reality. The execution of this work originated the Projeto de Inspeção de Pulverizadores Agrícolas (PIPA) [Agricultural Sprayer Inspection Project], which was undertaken in two regions of RS, inspecting 56 sprayers. The inspections were carried out by using the technical kit for agricultural sprayer inspection, according to requirements in the methodology described in ISO 16122 (2015). After evaluations were conducted, the data collected were submitted to exploratory analysis by descriptive statistics with the use of percentage frequency. Based on the results obtained, it was possible to conclude that there is need for agricultural sprayer inspection to become mandatory in Brazil. Considering the most frequent application problems, it was possible to verify that, in 64.29% of the evaluations, the precision of the manometer was considered as seriously flawed; in 73.21%, the transverse distribution of the spray wand was also seriously flawed, which is related principally to errors in the space among spray nozzles, and to their wear, affecting 76.79% of the cases in terms of application volume. Besides these, it was also observed that, in 69.64% of the inspected sprayers, the PTO rotation was below recommendation. In relation to the applicability of ISO 16122, it was concluded that there is need for it to be updated, developing specific methodologies for the inspection of self-propelled sprayers. In this sense, in case it be transcribed as ABNT NBR ISO 16122, the latter must specify new parameters so it be unanimously and appropriately used in accordance to Brazilian reality.

The high production of liquid pig slurry makes the soil, the main alternative to its use as an organic fertilizer. However, the addition of organic residues in soil management systems is a factor that may infl uence the soil biota. The aim of

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Considering the need to reduce environmental contamination and uplift the effectiveness and quality of pesticide application, this work had the goal to determine the conditions of use and conservation of agricultural sprayers used in the Central and Western border of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and to identify the most frequent problems in agricultural sprayers. Fifty-six sprayers connected to a three-point hydraulic system and the tractor drawbar were inspected, evaluating the safety and operation items using the methodology described in the Standard ISO 16122. After the evaluations, the collected data were submitted to an exploratory analysis by using descriptive statistics with the use of percentage frequency. Based on the obtained results, it is possible to observe that the most serious problems are mainly related to the safety of the operator and the environment, since 41.07% of the sprayers did not have the protection of the cardan transmission and 33.93% did not have the protection of straps and pulleys. In addition, static leaks were present in 46.43% of the samples and 87.50% presented dynamic leaks. In 71.43% of the cases, there was no presence of a clean water reservoir to wash the rigid packagings. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the state of use and conservation of the inspected sprayers is serious, justifying the need for inspections on agricultural sprayers to become mandatory in Brazil, also requiring government policies for the renewal of these equipments, as well as, the homologation of research centers to conduct tests on agricultural machinery and implements before their commercialization. In addition is also necessary to invest in training of operators by conducting technical courses about the importance of equipment knowledge, available technologies and necessary maintenance, as the level of knowledge is low about the basics of operational safety, maintenance and use of the sprayers which contributes to the high percentages of nonconformity with ISO 16122.