COPPER AND ZINC FORMS AND ACCUMULATION IN SOIL AFTER SUCCESSIVE PIG SLURRY APPLICATIONS

Successive applications of pig slurry in the soil can increase the levels and change the forms of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). The objective of this study was to evaluate Cu and Zn accumulation and forms in the soil of areas with successive pig slurry applications under no tillage crop rotation. The experiment was carried out in a Typic Hapludalf in the experimental area of the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria (RS), Brazil. Pig slurry was applied at rates of 0, 20, 40 and 80 m(3) ha(-1). A total of 17 applications were applied to the soil surface between May 2000 and October 2006. The soil samples were collected in the layers 0-2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, 12-14, 14-16, 16-18, 18-20, 20-25,25-30, 30-35, 35-40, 40-50, and 50-60 cm. The soil was dried, ground, sieved (2 mm) and the pseudo-total levels, available (HCl 0.1 mol L-1) and chemical fractions of Cu and Zn were determined. The pseudo-total contents of copper and zinc in the slurry were analyzed. Successive applications of pig slurry increased the pseudo-total content of copper and zinc in soil (surface layers), with migration to 12 and 10 cm depths, respectively. The Cu and Zn applied were accumulated in the soil in bioavailable forms, and preferentially associated with the organic and mineral fraction, respectively.