Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #249799
Title: Evaluation of Adjustment Environmental Contract to Pig Production in Pinhal River Sub-Basin

Author
item JULIO, PALHARES - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry
item ANTONIO, GUIDONI - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry
item JALUSA, KICH - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry
item RICARDO, STEINMETZ - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry
item DAGDA, MULINARI - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry
item JAQUELINE, KLEIN - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry
item LUCIANE, COLDEBELLA - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry
item GUSTAVO, PLIESKE - Embrapa-Pigs And Poultry
item Sigua, Gilbert

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2010
Publication Date: 5/4/2010
Citation: Palhares, J.C., Antonio, G.L., Jalusa, K.D., Ricardo, S.L., Magda, M.R., Jacqueline, K.B., Luciane, C., Gustavo, P., Sigua, G.C. 2010. Evaluation of adjustment environmental contract to pig production in Pinhal River Sub-basin. 21st Century Watershed Technology: Improving Water Quality and Environment Conference Proceedings,February 21-24, 2010, Universidad EARTH, Costa Rica.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In 2001, staff and scientists of Embrapa Swine and Poultry Research Center carried out a diagnosis in Alto Uruguai Basin on the number of pig producers with environmental permit. At that time, 95% of farms did not have permission and only 5% of these farms had the proper permission to operate. Because of this situation, a volunteer Adjustment Environmental Contract (AEC) for pig production was established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of AEC in improving the water quality in a sub-basin with pig farmers that signed the adjustment. The evaluation occurred in Pinhal River sub-basin that is located in Concordia, west part of Santa Catarina State. The monitoring of water parameters occurred in eight sites of the river during three years (2006-2009). To assess whether the AEC was efficient, Brazilian Water Act was used. The average annual concentration of TSS in 2007 was 130.2 mg/L, 137.0 mg/L in 2008, and 99.8 mg/L in 2009. Turbidity showed the same trend as TSS: Year 1, 36.6 NTU; Year 2, 44.4 NTU; and Year 3, 14.9 NTU. Concentrations of nitrate and TP decreased from 2006 to 2009: nitrate from 1.8 to 1.5 mg/L NO3-N; TP from 0.3 to 0.1mg/L, respectively. The same trends occurred for fecal coliforms and E. coli. Pinhal River has water quality problems related to total phosphorus concentration and presence of coliforms and salmonella. These results can help the government, farmers and society to establish environmentally sound and sustainable programs for pig production.