Impact of sugarcane and peanut on nitrogen losses in the Mogi-guaçu river sub-basin Paulo Alexandre da Silva, Bruna Cristina de Lima Candido, Teresa Cristina Tarlé Pissarra, Alan Rodrigo Panosso, Glauco de Souza Rolim

Abstract

Sertãozinho-SP is a major producer of sugarcane and peanuts in the world. In the region, the technique of crop rotation is used, which aims to recover soils and commercially improve producers. The objective of this study was to quantify nitrogen losses, under the influence of the landscape, its use and occupation in two production systems: peanuts and sugarcane, through the simulation of the SWAT model. The topographic attributes, physical and climatic conditions of the Mogi-Guaçu River sub-basin, located in the municipality of Sertãozinho – SP, were maintained for both cultures. The highest losses of nitrogen (N) were observed in the peanut crop, in relation to sugarcane (118.44 and 34.48 kg/ha, respectively). For organic nitrogen, nitrate runoff, nitrate leached, nitrate lateral flow and groundwater nitrate, values of 0.4 and 29.9 were recorded; 0.46 and 0.34; 32.74 and 85.99; 0.19 and 0.37; 0.69 and 1.84 kg/ha, respectively. The smaller amount of plant cover produced by peanuts influenced the loss of nitrogen in the soil. The results showed that simulation can be used as an agricultural management tool and for political and environmental measures, aiming at soil and water conservation.