Tomografia computadorizada de raios-x de solos coesos dos tabuleiros costeiros do estado de Alagoas

Abstract

X-ray CT is a non-destructive, non-invasive technique used to investigate the attributes of the ‘inside’ of objects of interest, and is based on the principle of the attenuation of an electromagnetic wave beam that is focused on the object that can be used to generate a model in three dimensions (3D) object; giving subsidies for analysis of the concentration and spatial distribution of the components of objects. From the 80’s, the technique began to be used in soil science to measure soil density (ρs), the spatial distribution of the water content and movement in the soil. Intended for the study of soils, especially those with cohesive or compressed layer, several techniques and tools have been used and in this context it is proposed to TCX as a new tool. Between the soil classes present in the area of the Coastal Tablelands predominate Yellow Latosols (Oxisols) and Yellow Argisol (Ultisol). These soils have moderate limitations agricultural and low natural fertility. They may showed hardened horizons supposed "cohesive", which reduce the effective soil depth and, consequently, the development of root system. To characterize soils with cohesive and non-cohesive horizons through TCX were collected three soil profiles with significant expression of this character. A profile under cultivation of cane sugar, a Gray Argisol (P1) and, two profiles under forest condition: one soil Yellow Latosols (P2) and other Yellow Argisol (P3). Soil samples were collected in the coastal and forest zone on State of Alagoas. Also, it was sampled and described a Yellow Latosols (P4) profile, where unquestionable there is no manifestation of the cohesive character; situated in “Chapada do Araripe”, the semi-arid region of Pernambuco State. This profile was used as control for comparison of various chemical, physical, mineralogical and micromorphological analysis. These tests served as a parameter for discussion of results about X-rays attenuation and its variability, X-rays attenuation of the soil matrix, furthermore resolvable porosity by X-ray CT imagery. This work concluded that the X-ray CT is an excellent complementary tool for studying cohesive soils, nevertheless this tool itself does not replace the use of other techniques for separation into cohesive and non-cohesive horizons.