Simulation of water flow and ion transport from vinasse in a transect of the Rio Claro formation

Published
2015-08-10
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14295/ras.v29i2.28239
Keywords: Contaminant transport. Vinasse. Fertigation. Numerical model. HYDRUS 2/3D. Transporte de contaminantes. Vinhaça. Fertirrigação. Modelo numérico. HYDRUS 2/3D.

    Authors

  • Miguel Angel Alfaro Soto Unesp
  • Juliana Broggio Basso Unesp
  • Chang Hung Kiang Unesp
  • Martinus Th. van Genuchten

Abstract

Vinasse is increasingly used in agricultural operations as a possible source of nutrients and organic matter. This paper presents results of simulations of groundwater flow and ion transport from the hypothetical infiltration of vinasse from fertigation of sugar cane.  The study was applied to a two-dimensional vertical transect in Ajapí (Rio Claro – SP). The main objective was to assess potential contamination of groundwater by vinasse constituents, and their transport to a stream close to sources of infiltration. Numerical simulations were carried out with the HYDRUS 2D/3D software package using representative data of the physical soil and hydrogeological properties of the area. Calculations assumed a steady-state flow regime in a layered but isotropic porous medium representing the Rio Claro formation of sediments. Results show that for the hypothetical scenarios considered, ions derived from vinasse may have a high potential of contaminating both groundwater and nearby streams. This serves as a warning about the vulnerability of areas with similar scenarios involving the extensive use of vinasse through fertigation.

How to Cite
Alfaro Soto, M. A., Basso, J. B., Kiang, C. H., & van Genuchten, M. T. (2015). Simulation of water flow and ion transport from vinasse in a transect of the Rio Claro formation. Águas Subterrâneas, 29(2), 162–174. https://doi.org/10.14295/ras.v29i2.28239