ABSTRACT Vinasse is a byproduct of the process of distillation of sugarcane juice for the manufacture of sugar and alcohol. Because it is rich in nutrients, mainly potassium (K), is used as fertilizer and applied via fertigation, without concerning for the fate of this compound in the soil. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate the interactions of the potassium ion (K+), applied via vinasse in a soil representative of the sugarcane zone of the State of Pernambuco using adsorption isotherms. The methodology was based on physical, chemical and soil mineralogical characterization, as well as equilibrium batch tests, where the experimental curves were fitted by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The results allowed to infer that the Freundlich model showed better fit of the curve in both forms: linear and non-linear (direct fit); the non-linear model was selected due to the values of coefficient of determination (R²). The interaction between potassium and soil occurred mainly with organic matter and the presence of soil kaolinite, because they showed negative ions on the external surface, thereby promoting potassium adsorption. Soil potassium adsorption capacity was higher for the first layer (0-20 cm) and decreased along the depth profile.

A distribuição probabilística do fator de escala da camada superficial, considerando-se a teoria dos meios fractais auto-similares, foi determinada para dois solos do Estado da Paraíba. O estudo foi realizado em duas áreas experimentais, com distintas condições de clima e solo, de aproximadamente 4 ha. A primeira na Fazenda Várzea Grande, no município de São João do Cariri, PB (7º23'S e 36º31'O) com o solo classificado como Neossolo Flúvico enquanto a segunda, se localiza no Centro de Ciências Agrárias, da UFPB, no município de Areia, PB (6º58'S, 35º41'O), com o solo classificado como Latossolo Amarelo. Para estimar a condutividade hidráulica à saturação do solo, realizaram-se ensaios de infiltração com infiltrômetro de anel (15 cm de diâmetro) na superfície do solo, em 80 pontos distribuídos regularmente em uma malha de 25 x 25 m. Para ambos os solos, o logaritmo dos fatores de escala que intervém nos fractais auto-similares segue uma distribuição de Gauss ou distribuição normal. A função de distribuição probabilística permitiu estimar a dimensão fractal do meio poroso, que representa os solos estudados.

The probabilistic distribution of the scale factor of superficial layer was determined, considering the similar fractal theory for two soils in the Paraíba State. The study was performed at two experimental sites, with different climate and soil conditions of approximately 4 ha. The first was located in the Várzea Grande farm, in the municipality of São João do Cariri, PB (7º23'S e 36º31'O). The soil was classified as Fluvent. The second was located in the Centro de Ciências Agrárias, of the UFPB, in the municipality of Areia, PB (6º58'S, 35º41'W). The soil was classified as Oxisol. To estimate the soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration experiments were performed using a ring infiltrometer (15 cm diameter) on the soil surface, at 80 points on a regular mesh of 25 x 25 m. For both soils, the logarithms of the scale factors followed a Gaussian distribution or normal distribution. The probabilistic distribution function allowed the estimation of the fractal dimension of the porous media that represent the studied soils.