ABSTRACT The study aimed to optimize the processing conditions for hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM) with the addition of coagulated blood. Factorial design and response surface methodology were used to optimize processing conditions in function of protein content (%) and digestibility value (%) of HFM. Higher protein contents were obtained when the upper levels of the variables pressure (kgf.cm−2), hydrolysis time (min), and blood addition (%) were used in the process. Longer hydrolysis time and a higher percentage of blood result in higher digestibility values. Mathematics models can be used to estimate the protein content and digestibility value of HFM with coagulated blood. Hydrolyzed feather meal with higher protein content and digestibility value can be produced by adding coagulated blood and appropriate processing parameters. (HFM % (% kgf.cm−2, kgfcm2 kgfcm kgf.cm−2 , kgf cm 2 (kgf.cm−2) min, min (min) process values parameters ( kgf.cm− (kgf.cm−2 (min kgf.cm (kgf.cm− (kgf.cm

ABSTRACT Seasonal changes in agricultural soil use due to agroclimatic conditions affect the water cycle in watersheds. This study aimed to understand the temporal variation of runoff inherent to the seasonal occupation dynamics of the agricultural soil in the basin that drains the upper valley of the Marrecas River, upstream of the urban perimeter of Francisco Beltrão, PR. The effects of runoff were verified through flow peaks simulated by the HEC-HMS model in twelve monthly soil use scenarios, under seven precipitation return periods. The results indicated a strong relationship between bare soil and flow peaks, temporally delimiting April and March as the largest runoff generators and January and August as the smallest ones. The ratio quantified by rates of increase in flow peaks ranging from 0.78 to 1.64 m3 s−1 per km2 of bare soil. In addition, the survey of historical precipitation data also warns of the generation of large runoff volumes in October. Therefore, the strong correlation between the increase in flow peaks and occupation by bare soil can be quantified with good precision, but it is also necessary to consider historical precipitation records to understand the temporal distribution of runoff and flood risks.

ABSTRACT Changes in the Brazilian Forest Code (BFC) have soften the criteria for recovery and conservation of permanent preservation areas (PPAs), enhancing processes related to surface runoff. The aim of this study is to understand the effects of changes in PPA classification criteria established by BFC of 2012 to the detriment of BFC from 1965 considering the surface runoff response in the basin draining the upper Marrecas River valley in the flow peaks. The HEC–HMS model was used to simulate flow peaks considering three land-use scenarios, representative of the current use, adapting it to PPAs fitted to the BFC of 1965 and 2012 and seven precipitation return periods. In the proposed scenarios, the use of BFC of 2012, to the detriment of that from 1965, would imply a PPA reduction from 44.5% to 13.7%, resulting in a 22.1% increase in the average flow peaks, not representing, however, a significant reduction in the flow peaks when compared to the scenario representing the current land use. Therefore, when compared to BFC of 1965, in the Brazilian new Forest Code PPAs were reduced by 69.2%, increasing peak flows by up to 30.7%, thus minimizing the legal possibilities of flood mitigation to the urban perimeter of Francisco Beltrão, Paraná State, Brazil.