Soil, water and nutrient losses by interrill erosion from green cane cultivation

Interrill erosion occurs by the particle breakdown caused by raindrop impact, by particle transport in surface runoff, by dragging and suspension of particles disaggregated from the soil surface, thus removing organic matter and nutrients that are essential for agricultural production. Crop residues on the soil surface modify the characteristics of the runoff generated by rainfall and the consequent particle breakdown and sediment transport resulting from erosion. The objective of this study was to determine the minimum amount of mulch that must be maintained on the soil surface of a sugarcane plantation to reduce the soil, water and nutrient losses by decreasing interrill erosion. The study was conducted in Pradópolis, São Paulo State, in 0.5 x 1.0 m plots of an Oxisol, testing five treatments in four replications. The application rates were based on the crop residue production of the area of 1.4 kg m-2 (T1- no cane trash; T2-25 % of the cane trash; T3- 50 % trash; T4-75 % trash; T5-100 % sugarcane residues on the surface), and simulated rainfall was applied at an intensity of 65 mm h-1 for 60 min. Runoff samples were collected in plastic containers and soon after taken to the laboratory to quantify the losses of soil, water and nutrients. To minimize soil loss by interrill erosion, 75 % of the cane mulch must be maintained on the soil, to control water loss 50 % must be maintained and 25 % trash controls organic matter and nutrient losses. This information can contribute to optimize the use of this resource for soil conservation on the one hand and the production of clean energy in sugar and alcohol industries on the other.

Soil, water and nutrient losses by interrill erosion from green cane cultivation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Runoff and sediment transport in a degraded area

Gully erosion occurs by the combined action of splash, sheetwash and rill-wash (interrill and rill erosion). These erosion processes have a great capacity for both sediment production and sediment transport. The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate hydrological and sediment transport in a degraded area, severely dissected by gullies; to assess the hydraulic flow characteristics and their aggregate transport capacity; and to measure the initial splash erosion rate. In the study area in Guarapuava, State of Paraná, Brazil (lat 25º 24' S; long 51º24' W; 1034 m asl), the soil was classified as Cambissolo Húmico alumínico, with the following particle-size composition: sand 0.116 kg kg-1; silt 0.180 kg kg-1; and clay 0.704 kg kg-1. The approach of this research was based on microcatchments formed in the ground, to study the hydrological response and sediment transport. A total of eight rill systems were simulated with dry and wet soil. An average rainfall of 33.7 ± 4.0 mm was produced for 35 to 54 min by a rainfall simulator. The equipment was installed, and a trough was placed at the end of the rill to collect sediments and water. During the simulation, the following variables were measured: time to runoff, time to ponding, time of recession, flow velocity, depth, ratio of the initial splash and grain size. The rainsplash of dry topsoil was more than twice as high as under moist conditions (5 g m-2 min-1 and 2 g m-2 min-1, respectively). The characteristics of the flow hydraulics indicate transition from laminar to turbulent flow [Re (Reynolds number) 1000-2000]. In addition, it was observed that a flow velocity of 0.12 m s-1 was the threshold for turbulent flow (Re > 2000), especially at the end of the rainfall simulation. The rill flow tended to be subcritical [Fr (Froude Number) < 1.0]. The variation in hydrological attributes (infiltration and runoff) was lower, while the sediment yield was variable. The erosion in the rill systems was characterized as limited transport, although the degraded area generated an average of 394 g m-2 of sediment in each simulation.

Estimativa da erodibilidade do solo para fins conservacionistas na microbacia córrego do Tijuco, SP

The soil erodibility factor is represented by the integrated effect of processes that regulate the water infiltration, soil resistance and the transport of soil particles. Therefore, this study had as objective to estimate the soil erodibility in the Corrego do Tijuco watershed, São Paulo State, Brazil, for guiding farmers in decision making for application of techniques for soil conservation. The soil samples were collected in a regular spacing of 500 m, resulting in a total of 310 points in a 0-20.0 m depth in an area of approximately 8,000 ha. For the estimation of soil erodibility (K) was applied a mathematical model which takes into account the soil organic matter content, the sand and silt size fractions, the soil permeability, and the particle mean diameter for each point of soil sampling. Estimated values greater than 0.040 Mg ha h ha(-1) MJ(-1) mm(-1) were considered very high for this factor. In areas with greater degree of erodibility occurs the Argisols order predominance, that shows high susceptibility to the development of interrill erosion due to its remarkable performance in relation to textural gradient, thereby, the interrill erosion rates can be very intensive due to rapid saturation of upper horizon, increasing the erosion process. At the Latosols (Oxisols) areas were also observed high soil erodibility values that under inappropriate conditions of soil occupation, concentrating runoff of rain water, leading to appear deep gullies.

Perdas de solo, matéria orgânica e nutrientes por erosão hídrica em uma vertente coberta com diferentes quantidades de palha de cana-de-açúcar em Guariba - SP

A erosão em entressulcos resulta da desagregação causada pelo impacto das gotas de chuva na superfície do solo e pelo transporte superficial das partículas do solo desagregadas, onde se encontram a matéria orgânica e os nutrientes fundamentais para a produção agrícola. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as perdas de solo, matéria orgânica e nutrientes em uma vertente localizada em uma área de Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico, cultivada com cana-de-açúcar, que é colhida mecanicamente. As parcelas experimentais foram submetidas à ação de uma chuva simulada com intensidade de 60 mm h-1, durante 65 minutos. Foram feitas análises do sedimento erodido para a determinação do volume de solução, das perdas de solo, matéria orgânica e nutrientes. Houve maiores perdas de solo, matéria orgânica e nutrientes nos sedimentos oriundos das parcelas com 0% e 25% de cobertura por palha de cana-de-açúcar. em média, essas perdas foram reduzidas nas parcelas com 75% e 100% de cobertura com palha de cana-de-açúcar. Os resultados permitiram concluir que uma cobertura com palha de cana-de-açúcar acima de 50%, da área colhida, reduz a perda de solo e de matéria orgânica, bem como diminui a concentração de nutrientes no sedimento erodido.

Perdas de nutrientes por erosão e sua distribuição espacial em área sob cana-de-açúcar

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal determinar as perdas de nutrientes por erosão em entressulcos, sulcos e global (entressulcos + sulcos, A), em área cultivada com cana-de-açúcar submetida à queima da palhada na sua pré-colheita, na Fazenda Santa Bárbara, localizada em Guariba - SP, sob um Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico (LVef). Parcelas experimentais foram submetidas à chuva simulada com intensidade de 80 mm h-1, durante 65 minutos. Análises do sedimento erodido indicaram altas taxas de enriquecimento: 1,62 (matéria orgânica, MO); 4,30 (P); 1,17 (K); 1,33 (Ca) e 1,24 (Mg) vezes em relação ao solo original. As perdas de solo e nutrientes, em função do tipo de erosão, obedeceram à seguinte ordem: sulcos > global > entressulcos. Análises geoestatísticas indicaram que as perdas de solo (A), MO, P, K e Ca por erosão apresentaram forte grau de dependência espacial, enquanto as perdas de Mg tiveram moderado grau de dependência espacial. Mapas da distribuição dos padrões de variabilidade espacial das perdas por erosão indicaram que o cultivo de cana-de-açúcar conserva as propriedades químicas e físicas do solo na maior parte da área.

Modelos para estimativa do subfator cobertura-manejo (CiII) relativo à erosão entressulcos

A análise de um modelo de erosão é um crítico passo no desenvolvimento de uma ferramenta de predição da erosão aplicável e válida; isso é crucial para avaliar o desempenho dos modelos existentes para assegurar que as estimativas de um modelo condizem com a realidade. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar modelos para a predição do subfator cobertura e manejo (CiII) relativo à erosão entressulcos. Um experimento fatorial completo foi conduzido com cinco doses de resíduo de milho (0; 0,05; 0,15; 0,40 e 0,80 kg m-2), quatro declives e duas repetições, sob condições de prévio umedecimento para determinar as taxas de erosão entressulcos (Di) e enxurrada (R). Num primeiro experimento, foi avaliada a erodibilidade entressulcos (Ki) e o subfator cobertura e manejo (CiII), em parcelas experimentais de 0,5 x 0,75 m, em solo recentemente preparado. Num segundo experimento, foram avaliados Di, R, Ki e CiII, também em parcelas de 0,5 x 0,75 m, em solo recém- preparado. Os valores de Di, R, Ki e CiII, obtidos no segundo experimento, foram utilizados na avaliação dos modelos testados. Os modelos CiII = e-2,50 CS/100 e CiII = e -2,238 CS/100 apresentaram boas estimativas para o subfator CiII.

Concentração de nutrientes e qualidade da água de enxurrada em entressulcos

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Cobertura vegetal e erosão em entressulcos sob pastagem irrigada em Uberaba-MG

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Relação solo-paisagem e erodibilidade de solos no leste do estado do Maranhão

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Perdas de nutrientes por erosão entressulcos sob pastagem irrigada em Uberaba-MG

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Coeficiente de erodibilidade em sulcos e entressulcosde Argissolos coesos estimado pela cor do solo

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Qualidade e erodibilidade de latossolos sob mata e cultivo de cana-de-açúcar

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Improved slope adjustment functions for soil erosion prediction

Numerous studies in the last 60 years have investigated the relationship between land slope and soil erosion rates. However, relatively few of these have investigated slope gradient responses: ( a) for steep slopes, (b) for specific erosion processes, and ( c) as a function of soil properties. Simulated rainfall was applied in the laboratory on 16 soils and 16 overburdens at 100 mm/h to 3 replicates of unconsolidated flume plots 3 m long by 0.8 m wide and 0.15 m deep at slopes of 20, 5, 10, 15, and 30% slope in that order. Sediment delivery at each slope was measured to determine the relationship between slope steepness and erosion rate. Data from this study were evaluated alongside data and existing slope adjustment functions from more than 55 other studies from the literature. Data and the literature strongly support a logistic slope adjustment function of the form S = A + B/[1 + exp (C - D sin theta)] where S is the slope adjustment factor and A, B, C, and D are coefficients that depend on the dominant detachment and transport processes. Average coefficient values when interill-only processes are active are A - 1.50, B 6.51, C 0.94, and D 5.30 (r(2) = 0.99). When rill erosion is also potentially active, the average slope response is greater and coefficient values are A - 1.12, B 16.05, C 2.61, and D 8.32 (r(2) = 0.93). The interill-only function predicts increases in sediment delivery rates from 5 to 30% slope that are approximately double the predictions based on existing published interill functions. The rill + interill function is similar to a previously reported value. The above relationships represent a mean slope response for all soils, yet the response of individual soils varied substantially from a 2.5-fold to a 50-fold increase over the range of slopes studied. The magnitude of the slope response was found to be inversely related ( log - log linear) to the dispersed silt and clay content of the soil, and 3 slope adjustment equations are proposed that provide a better estimate of slope response when this soil property is known. Evaluation of the slope adjustment equations proposed in this paper using independent datasets showed that the new equations can improve soil erosion predictions.