RESUMO

In this study, we used a large national database to assess the rainfall erosivity (RE) patterns in time and space over the Brazilian territory. Thereby, RE and erosivity density (ED) values were obtained for 5166 rainfall gauges. Also, the concentration of the RE throughout the year and the RE's gravity center locations were analyzed. Finally, homogeneous regions regarding RE values were delimited and estimative regression models were established. The results show that Brazil's mean annual RE value is 5620 MJ mm ha-1 h-1 year-1, with considerable spatial variation over the country. The highest RE magnitudes were found for the north region, while the northeast region shows the lowest values. Regarding the RE's distribution throughout the year, in the southern region of Brazil, it is more equitable, while in some spots of the northeastern region, it is irregularly concentrated in specific months. Further analyses revealed that for most of the months, the RE's gravity centers for Brazil are in the Goiás State and that they present a north-south migration pattern throughout the year. Complementarily, the ED magnitudes allowed the identification of high-intensity rainfall spots. Additionally, the Brazilian territory was divided into eleven homogeneous regions regarding the RE patterns and for each defined region, a regression model was established and validated. These models' statistical metrics were considered satisfactory and, thus, can be used to estimate RE values for the whole country using monthly rainfall depths. Finally, all database produced are available for download. Therefore, the values and maps shown in this study are relevant for improving the accuracy of soil loss estimates in Brazil and for the establishment of soil and water conservation planning on a national scale.

RESUMO

Resumen La erosión hídrica es un proceso que combina factores naturales y antrópicos, con efectos sobre la productividad sistémica y sobre la calidad de los recursos naturales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue realizar estimaciones de pérdidas potenciales (EP) y actuales (EA) de suelo en sistemas de producción (SP) con diferente cobertura y características topográficas, dentro de los límites de la cuenca del Arroyo Ludueña (Santa Fe, Argentina), utilizado la Ecuación Universal de Pérdida de Suelos y el programa EROSION 6.0. Para doce SP se modelaron 10 años de rotaciones bajo siembra directa: agricultura continua con predominio de soja (AC), agricultura continua intensiva con alta proporción de gramíneas (ACi) y rotaciones agrícola-ganaderas con diferentes proporciones de pasturas (AG 40:60 y AG 30:70). La EP estimada afectaría la estabilidad sistémica ya que supera las 18 tn.ha-1.año-1 en todos los casos. La EA fue un 18, 30 y 53% mayor en AG 70:30, ACi y AC respecto a AG 60:40, con tasas máximas y mínimas para el total de simulaciones de 7,2 y 1,0 tn.ha-1.año-1. Las características del relieve evidenciaron que por encima del valor 0,131 del factor LS (longitud y gradiente de pendiente), la AC no sería sustentable por las altas tasas de EA y porque estos SP están asociados a vías de escurrimiento que pueden facilitar transporte de agroquímicos hacia sectores más bajos. La información generada a escala predial permitiría avanzar en el estudio de la dinámica del proceso erosivo y su impacto a nivel de cuencas.

Abstract Water erosion is a process that combines natural and anthropic factors, with effects on systemic productivity and the quality of natural resources. The objective of this work was to make estimates of potential (EP) and current (EA) losses of soil in production systems (SP) with different coverage and topographic characteristics, within the limits of the Ludueña stream basin (Santa Fe, Argentina), using the Universal Soil Loss Equation and the EROSION 6.0 program. For twelve SP, 10 years of rotations under no-tillage were modeled: continuous agriculture with a predominance of soybeans (AC), continuous intensive agriculture with a high proportion of grasses (ACi) and agricultural-livestock rotations with different proportions of pastures (AG 40:60 and AG 30:70). The estimated EP would affect systemic stability since it exceeds 18 tn.ha-1.year-1 in all cases. The EA was 18, 30 and 53% higher in AG 70:30, ACi and AC compared to AG 60:40, with maximum and minimum rates for the total simulations of 7.2 and 1.0 tn.ha-1 .year 1. The characteristics of the relief showed that above the value of 0.131 of the LS factor (length and slope gradient), the AC would not be sustainable due to the high rates of EA and because these SP are associated with runoff routes that can facilitate transport of agrochemicals towards lower sectors. The information generated at the farm scale would allow progress in the study of the dynamics of the erosion process and its impact at the basin level.

RESUMO

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar o potencial de perda de solo por meio da equação universal de perda de solo e identificar os fatores que controlam o processo erosivo em uma bacia hidrográfica de encosta. O fator erosividade da chuva (R) foi calculado por meio de dados normais de precipitação, obtendo-se, assim, índices mensais de erosão. O fator erodibilidade do solo (K) foi obtido a partir de uma amostragem de solo realizada por meio de uma malha de 340 pontos, na qual os valores foram interpolados pelo método da krigagem ordinária. O fator topográfico (LS) foi gerado a partir do Modelo Digital de Elevação (MDE), já os fatores uso e manejo e práticas conservacionistas (CP) foram obtidos por meio de observações de campo e valores tabelados. As maiores taxas de perdas abrangem 27% da área e se concentram em locais de maiores declividades nos quais predominam solos rasos, como Neossolos Litólicos e Neossolos Regolíticos. O fator LS determinou a magnitude do processo erosivo e o fator CP apresentou a maior relação com o controle das perdas de solo. Os resultados encontrados mostram a importância do fator cobertura do solo, em que medidas de manutenção da vegetação e práticas conservacionistas devem ser adotadas e consideradas pelos gestores ambientais em regiões de encosta com predomínio de solos rasos associados a relevo declivoso.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to estimate the soil loss potential through the universal soil loss equation and to identify the factors that control the erosive process in a hillside watershed. Rainfall erosivity factor (R) was calculated through normal precipitation data, thus obtaining monthly erosion indexes. The soil erodibility factor (K) was obtained from a soil sampling in an irregular grid of 340 points, in which the values were interpolated by the ordinary kriging method. The topographic factor (LS) was generated from the Digital Elevation Model (MDE) and the use and management and conservationist practices factors (CP) through field observations and tabulated values. The highest loss rates cover around 27% of the area, and are concentrated in places with higher slopes where shallow soils such as Litolics Neosols and Regolithic Neosols predominate. The LS factor determined the magnitude of the erosive process and the CP factor showed the highest relation with the soil loss control. The results found show the importance of the cover-management factor, in which measures of vegetation maintenance and conservation practices should be adopted and considered by the environmental managers in hillside regions with predominance of shallow soils associated to slope relief.

RESUMO

RESUMO A erosão hídrica constitui um sério problema de degradação do solo, com impacto em diversas áreas. Sua mensuração é de extrema importância e onerosa. Os modelos empíricos de estimativa de perdas de solo, como a Equação Universal de Perda de Solo Revisada (RUSLE), são utilizados para suprir essa demanda. Consideram-se poucos estudos no Brasil que avaliam o efeito da sazonalidade agroclimática nas estimativas de perda de solo por erosão hídrica em bacias hidrográficas. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a sazonalidade agroclimática na estimativa de perdas de solo por meio da RUSLE e identificar os fatores que controlam a erosão na Bacia Hidrográfica do Arroio Fragata (BHAF). O fator erosividade da chuva (R) e a média anual de precipitação foram calculados por meio de dados de quatro estações pluviométricas.. O fator erodibilidade do solo (K) foi obtido a partir de informações de solo. O fator topográfico (LS) foi gerado com base no modelo digital de elevação (MDE) e o fator cobertura do solo e práticas conservacionistas (CP) por meio de imagens do satélite Landsat8/OLI. A variação sazonal teve efeito na perda de solo, com maiores taxas de erosão no período de verão e primavera. Perdas de solo entre 5 e 50 Mg ha-1ano-1 foram registradas em 24% da BHAF, associadas a períodos de chuvas mais erosivas, maior declividade e baixa cobertura vegetal. Os fatores da RUSLE com maior contribuição na erosão foram R, LS e CP. A abordagem apresentada pode ser útil para quantificar as perdas de solo em bacias hidrográficas.

ABSTRACT Water erosion is a serious soil degradation problem, with impact in several areas. Its measurement is extremely important and costly. Empirical models of soil loss estimation, such as the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE), are used to meet this demand. Few studies in Brazil are considered to evaluate the effect on agroclimatic seasonality in the estimates of soil loss due to water erosion in watersheds. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the agroclimatic seasonality in the estimation of soil losses through RUSLE and to identify the factors that control erosion in the watershed of the Fragata stream. Rainfall erosivity (R) was calculated by means of precipitation data for four seasons and annual average. The soil erodibility factor (K) was obtained from soil information. The topographic factor (LS) was generated from the Digital Elevation Model (MDE) and the soil cover factor and conservationist practices (CP) through Landsat8/OLI satellite images. Seasonal variation had an effect on soil loss, with higher erosion rates in the summer and spring months. Soil losses between 5 and 50 Mg ha-1ano-1 were recorded in 24% of the BHAF, associated with periods of more erosive rainfall, higher slope and low vegetation cover. RUSLE factors with the greatest contribution to erosion were R, LS, and CP. The approach presented can be useful in quantifying soil losses in river basins.

RESUMO

RESUMO A erosão do solo em carreadores de cana-de-açúcar é um problema que não pode ser desprezado, dado o aumento de área plantada com essa cultura no território brasileiro. No presente artigo, são estimadas as perdas de solo, através do emprego da Equação Universal de Perdas de Solo (EUPS), de quatro trechos de carreadores de cana de uma fazenda no município de Itirapina (SP). Os resultados mostraram estimativas de perdas que variaram de 60,6 a 90,1 t.ha-1 para o tipo de solo Neossolo Quartzarênico.

ABSTRACT Soil erosion in earth roads of sugar cane is a problem that cannot be ignored, given the increase in planted area to this crop in Brazil. In this article soil losses are estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), at four stretches of sugar cane earth roads of a farm at Itirapina (São Paulo State). Results showed that loss estimates ranged from 60.6 to 90.1 t.ha-1 for typic Quartzipsamment soil.

RESUMO

RESUMO Este estudo avalia a distribuição espacial do potencial natural e atual do solo à erosão hídrica na Bacia do Rio Sapucaí, sul de Minas Gerais, utilizando a equação universal de perda de solos revisada, através de modelagem cartográfica, para a obtenção da erosão potencial (EP) e da erosão atual (EA). Os resultados indicaram que a EP para a Bacia do Rio Sapucaí variou de "Muito forte", na sua região de cabeceira (Serra da Mantiqueira), a "Fraca", nas áreas com topografia mais suavizada e menor erosividade da chuva. Em relação à EA, mais de 55,17 % da Bacia do Rio Sapucaí apresenta perdas de solo abaixo de 10 t.ha-1.ano-1, significando baixo potencial atual de erosão. A identificação de áreas de risco associadas à erosão acelerada, realizadas neste estudo, fornecem subsídios fundamentais para medidas associadas ao manejo, conservação e planejamento do uso do solo.

ABSTRACT This study was carried out with the purpose to assess the natural and current soil erosion for the Sapucaí river basin using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) through cartographic modeling to obtain the natural soil erosion potential (EP) and the current soil erosion (EA). Results have indicated that the Sapucaí river basin has soils with EP varying from "Very strong", in its headwater region (Mantiqueira Range) to "Weak" potential, in areas with smoothing topography and smaller rainfall erosivity. Regarding EA, more than 55.17 % of the basin area present soil losses smaller than 10 t.ha-1.year-1, meaning low current soil erosion vulnerability. The identification of accelerated soil erosion areas, obtained by this study, can be very useful for supporting soil conservation management and planning.