Soil Losses, Soil Loss Ratio and Cover Management Factor of Sugarcane: A First Approach

Abstract

This study aimed to discuss the issue of erosion in areas of sugar cane cultivation. So they were determined soil losses, the soil loss ratio (SLR) and the values of the cover management factor (factor C) of Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) for the sugarcane located in sandy and clay soils and under different conditions of relief and management. Eight plots of monitoring soil erosion (2x10 meters) were installed. During the period of the 1 crop year, were collected samples of water and sediment and quantified the eroded material. In the plots installed in Cambisol with sand loam/loam sand texture, slopes of 12 and 15% and cultivated with plant cane under tillage, the losses were 49.042 and 84.851 t-1 ha-1 year, respectively, and the C average factor was of 0.424. In the plots installed in Lixisol, with slope of 5% and Cambisol, with slope of 11%, both clayey and cultivated with third ratoon cane under no-tillage, the losses were 0.797 and 3.684 t 1 ha-1 year and the C factor of 0.234 and 0.130 respectively. The SLR values ranged from 0.393 to 0.521 (planting up to 3 months) and from 0.051 to 0.449 (period of 10 to 12 months) in sandy soil, and 0.081 to 1.109 (planting up to 3 months) and from 0.041 to 0.069 (10 to 12 months) in clayey soils. Different soil types, relief and management present in the plots resulted in discrepant values of soil loss, SLR and Factor C. In this sense, there is the need for greater attention to the variability and sensitivity of these parameters in the modeling of soil loss by water erosion in areas cultivated with sugarcane.