Researchers have suggested soil organic matter (SOM) as a key indicator of soil quality (SQ), due to its positive influence in other important soil attributes. With the objective to evaluate the potential use of SOM as an indicator to select soil management systems, two long-term experiments carried out on Paleudults in southern Brazil were used. In the first ten-year experiment located in Santa Maria (Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil) at the Federal University of Santa Maria, five treatments composed […]

Unpaved roads are essential for the economic and social development in Brazil. Water erosion is one of the key factors causing their degradation. This study developed a new model of determination of spacing between water outlets in unpaved roads. The surface runoff hydrograph in the road channel was estimated using the cinematic wave model and the runoff shear stress was calculated using the flow rate obtained in the hydrograph. Detachment occurs when the flow shear stress exceeds the critical soil […]

The climate of Southern Brazil is affected by climatic anomalies called “El Niño” and “La Niña”. During the first phenomenon, the precipitation volume is higher than normal. On the contrary, water deficits are observed during “La Niña”. Data of soil and water losses associated to these climatic anomalies are scarce, making their study the main objective of this work. An experiment on soil loss by natural rainfall was carried out on that account in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul […]

Knowledge on soil shear strength can actually be a very useful tool for the control of slope and gully erosion, as well as for the introduction of mechanical conservation practices in agricultural soils. In order to evaluate the shear strength of five soils in the region of Lavras (MG) and its relation with the weathering rate, an experiment was carried out, using a direct shear machine which allows the collection of undisturbed soil samples. These samples were collected at a […]

The estimate of maximum rainfall intensity is of great concern in agricultural projects such as the use of terraces for erosion control, dams, and soil water drainage. Rainfalls can be characterized by their intensity (mm h-1), duration time (min), and return period (years). One of the analyzed models has been used for estimating the maximum rainfall intensity to be applied in dimensioning such agricultural structures, for a given return period and storm duration. The time of concentration in small watersheds, […]

The estimative of the maximum surface runoff volume is fundamental to design several types of hydraulic structures as, for example, level terracing systems. The incorrect estimative of the surface runoff volume causes a wrong design of these systems and when overestimated present high installation cost. Considering these aspects, the present study aimed to compare the values of the surface flow maximum volume obtained by the empiric method of the curve number and developed by the USA Soil Conservation Service, with […]

Previous studies showed the effectiveness of stone barrier contours on reducing slope lengths, retaining sediment and nutrients, and decreasing runoff, erosion rate and siltation of reservoirs. The extent of these benefits regarding to soil productivity in semiarid regions, however remained unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of stone barrier contours on the productivity of a lithosol thirteen years after its construction. Experiments were carried out in areas of retained sediment and in areas where the […]