ABSTRACT Erosion process occurs naturally, shaping the Earth’s surface. Soil loss can cause harmful effects to the environment when intensive anthropic activities occur. Mathematical models have been used as effective and less costly alternatives for identifying sites highly prone to soil loss, especially at the watershed scale. In Brazil, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is one of the most commonly used soil loss prediction models. The RUSLE requires information on soil erodibility, rainfall erosivity, topography, land use and […]

ABSTRACT Global agricultural production is expected to double by 2050 due to both global population increase and changes in diets as a consequence of growing incomes. This also means more pressure on water resources, as agriculture accounts for 70 % of global water withdrawal and for energy production as the entire food supply chain accounts for about 30 % of total global energy consumption. Although there are ongoing discussions related to the sustainability of food, water, and energy sectors, integrating […]

ABSTRACT: The soil particles can be gathered through physical and/or chemical processes in association with the biological activity, leading to the formation of aggregates. Soil aggregates has several functions in the soil, increasing macroporosity and water circulation – consequently reducing soil erosion and mechanical resistance to root growth, contributing to greater fixation of plants to the soil and absorption of water and nutrients, and protection of intra-aggregate organic matter. The aggregates were initially classified morphologically and in terms of their […]

ABSTRACT Strategies to mitigate degradation and ensure food and water security are among the main challenges in agricultural development. Unconsolidated information about the positive impact of conservationist practices on productivity increase is fundamental for their adoption by farmers. This study evaluated if the saved rainfall excess in catchment with terrace generates higher soybean and corn yield due to greater water availability in the crop rooting zone. Experiments were conducted in southern Brazil during the agricultural years of 2016/17 (soybean) and […]

ABSTRACT Agricultural management significantly influences soil physical properties and soil erosion. However, there are few studies investigating the long-term effects of agricultural management on soil erosion and physical properties. Here, we assessed the impacts of 20-year agricultural land uses under different management practices on soil physical properties and interrill erosion. This study was conducted on an experimental farm of the Embrapa Western Agriculture, Brazil, and the treatments consisted of soybean cropping under conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT), crop-livestock integration […]

ABSTRACT Organic carbon introduced in soils, mainly through organic matter, has a relevant role in various soil properties and is particularly important in sandy soils. In these soils, the input of organic material is necessary to ensure the sustainability of production systems. This study aimed to investigate the changes in total organic carbon content and its effect on physical properties in areas under different harvest management systems (HMS) after the harvest of eucalyptus. The study was performed in December 2017 […]

ABSTRACT Hydro-sedimentological models might be useful tools for investigating the effectiveness of soil and water conservation practices. However, evaluating the usefulness of such models requires that predictions are tested against observational data and that uncertainty from model parameterization is addressed. Here we aimed to evaluate the capacity of the SWAT model to simulate monthly streamflow and sediment load in the Posses creek catchment (12 km2), Southeast Brazil. The SUFI-2 algorithm from SWAT-CUP was applied for calibration, testing, uncertainty, and sensitivity […]

Abstract Vertisols presenting kaolinite codominance or prevalence were already reported in several countries worldwide. However, the literature has few studies focused on investigating the influence of this clay mineral in soil geotechnical behavior. This study aimed to carry out the characterization of Vertisols in Bahia State, Brazil, to understand the influence of physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties on their geotechnical behavior, as these soils have high natural fertility and have been used for agricultural activity, but with great risk due […]

ABSTRACT Continually rising scarcity in water and nutrient resources, especially in semi-arid agricultural systems, combined with increased frequency of extreme weather events such as drought, contribute to a growing need for resilient and regenerative agricultural ecosystems. However, evaluating a myriad of combinations of producer-led sustainable management practices in on-farm research remains challenging. Few studies have elucidated spatial variability in measured soil properties across the study area due to logistical and economic constraints. As such, this study aimed to: 1) establish […]

ABSTRACT Defining a suitable soil tillage option that provides adequate soil physical conditions for optimum cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) productivity has not been adequately researched in southern Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate, in an Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo Distrófico (Acrisol or Hapludalf), three tillage methods – conventional (inverting) tillage, chiseling, and long-term no-tillage (without and with, additional soil compaction), as affecting soil hydro-physical properties and cassava yield, in southern Brazil. Undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were collected from row and interrow […]