The aim of this study was to estimate water erosion costs associated with nutrient losses in four different rates of artificial cover. The experiment was carried out from 1987 to 1996 in runoff plots to measure soil losses in Campinas, State of Sao Paulo, in an Ferralsol under natural rainfall. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments (0%, 24%, 40% and 90% artificial cover) and three replications. To estimate costs, P, K + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ concentrations in runoff water and soil removed by erosion were summed up, converted into triple superphosphate, potassium chloride and dolomitic limestone and multiplied by their respective market prices. The results indicate that, under the experimental conditions, the greater the percentage of soil cover, the lower the losses of water, soil, organic matter and nutrients. The soil with 90% cover presented reduction of 51.97% in average water losses, 54.44 in soil losses and 54.91% in organic matter losses than the treatment with 0% cover. In bare soil, losses were estimated at 16% P 2 O 5 and 8% KCl in terms of the amount of fertilizers recommended. Costs varied from US$ 107.76 ha -1 year -1 in bare soil (0% cover) to US$ 18.15 ha -1 year -1 in soil with 90% cover. With these values, losses were estimated at 616.5 million tons of soil per year for Brazil, as a result of soil erosion in annual crops, and cost of this process is around US$ 1.3 billion per year.

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SUMMARYThe soil surface roughness increases water retention and infiltration, reduces the runoff volume and speed and influences soil losses by water erosion. Similarly to other parameters, soil roughness is affected by the tillage system and rainfall volume. Based on these assumptions, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tillage treatments on soil surface roughness (RR) and tortuosity (T) and to investigate the relationship with soil and water losses in a series of simulated rainfall events. The field study was carried out at the experimental station of EMBRAPA Southeastern Cattle Research Center in São Carlos (Fazenda Canchim), in São Paulo State, Brazil. Experimental plots of 33 m² were treated with two tillage practices in three replications, consisting of: untilled (no-tillage) soil (NTS) and conventionally tilled (plowing plus double disking) soil (CTS). Three successive simulated rain tests were applied in 24 h intervals. The three tests consisted of a first rain of 30 mm/h, a second of 30 mm/h and a third rain of 70 mm/h. Immediately after tilling and each rain simulation test, the surface roughness was measured, using a laser profile meter. The tillage treatments induced significant changes in soil surface roughness and tortuosity, demonstrating the importance of the tillage system for the physical surface conditions, favoring water retention and infiltration in the soil. The increase in surface roughness by the tillage treatments was considerably greater than its

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RESUMOO sistema plantio direto (SPD) é considerado o mais eficiente para controle da erosão em áreas de culturas anuais; entretanto, problemas de erosão com a formação de sulcos e ravinas em áreas de SPD, vêm sendo observados, sugerindo que práticas mecânicas, como operações em contorno e terraceamento, são imprescindíveis para o controle da erosão. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar se o SPD permite a semeadura no sentido do declive e espaçamentos entre terraços maiores que os atualmente recomendados. O experimento foi realizado em um Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico típico, de textura argilosa, com 6% de declividade média, sob SPD há 6 anos, com as culturas de aveia preta e de milho, em parcelas com coletores de terra e de água perdidos por erosão, em dois ensaios: um com três comprimentos de rampa (25, 50 e 75 m) e o outro com duas direções de semeadura (morro abaixo e em contorno) e dois comprimentos de rampa (50 e 75 m). Não houve produção de sedimentos no SPD. As perdas de água foram reduzidas em comprimentos de rampa de até 75 m e não foram influenciadas pela direção de semeadura. A distância entre terraços pode ser ampliada no SPD para o solo e o declive estudados.Palavras-chave: escoamento superficial, perdas de terra, semeadura direta, terraceamento Erosion in no-tillage system: Influence of ramp length and seeding direction ABSTRACT No-tillage system is considered the most efficient system for erosion control in annual crop plantations. However, problems of erosion as development of rills and ravines under no-tillage have been observed, suggesting that mechanical practices, such as contouring and terraces are required for erosion control. The objective of this study was to determine if no-tillage system allows seeding direction following down slope and ramp length larger than the currently recommended. The experiment was conducted in a clayey Oxissol with a mean slope of 6% under no-tillage system for 6 years, cultivated with black oat and corn, in runoff plots with soil and water collector system. Two trials were conducted: one with three ramp lengths (25, 50 e 75 m) and other with two seeding direction (in contour and following down slope) and two ramp lengths (50 e 75 m). There was no sediment production under no-tillage system. Water losses were reduced in ramp length up to 75 m and were not influenced by seeding direction. The distance between terraces can be enlarged under no-tillage system for soil and slope studied.