Effects of Land Use and Cropping on Soil Erosion in Agricultural Frontier Areas in the Cerrado-Amazon Ecotone, Brazil, Using a Rainfall Simulator Experiment

Abstract

Agricultural soils provide ecosystem services, but the removal of natural vegetation reduces water infiltration capacity, increasing surface runoff. Thus, monitoring erosion is critical for sustainable agricultural management. Sediment losses and surface runoff were evaluated using a simulated rainfall of 75 mm/h in areas with crops and pastures in both the Caiabi River and Renato River sub-basins of the Teles Pires River watershed in Mato Grosso State, Brazil. In both the Caiabi and Renato sub-basins, data were collected from 156 observations in the upper, middle, and lower regions where (1) soybeans, (2) maize, and (3) pasture were grown alone, with another crop, or with soil that was scarified. Erosion occurred independent of soil texture and was closely related to the management and use of systems involving fewer crops and more soil scarification, regardless of sub-basin location. In uncovered, scarified soil, the soil losses from erosion were greater compared to covered soil, regardless of sub-basin and sub-basin region. In the Renato River sub-basin, soil losses in cultivated areas not planted with crops but with scarification were 66.01, 90.79, and 60.02 g/square meter in the upper, middle, and lower regions, respectively. Agricultural producers need to increase the planting of crops throughout the year and minimize soil disturbance, which will reduce soil erosion and improve sustainability.

Using the GeoWEPP Model to Predict Water Erosion in Micro-Watersheds in the Brazilian Cerrado

“…This is slightly less than what we measured at 0.11 t/ha (Table 3). The erosion we measured for pasture at 0.06 t/ha (Table 3) was within the range measured for erosion in pasture (0.0101 to 0.087 t/ha) by Alves et al 2023 [37]. Some studies have observed that anthropogenic factors such as land use and management have more influence on soil loss than precipitation and topography [38].…”

“…The types of soil in this Teles Pires study's experimental area were all Latisols (versus Oxisols). For crops with crop residue, these researchers measured erosion ranging from 0.035 to 0.102 metric tons (t)/hectare (ha) [37]. This is slightly less than what we measured at 0.11 t/ha (Table 3).…”

Sustainability Assessment of the Upstream Bengawan Solo Watershed in Wonogiri Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia

“…Plant roots can absorb water that falls to the soil's surface, and then, bind it into a groundwater supply in the top layer of soil. Meanwhile, land converted into open/built-up land will produce more significant water runoff [84][85][86][87]. Runoff is an essential component in watershed management, especially soil conservation, where the runoff value represents the regulation of the relationship between rainfall intensity and runoff, as well as the regulation of surface flow.…”

“…For example, in Brazil, environmental conservation policies have contributed to reducing soil and water loss, namely farming without tillage, restoring degraded springs, carbon sequestration, and implementing low-carbon agroforestry systems, the protection of protected areas (protected forests, nature reserves), and the management of natural resources with the following aims: (1) guaranteeing that the water required for current and future generations is available and meets the necessary quality standards for use; (2) using water resources in a logical and integrated manner; (3) preventing the development of critical hydrological criticalities, whether they are caused by improper use or natural causes, in order to promote and enhance the collection, conservation, and utilization of rainfall. In addition to reducing soil loss, this initiative helps to maintain biodiversity within biomes, raise carbon stocks, and prevent rivers and lakes from becoming shallower due to continuous erosion processes [84].…”

Impacts of Land Use Changes on Soil Functions and Water Security: Insights from a Three-Year-Long Study in the Cantareira System, Southeast of Brazil

“…Although the literature on the role of soils in providing ecosystem services (ESs) has grown recently, there is a lack of integration between soil, water security, and climate change [1,2]. Land use change, such as the conversion of native forests into extensive pastures, has led to the degradation of soil properties and functions, which can reduce its capacity to provide various ESs [3][4][5], including water supply regulation, erosion control, and climate regulation.…”