Soil losses in the State of Rondônia, Brazil

• Published in: Ciência rural 2021, Vol.51 (5)
• Main Authors: Lense, Guilherme Henrique Expedito, Parreiras, Taya Cristo, Spalevic, Velibor, Avanzi, Junior Cesar, Mincato, Ronaldo Luiz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Agriculture; AGRONOMY; amazon region; Conservation practices; Deforestation; Environmental degradation; Environmental policy; Erosion rates; Geographic information systems; Hydrologic data; Land use; Modelling; Remote sensing; RUSLE; Sediments; Soil conservation; Soil erosion; Soil management; Soil water; Topography; Vegetation; Water conservation; Water discharge; Water erosion; Watershed management
• ISSN: 0103-8478; 1678-4596; 1678-4596
• DOI: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20200460

In the state of Rondônia, deforestation, and inadequate soil use and management have intensified the water erosion process, causing degradation of agricultural land. Modeling is a tool that can assist in the adoption of targeted and effective measures for soil and water conservation in the region. In this context, the objective of the research was to model soil losses due to water erosion in the state of Rondônia using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The parameters related to rain erosivity, relief, erodibility, and soil cover, as well as the conservation practices of the state of Rondônia, were considered. The modeling steps were performed with the aid of the Geographic Information System. Results were validated with data of total sediments transported with water discharge. The estimated total soil loss was about 605 million tons per year, corresponding to an average loss of 22.50 Mg ha-1 year-1. In 19% of the state, the erosion rate was higher than the soil loss tolerance(T), and these areas should be prioritized for adopting measures to mitigate the erosion process. The RUSLE underestimated the generation of sediments at 0.56 Mg ha-1 year-1, which corresponds to an error of 18.60%. Results obtained can assist in the development of different soil use and management scenarios and provide options for policymakers to encourage soil conservation in the state of Rondônia. RESUMO: No Estado de Rondônia, o desmatamento, o uso e o manejo inadequado dos solos têm intensificado o processo de erosão hídrica, gerando a degradação de terras agrícolas. Nesse cenário, a modelagem é uma ferramenta que pode auxiliar na adoção de medidas direcionadas e eficazes de conservação do solo e da água na região. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho foi modelar as perdas de solo por erosão hídrica no Estado de Rondônia utilizando a Equação Universal de Perda de Solo Revisada (RUSLE). Foram considerados os parâmetros referentes a erosividade da chuva, relevo, erodibilidade e cobertura do solo e as práticas conservacionistas do Estado de Rondônia. As etapas da modelagem foram realizadas com auxílio de Sistema de Informações Geográficas. Os resultados foram validados com dados de coleta de sedimentos totais transportados com a descarga d’água. A perda de solo total estimada foi cerca de 605 milhões de toneladas ao ano, correspondente a uma perda média de 22,50 Mg ha-1 ano-1. Em 19% do Estado a taxa erosiva foi superior aos limites de tolerância de perda de solo (TPS), send