Rill Erosion on an Oxisol Influenced by a Thin Compacted Layer 1383
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RILL EROSION ON AN OXISOL INFLUENCED BY A THIN COMPACTED LAYER 1383 Nota RILL EROSION ON AN OXISOL INFLUENCED BY A THIN COMPACTED LAYER(1) Edivaldo Lopes Thomaz(2) SUMMARY The presence of compacted layers in soils can induce subprocesses (e.g., discontinuity of water flow) and induces soil erosion and rill development. This study assesses how rill erosion in Oxisols is affected by a plow pan. The study shows that changes in hydraulic properties occur when the topsoil is eroded because the compacted layer lies close below the surface. The hydraulic properties that induce sediment transport and rill formation (i.e., hydraulic thresholds at which these processes occur) are not the same. Because of the resistance of the compacted layer, the hydraulic conditions leading to rill incision on the soil surface differed from the conditions inducing rill deepening. The Reynolds number was the best hydraulic predictor for both processes. The formed rills were shallow and could easily be removed by tillage between crops. However, during rill development, large amounts of soil and contaminants could also be transferred. Index terms: conventional tillage, plow-pan, hydropedology, surface runof, rill erosion. RESUMO: EROSÃO EM RAVINA EM UM LATOSSOLO INFLUENCIADO POR UMA CAMADA COMPACTADA RASA A presença de uma camada compactada no solo pode induzir a subprocessos como a descontinuidade hidráulica e impor outros limiares para a erosão dele e o desenvolvimento de ravina. Neste estudo foi avaliado como a erosão em ravina em um Latossolo é influenciada por um pé-de-grade. No estudo ficou demonstrado que ocorre mudança nas variáveis hidráulicas quando o topo do solo é erodido e a camada compactada fica próxima da superfície. Além disso, as variáveis para o transporte de sedimento e as para a incisão da ravina não foram as mesmas. Por causa da resistência da camada, as condições hidráulicas para a incisão da ravina no topo do solo não foram suficientes para causar o aprofundamento dela. O Número (1) Received for publication on November 21, 2012 and approved on June 24, 2013. Study funded by the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (Edital Universal MCT/CNPq 14/2009) (Protocol 473809/2009-5). (2) Adjunct Professor, Geography Departament, South-Central State University - UNICENTRO. Street Simeão Camargo Varela de Sá, 3. Mail Box 3010. Postal Code 85.040-430 Guarapuava (PR), Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] R. Bras. Ci. Solo, 37:1383-1392, 2013 1384 Edivaldo Lopes Thomaz de Reynolds foi a variável hidráulica que melhor explicou a incisão da ravina e o transporte de sedimento. Os sulcos formados foram superficiais, podendo ser facilmente removidos de uma cultura para outra durante o processo de plantio. No entanto, durante o desenvolvimento da ravina, grandes quantidades de sedimentos e contaminantes podem ser transferidas. Termos de indexação: cultivo convencional, pé-de-grade, hidropedologia, escoamento superficial, ravina. INTRODUCTION The presence of a compacted layer can induce subprocesses and other conditions that can cause soil This study shows how a compacted layer (plow erosion and rill development. The aim of this study layer) influenced rill development in clay soil was to assess the erosion of soil affected by a thin (Oxisols), using a plot-scale experiment. It also shows compacted layer. This form of erosion is common in that the hydraulic variables leading to rill formation tropical soils under conventional tillage, which is (i.e., threshold) were not the same as the variables widely used throughout the world (Lal, 2007; Huggins associated with sediment transport. The Reynolds & Reganold, 2008). number was the best hydraulic predictor for both processes. Additionally, because of the differential resistance of the compacted layer, the hydraulic conditions for rill incision on the soil surface differed MATERIAL AND METHODS from the conditions required for increasing the depth of the rill. The experiment was conducted in Guarapuava in the State of Paraná, Brazil (1018 m asl; coordinates Although all farming systems are subject to o o compaction, plow pans typically develop in the 25 22’ 25 S, 51 29’ 42 W; Figure 1). The study was conventional tillage system because of the use of developed in clay-textured Oxisols (USDA soil taxonomy). The mean slope of the experimental area implements that disturb the topsoil and compacted -1 subsurface layers (Hamza & Anderson, 2005). This was 0.07 m m . The data on granulometry, chemical system, therefore, frequently leads to effects such as properties, organic carbon content, and grain size are increased compaction, reduced macroporosity and shown in table 1. hydraulic conductivity, and a decrease in infiltration A plot-scale experiment was performed to evaluate (Morgan, 2005; Hemmat et al., 2007; Blanco & Lal, the influence of a thin compacted soil layer on rill 2010). A compacted layer has physical characteristics development. The soil was prepared using three (e.g., resistance and permeability) that differ from the harrowing operations. Two harrowing operations with layers above and below. As a result, the plow layer a disk harrow (heavy hoe) were preformed leads to anisotropy between the soil layers (e.g., perpendicular to the slope, reaching a depth of ~0.20 m. hydraulic discontinuity). One harrowing operation was performed with a Similarly, the farming systems induce soil erosion leveling harrow at a depth ~0.15 m. After leveling, and degradation. In agricultural soils, the following the soil was left fallow for approximately one year. types of soil erosion have been investigated: interril The soil was then harrowed manually, reaching a erosion, rill erosion, tillage erosion, bioerosion, and depth of 0.05 m, to remove weeds and smoothen harvest erosion (Evans, 1998; Bryan, 2000; the surface roughness. The plots were bordered by Ruysschaert et al., 2004; Stroosnijder, 2005; van Oost a 5 × 1 m sheet metal, installed along the slope et al., 2006; Knapen et al., 2007). direction. The plot sizes used in this study were within the limits reported for field investigations in the Soil erosion by water occurs in three phases, which literature (Knapen et al., 2007). The simulations were include the detachment, transport, and deposition of applied to bare soil that had been smoothened before soil particles. The control of soil erosion by water must each simulation. At the lower end of the plot, a trough take the hillslope and soil characteristics into account, was installed to measure the runoff and sediment and scales which are related to flow pathways in carried away during the simulation. Throughout the agricultural systems (Auzet et al., 2002; Stroosnijder, test, runoff and sediment were collected at 1-min 2005; Boix-Fayos et al., 2006; Thomaz & Vestena, intervals. The collected material was taken to the 2012). laboratory for drying and weighing. Most soil erosion studies have primarily focused A sprinkler, consisting of a framework of iron pipes on topsoil resistance to concentrated flow erosion (¾”), a nozzle installed at a height of 5 m, and a 2.5-HP (Bryan, 2000; Greene & Hairsine, 2004; Knapen et gasoline water pump were used to supply water. The al., 2007; Smith et al., 2007), and few reports have diameter of the water droplets varied from 0.35 to 6.35 discussed the effects of erosion on soil with a mm, with a median of 2.40 mm. The device produced compacted layer (Bertolino et al., 2010; Rockwell, rain with 90 % of the kinetic energy of natural rainfall 2011). and at a similar intensity (Merz & Bryan, 1993). R. Bras. Ci. Solo, 37:1383-1392, 2013 RILL EROSION ON AN OXISOL INFLUENCED BY A THIN COMPACTED LAYER 1385 Figure 1. Location of the study area and experimental site (ES). Table 1. Soil characteristics in the subtropical region of Guarapuava were analyzed for volume (mm), intensity (mm h), and duration (h (1) (2) Depth Clay Silt Sand OC pH (CaCl2) or min) (Thomaz & Vestena, 2012). -1 -3 cm kg kg g dm The average rainfall event was 21.9 ± 20.2 mm, at 0-20 0.750 0.150 0.100 17.4 5.5 an intensity of 6.6 ± 7.7 mm h-1, lasting on average 20-40 0.760 0.130 0.110 4.3 ± 3.8 h. During this period, two important rainfall 40-60 0.770 0.130 0.100 events occurred. The first event registered a volume -1 Grain size(3) Dry sieve Wet sieve of 51.6 mm with a peak intensity of 34.2 mm h mm % and lasted 90 min. The volume of the second precipitation event was 23.8 mm with a peak intensity 4.0 11.0 ± 2.9 7.9 ± 2.7 of 47.4 mm h-1 and lasted 30 min. Thus, experimental 2.0 17.8 ± 1.7 20.7 ± 3.6 rain simulated realistic and typical events for the 1.0 20.1 ± 0.9 19.6 ± 1.3 region. Furthermore, the rain intensity in this study 0.5 15.7 ± 0.7 19.0 ± 1.3 was more realistic than in most studies in the 0.250 14.7 ± 1.0 14.3 ± 1.5 literature, which used simulated rainfall in field 0.125 11.0 ± 1.1 18.5 ± 3.7 experiments (Dunkerley, 2008). <0.125 9.7 ± 1.3 No recorded Rain was simulated at a rate of 31.1 ± 5.9 mm h-1 Total 100.0 100.0 for 60 min to homogenize the soil surface. Precipitation (1) (2) was measured with 13 manual rain gauges OC: organic carbono (Method Walkley-Black); CaCl2 0.01 mol L-1; (3) n = 5. distributed at the edges of the plot. Variations in rainfall during the experiment were caused by wind disturbance and pump operations. However, the The current experiment was designed to mimic rainfall volume and intensity were measured at the natural phenomena and control the environmental end of the experiment.