Soil erodibility by simulated rainfall in Latosols

Abstract

Determining a soil's resistance to disaggregation and particle transport is a complex factor that depends on the interaction of multiple attributes. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the indirect and direct erodibility of Latosols in the suborders Red, Yellow and Red-Yellow in the state of Alagoas. The soils were identified through the modal profile of the Agroecological Zoning of the State of Alagoas and through surveys of own classification of companies in the sugar and alcohol sector that have identification of areas of occurrence. They were submitted to chemical and physical analysis, by direct methods (aggregate stability and erodibility determination) and indirect (simulated rain) through mathematical models. The soil erodibility factor in interfurrows presented values that varied from 6.01 x 10-6 Kg s-1 m-4 for Yellow Latosol, to 16.65 x 10-6 Kg s-1 m-4 for Red-Yellow Latosol. This variation was also significant within the suborders, with more homogeneous values observed in the Red Latosols suborder. Thus, it is concluded that for the soil erodibility factor for Latosols, it is recommended to use the simulated rainfall methodology, in field or laboratory conditions through the Water Erosion Prediction Project model.