Farmers' views on the use and management of soil and its relation to the return of erosion in non-tillage systems

Abstract

The non-tillage system (NTS), until now considered an effective management tool for the control of erosion, has gradually increased the loss of soil. The objective of this research is to identify and understand the probable causes of the return of erosion in rural properties under the NTS in three municipalities in northern Paraná. For this research, a questionnaire was used to collect information on soil management and the use of agricultural terraces. Data collection was completed with 145 landowners and NTS users, along with rural extension and agricultural cooperatives. The results demonstrated that the return of erosion is likely due to the absence of crop rotation in favor of repetitive year-to-year planting of the same plant species (early soybean/maize [second harvest]/wheat), soil revolving to decompress the surface layer, and the elimination of agricultural terraces and the consequential downslope planting.