O papel das características e propriedades físicas nas perdas de solo-água e nutrientes por erosão devida ao cultivo do solo

Abstract

The transportation of soil, water and nutrients by erosin creates a serious problem to agriculture. As the necessity of food production increases, the intensity of soil cultivation increases as well, affecting the soil physical properties. Consequently these physical properties predispose the soils to the erosive process in a greater or smaller scale and, for which they affect management conditions, infiltration, motion and storage of water in the soil. A literature indicates that the loss of soil, water and nutrients by erosion will correspond to the drastic alterations in the characteristics and physical properties. The no-tillage system seems to be most effective in erosion control, because it makes only a smaller disruption of the soil structure. Also, satisfactory physical properties in the soil must be maintained and/or developed for the maintenance of productivity of any area in order to reduce erosion; so there is a great necessity to emphasize more researches in the area of soil physics, management and conservation.