A insustentabilidade do uso do solo com fumicultura em terras declivosas

Abstract

Areas susceptibility to water erosion and strong pressure of soil use, as in Southern Brazil, where there is cultivation of tobacco, are prone to degradation of the natural resources. The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the unsustainability of the natural resources in a watershed under tobacco production, characterized by steep slopes, with intense agricultural exploration and to evaluate the processes related to soil erosion. The watershed is located in the district of Nova Boêmia, Agudo, RS. The watershed has an area of 332 ha, with is subdivided, in right left subbasin, by two streams, forming the main drainage of the Arroio Lino Friedlich, flowing to the Jacuí River. The evaluations were: 1. The evolution of soil use and management, and soil erosion from 2003 to 2005; 2. Physical and environmental factors affecting soil, namely rain erosivity, LS (slope length and steepness) of the Universal Soil Loss Equation, and watershed concentration time; 3. For the quantification of the sediment yield, samples of the suspended sediment were colleted during rain events in the year of 2005, in two control sections, using flow meters that quantified the water flow rate for subsequent determination of the flow and sediment concentration, through from specific rating curves; 4. The annual sediment yield estimation was made through sediment rating curves, using lineal and polynomial models. Precipitation data were obtained automatically from a meteorological station located in the center of the watershed and were used for the determination of rainfall erosivity. Several maps were generated, including classes of factor LS index of the USLE. The results showed that the agricultural areas are increasing and natural vegetation is decreasing. Under this rate, there would be no natural vegetation in 100 years. The concentration time of the watershed is of 12 minutes, meaning that in a short time the whole watershed contributes for the runoff, in accordance with the sudden increase of the water height in the creek. The hydro-sedimentologic components varied mainly with soil moisture, topographical characteristics and rainfall intensity and amount. Erosive rainfall occurred mainly in the second semester of the year, when the soil was also plowed. The right side drainage of the watershed contributed with 80% of the sediment yield and presented higher values of LS factor, more intense soil, presence of highways and gullies and smaller riparian zone. The polynomial model for the sediment rating curves had the best adjustment and was effective in estimating the annual sediment yield. Estimated soil erosion rates from cropland was 0.28 cm ha-1 year and from unpaved roads was 0.12 cm ha-1 year, which are greater than both soil formation and soil loss tolerance rates. These data indicate the unsustainable use of the soils for tobacco growth under current management practices.