Parametros edáficos relacionados con la erosión eólica en inceptisoles del Chaco

Abstract

Wind erosion is one of most common degradation processes in agricultural soils of Chaco. Little information exists on the effects of wind erosion on agricultural soils of this region. The objectives of this study were to: 1) analyze the behavior of the erodible fraction (FE) and the dry aggregate stability (EES) as indexes of the susceptibility of soils to wind erosion, 2) relateFE to other soil parameters in order to develop equations useful to predict soil wind erosion susceptibility and 3) test if such equations are compatible with those used in the EWEQ model, developed for the Semiarid Pampas. The study was carried out in an area of the Chaco Ecorregion, where forests and grasslands are being replaced by annual cropping practices. The soils studied were classified as Udic Haplustepts, and were under pristine and agriculture conditions. Agricultural soils showed lower EF values, which indicate a lower susceptibility of the soils to be eroded by wind than pristine soils. This unexpected result was probably due to the formation of clods, as a result of tillage operations performed under certain conditions of soil moisture. No relationships were found between FE or EES and the years since the forest clearing. Relationships between FE and texture were not enough to fit a predictive model. The experimental data did not show an association with the FE data calculated with the EWEQ model. EES showed higher values in agricultural conditions than under pristine conditions. Future research must be developed in order to establish a prediction equation for FE for soils of the region. Such equation may allow for a better decision framework for sustainable soil management practices.