Soil erosion on the Brazilian sugarcane cropping system: An overview
Edivaldo Lopes Thomaz, Francieli Sant’ana Marcatto, Valdemir Antoneli
Abstract
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is an important crop for generating fiber, biofuel and other bioproducts. Brazil is the largest sugarcane producer in the world; however, limited knowledge is available with respect to soil erosion in the sugarcane cropping system. This study reviews the soil erosion rates in sugarcane cropping and evaluates the effects of soil management and land conversion on soil erosion. Eighteen studies (using conventional tillage) reporting 43 outcomes of soil erosion rates were examined using the Scopus® database. Different methods were used to measure soil erosion yielded different soil loss rates; highest values were recorded in the natural rain method, i.e., experimental plots with a median of 28 Mg ha−1 yr−1, were obtained followed by modeling with 9.3 Mg ha−1 yr−1 and simulated rain with 2 Mg ha−1 yr−1. The median soil loss using all data (n = 43) obtained by the three methods was 7.2 Mg ha−1 yr−1. The soil type increases soil erosion; the sugarcane cropping system is practiced over the most erodible Brazilian soils (e.g., Ultisols and Oxisols) where sand fraction is dominant, particularly fine sand. Most studies focused on rainsplash and interrill erosion. However, rill, ephemeral and permanent gullies should be examined, particularly in sugarcane-cropping areas.