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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Watershed Physical Processes Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329074
Title: Changes in erosion and runoff due to replacement of pasture land with sugarcane crops

Author
item YOULTON, CRISTIAN - Pontifical Catholic University Of Valparaiso
item WENDLAND, EDISON - Universidade De Sao Paulo
item ANACHE, JAMIL - Universidade De Sao Paulo
item POBLETE-ECHEVERRIA, CARLOS - Pontifical Catholic University Of Valparaiso
item Dabney, Seth

Submitted to: Sustainability
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/14/2016
Publication Date: 7/16/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63188
Citation: Youlton, C., Wendland, E., Anache, J., Poblete-Echeverria, C., Dabney, S.M. 2016. Changes in erosion and runoff due to replacement of pasture land with sugarcane crops. Sustainability. 8(7):685.

Interpretive Summary: Sugarcane cropland has expanded by about 1.5 million ha in Brazil in the past decade, mainly due to its use for biofuel production (alcohol). This expansion has occurred on land that was previously used as pasture for beef cattle. This study was conducted to determine how land conversion from pasture to sugarcane affects runoff and soil erosion. Grazed pasture was compared to first and second year sugarcane following pasture on sloping land (9% steepness) with a sandy loam soil in southeast Brazil. Results showed that conversion to sugarcane increased runoff 16 mm y-1 during the plant cane year, but reduced it 44 mm y-1 during the second growing season. Erosion was 2.5 Mg ha-1 during the first sugarcane year but decreased to 0.4 Mg ha-1 in the second year while pasture erosion was only about 0.2 Mg ha-1 y-1. Thus, the greatest erosion risk with sugarcane occurs during the establishment year. These results quantify the impact of land conversion and show that conservation efforts should be focused on periods when sugarcane is being established or renewed in 5 or 6 year rotations.

Technical Abstract: The planting of sugarcane crops has expanded in the last decade in southeast Brazil, mainly due to its use for biofuel production (alcohol). This expansion in the State of São Paulo has occupied land that was previously used for cattle production. This change in land use affects soil and water through changes in ground cover and disturbance associated with farming practices. The objective of the present study was to determine the impact on runoff and erosion resulting from the conversion of pastureland to sugarcane for biofuel production. Erosion plots measuring 100 m2 were built on a farm in Itirapina-SP, Brazil, on land with a gradient of 9% and soil composed of Quartz-sand Neosols (Typic quartzipsaments). The treatments were pasture for 18 years and a new sugarcane plantation, with three repetitions for each. After each rainfall episode, erosion and runoff were monitored during the first and second year after sugarcane planting. The results show increased runoff and soil loss during the first year, though levels decreased in the second year when the plant sugarcane residue mulch ground cover increased.