Morphological characterization and physical and chemical attributes of the soil in gullies in the Cachimbal river sub-basin, RJ
Erosive processes, geotechnologies, soil quality indicators
Due to geomorphological aspects associated with the intense rainfall that occurred in the summer, degradation problems such as erosion processes and landslides are verified, along the entire Brazilian territorial extension. In this context, the Pinheiral-RJ region presents 88% of its area classified as high or very high vulnerability to erosion, with only 18% of its territory under native forest cover at different levels of alteration and regeneration. Based on the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of edaphic attributes, morphology, and the estimate of removal of soil mass and nutrients in four gullies in different evolutionary stages, also considering a time scale, dry period and rainy, with the purpose of generating information that contributes to the recovery programs of degraded areas. Four gullies were selected, and samples were collected, deformed and undeformed at depths of 0.0 - 0.10 and 10 - 20 cm, on the external and internal faces of gullies, for further physical and chemical analysis. Using the Drone model DJI Phanthom 4 PRO, the aerial image was obtained and the volume of soil removed in each gullet was calculated. With the results of the aforementioned analyzes and volume in mind, an estimate of the soil mass and nutrients removed for the gullies was performed, and then a gullet was selected and the main changes were analyzed considering the years 2017 and 2020. It was it is possible to verify that the highest values for area, volume, soil density and soil mass removed were quantified in the senile stage gullet, as for the nutrients the greatest removals were verified for the levels of Ca2 + and total organic carbon, Mg2 + in the juvenile gullet and K + and Na + na at an early stage. The distribution pattern of the physical and chemical attributes of the soil in gullies is influenced by the evolutionary stages and the surface faces (internal and external), at the depth of 0-10cm, and only as far as the faces at the depth of 10-20cm. The stage classified as senile was the one that presented the best edaphic conditions on its internal face. The amount of soil mass removed increases according to the evolutionary stage, however, from the moment there is regeneration or the presence of shrub and / or tree species, the removal of soil mass decreases. The use of geotechnologies allows practicality in gathering information that can support programs for the recovery of degraded areas.