Dynamics of erosion processes in the tropics: a dendrogeomorphological approach in an Ultisol of southeastern Brazil

ROIG, FIDEL ALEJANDRO; COOPER, MIGUEL; CHARTIER, MARCELO PABLO; CASTILLO, VIRGINIA DOMINGUEZ; BOVI, RENATA CRISTINA; FILHO, MARIO TOMAZELLO

PLANT AND SOIL

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2019

0032-079X

Soil erosion is one of the degra- dation processes that historically has caused great im- pacts on agricultural activities and the environment. It is responsible for soil loss, reduced productivity and vari- ous environmental impacts. Given the importance of research related to understanding the soil erosion pro- cess, the dendrogeomorphology technique has a signif- icant role in qualifying and quantifying this degradation process. It is a technique that uses the structure of the root and stem wood of trees affected by erosion processes to date these events and measure the rate of soil loss. The objective of this study was to understand the dynamics of the erosion process through the dendrogeomorphological approach.Methods The changes in growth pattern of exposed roots of Esenbeckia leiocarpa trees (guarantã) were studied, such as growth ring width, eccentricity, vessel frequency and scars.Results The results obtained demonstrated the po- tential of the species for dendrogeomorphological studies, since the changes in growth patterns after exposure allowed to date the first year of root exposition.Conclusions The dendrogeomorphology technique proved to be effective in understanding the process dynamics of complex systems, such as the opening of permanent and ephemeral gullies. In addition, it is ef- fective in inferring soil loss rates.