Nutrient losses by wind erosion in an Entic Haplustoll of Chaco, Argentina

AIMAR, S.B.; ITURRI, L.A.; ROJAS, J.; GUEVARA, G.; BUSCHIAZZO, D.E.

Santa Rosa, La Pampa

Conferencia; ICAR VII (International Conference on Aeolian Research); 2010

ISAR (International society on aeolian research)

Wind erosion quality has been less studied than wind erosion quantity, particularly in Argentina. The objective of this study was to analyze the concentration of different elements in the sediment eroded from an Entic Haplustoll of Chaco, north Argentina, developed on loess. With this purpose the eroded material of 5 storm events was sampled with BSNE samplers placed at the three heights (0.135, 0.5 and 1.50 m) and analyzed for C, n, P, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg and K. Results indicated that C concentration in the sediment was 30, 70 and 78% higher than in the soil at 0.135, 0.5 and 1.50 height, respectively, while N was 22.6, 63.5 and 70% higher. S contents were lower in the sediment than in the original soil at all sampling heights. P showed similar trends than S but only at the lowest height. The resting elements were more concentrated in the sediment than in the soil at the highest heights. At the lowest height only Cu, mg and K were less concentrated than in the original soil (-10.2, -7.7 and -10.5%, respectively). The more enriched element in the sediment was Zn (81.2, 97.7 and 98.6%). Total elements losses were 81.8 kg.ha-1 for Fe, 71.3 kg.ha-1 for C, 47.5 kg.ha-1 for K, 19.4 kg.ha-1 for Mg, 8.9 kg.ha-1 for Zn, 7.0 kg.ha-1 for N, 2.9 kg.ha-1 for P, 1.9 kg.ha-1 for Ca, 1.8 kg.ha-1 for S, 1.4 kg.ha-1 for Mn and 0.2 kg.ha-1 for Cu. Elements concentrations in the soil decrease in the following sequence: C > Fe > K > Mg > N > P > S > Mn > Ca > Cu > Zn. This indicates that wind erosion will affect more Zn.