EROSION EOLICA EN ARGENTINA: SU INCIDENCIA POTENCIAL SOBRE LA DEGRADACION DEL SUELO Y LA CALIDAD DEL AIRE

BUSCHIAZZO, D.E, PANEBIANCO, J. E., GUEVARA, G., ROJAS, J., ZURITA, J.J., BRAN, D., LOPEZ, D., GAITAN, J., HURTADO, P.

Ciencia del Suelo

Año: 2009 vol. 27

0326-3169

Wind erosion can affect the soil but also the air quality. The magnitudes of these effects depend on the soil type and management conditions, and are associated with the transport conditions of soil particles: saltation and rolling affect more the soil quality while suspension tends to increase the emission of fine particles to the atmosphere.  The objective of this research was to determine the magnitude of both kind of movements in soils of Argentina, in order to predict potential effects on soil or air quality. Thus study was carried out in four sites of Argentina, placed in Chaco (PI), San Luis (BE), La Pampa (SR) and Río Negro (PAT) provinces. In each case wind erosion was measured in the 1 ha square fields by means of BSNE samplers. Results indicated that the total amount of transported material, the so called mass flux (FM) as well as the absolute amount of eroded soil (Q) were higher in sites with less developed soils of BE (Ustipsamment) and y SR (Haplustoll) and lower in sites with a better developed soil of PI (Hapludoll) or with less developed soil but with permanent soil cover with natural grasses of PAT (Haplargid). Saltation and rolling were the main transport forms in BE, SR and PI and suspension in PAT. Though low (10%), the plant coverage existing in this last site was enough to increase the height of the wind profile and to favor the transport of particles by suspension. The quotient FM/Q, an index of the proportion between the net erosion of the soil in relation to the total amount of particles moving in the air, was highest in PAT, medium in BE y SR and minimum in PI. We concluded that wind erosion of Haplargids of environments with high and constant wind speeds, but with a permanent coverage with natural grasses, will not be high and will promote mainly the emission of fine particles at low rates. The amount of this process will largely depend on the extent of surface available for erosion. Wind erosion of agriculture Ustipsamments and Haplustolls, which remain frequently bare, will be high and will affect the soil and the air quality in similar proportions. Wind erosion of agriculture Hapludolls will be high but will affect relatively more the soil than the air quality.