Erosion and its mischief
We all know that the Earth surface is dynamic, because it has undergone intense and continuous transformations since the formation of our planet, either by internal heat flow, by atmospheric phenomena, among others.
The natural or geological erosion is one of the natural processes that transform the landscape, through the disaggregation, transport and deposition of soil particles and/or rock fragments. The main agents of this process are rivers, wind, glaciers and floods.
However, if erosion is a natural process, should we be concerned? Definitely, yes! Although, erosion is a natural process, it can be accelerated by the wrong use of soil. For example, the removal of vegetation coverage leaves the soil exposed and more conducive to mass movements, especially in areas with strong slopes. In this case, soil formation processes do not compensate the soil losses.
Our soils have been degraded rapidly, due to the removal of most of native vegetation to attend the demands of urbanization, agriculture and livestock. The soil degradation causes losses both environmental and economic for the whole society, because it is not just soil particles being lost, but also nutrients adsorbed on them, rivers being silted up, pure waters being polluted and food no longer being produced.
The superficial layer of soil, the first one to be lost in the erosion process, is precisely the most fertile, due to the higher content of organic matter and, consequently, of nutrients.
According to estimates of the researcher Tiago Telles of the Instituto Agronomico do Paraná – Iapar (Agronomic Institute of Paraná), Paraná state loses more than US$ 240 million per year in nutrients with erosion. Worrying, is not it?
Farmers of Paraná have been practicing the no-tillage system (NTS) since the 1970s. In fact, if applied correctly, NTS can reduce by 95% the water and soil losses by erosion, when compared to the conventional system. However, according to Embrapa Soja of Paraná, the partial or inadequate use of NTS may favor erosive processes.
Other soil management systems may be employed to avoid soil erosion on agricultural crops, such as crop rotation, terrace farming and reforestation of degraded areas. It is important to remember that the monitoring of urban and road works is fundamental, since they allow the concentration of runoff waters.
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