Abstract

GRANADA-ISAZA, Cesar A.; VENTURA-RAMOS, Eusebio Jr.  and  OROPEZA-MOTA, José L.. Reinforcement of soil imprinting with gypsum and polyacrylamide to control water erosion and runoff. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.1, pp.69-79. ISSN 2395-8030.

Soil erosion by water is a dynamic process consisting of the detachment, transport and deposition of soil particles by rainfall and runoff. Artificially created roughness, with regular and repeated patterns, has been accomplished by the process of soil imprinting (SI), mainly for the purpose of conserving soil and water and mitigating the impacts of soil degradation. However, roughness created by soil imprinting devices, similarly to random roughness, tend to disappear with time due to the processes such as splash rainfall erosion, specially under heavy rainfall events and steep slopes. SI needs to be reinforced to last longer, so more significant effects on soil and water conservation can be achieved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of superficially applying gypsum and polyacrylamide (PAM) in the reinforcement of SI, as it relates to soil erosion and runoff under simulated rainfall. Runoff/erosion boxes were used to evaluate water erosion, runoff and SI dynamics under simulated rainfall for three treatments: control, SI, and SI+gypsum+PAM. SI dynamics was evaluated using a 2D-technique for reconstruction of images. Soil imprinting and surface application of gypsum and polyacrylamide significantly reduced runoff and erosion rates by 80 and 92%, respectively, as compared to a flat bare surface; while the corresponding decrease of the SI treatment on runoff and erosion was 64 and 75%, respectively. Surface application of gypsum and polyacrylamide, reduced the loss of roughness of the soil imprinting, with an additional decrease in runoff and soil erosion.

Keywords : soil roughness; water erosion; soil amendments; soil imprinting.

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