Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo (Apr 2012)

Assessment of Efficiency and Adequacy of Retention Terraces

  • Antônio Calazans Reis Miranda,
  • Danilo Paulúcio da Silva,
  • Eloy Lemos de Mello,
  • Fernando Falco Pruski

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-06832012000200027
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 36, no. 2
pp. 577 – 586

Abstract

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Due to losses caused by water erosion, the development of techniques that increase the efficiency of soil conservation practices is fundamental. Terracing of agricultural lands is an important conservation practice. Bearing in mind that improperly built terraces may negatively affect the landscape, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the efficiency as well as the adequacy of retention terraces. Assessments were performed in four terraces implanted in different states, all located in the mideastern region of the state of Minas Gerais. The water storage efficiency of the terraces was determined by comparing the effective with the required storage capacity, as established in the project. Proposals were also made for the adequacy of the assessed terraces, based on the correction of the characteristics that jeopardized storage efficiency. The storage efficiency of three of the four assessed terraces was below the required levels (0.5-13 %). The main properties influencing storage capacity were: uniformity of ridge crest height, terrace end closure, and the cross section finishing. In two of the three low-efficiency terraces, the correction of these characteristics proved sufficient to raise the storage efficiency to nearly 100 %.

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