EROSION IN SOILS ADDED WITH HYDROGEL

Abstract Soil erosion is currently the main cause of soil degradation. Therefore, it is urgent to implement technologies that aim to reduce erosion processes. The effects of hydrogel on water storage and its ability to reduce surface runoff and soil losses were evaluated. Experiments were set up in pots and in the field, with different doses of hydrogel and under different managements, respectively. In pots, the treatments were: T0 and T02 - 0 g of hydrogel; T0.5g - 0.5 g; T1g - 1 g; T2g - 2g; T3g - 3 g; T4g - 4g and T5g - 5 g of hydrogel. In the field, 13.3 g of hydrogel/m2 was applied to erosion plots installed in an area with soursop cultivation under different conservation managements, namely: - T1 - Planting in contour lines + stone cordons + grass planting; T2 - Planting downhill, without grass; T3 - Contour planting + grass planting and T4 - Downhill planting + grass planting. The total volume of water percolated in each pot and the surface runoff and soil losses were measured. It was concluded that doses between 4 and 5 g/pot cause increases in water retention of more than 20%, mainly after 4 or 5 wetting and drying cycles. The high variability of the treatments made it difficult to measure the effects of the hydrogel on soil losses, requiring more field studies using the polymer.