SOIL AND WATER LOSS AND WATER INFILTRATION IN RED LATOSOL UNDER DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

The soil management systems change the microrelief and the crop residue cover, influencing the soil and water losses. In this study evaluated the soil and water losses and estimated the water final infiltration rate in different soil managements models under simulated rainfall. Crop residues were evaluated in the field after harvest of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill). Three soil managements systems were studied: no-tillage, disk harrow and chisel plow associated with three levels of dry soybean residue: 0; 2; and 4 Mg ha(-1). In the experimental units, the soil bulk density, macroporosity, aggregate stability, initial moisture content, cover percentage and surface roughness were determined. Artificial rain was applied to each plot at an intensity of 60 mm h(-1) by a portable rainfall simulator. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized, factorial 3 x 3 design with three replications. Soil loss ranged from 1.40 to 116.30 x 10(-3) Mg ha(-1) h(-1), while water loss ranged from 1.60 to 106.94 m(3) ha(-1) h(-1). The water final infiltration rate ranged from 23 to 52 mm h(-1). Soil and water losses were highest and the final infiltration rate lowest in the treatments under no-tillage without soil cover and tilled with disk harrow.