Soil erosion determination in a watershed from northern Paraná (Brazil) using 137Cs

Abstract

The objective of this work was study the soil losses or gains in a watershed in the municipal district of Cambé, Paraná using 137Cs as marker for the determination of soil redistributions. A transect sampling was used to evaluate the influence of different tillage on soil erosion. One point, located in a forest area was sampled and analyzed to determine the reference inventory of cesium-137 deposited by fallout. The average value of the reference inventory was 292 Bq m-2. The cesium-137 inventory of the transect samples varied from 80 Bq m-2 to 403 Bq m-2. The sampling points in pasture presented soil losses. The sampling points in coffee plantation did not present losses or gains. The sampling points in soybean cultivated areas presented soil losses.