Summary
Erosion is the main cause of degradation of soils in Chile. The rain intensity and its distribution which is highly concentrated in winter, land management practices associated with land slope, results that water erosion is the most important form of soil degradation. The study area is located in the south of Chile, VII Region, at the Cauquenes Experimental Centre of the Agricultural Research Institute (INIA). The study is conducted in 2 representative soils of the "secano interior" area.
- Study Site 1 has a slope of 20%, used mainly in cereal crops. The SWC techniques include: (1) No tillage, (2) No tillage and contour ploughing, (3) No tillage and barrier hedges and (4) No tillage and subsoiling.
- Study Site 2 with strong slopes >20%, land use is mainly agroforestry. The SWC techniques include: (1) No tillage, (2) No tillage and infiltration trenches and (3) No tillage and contour ridging with subsoiling.
Soil biological, physic and chemical analysis are realized at both study sites. Plant evaluations at the different phonological states are realized too. Monitoring evaporation tray, rainfall, water soil infiltration, rainfall runoff and sediments are made at Study Site 1.
