17-26
Determination of the risk to the potential erosion by water in the coffee zone of the Quindio, Colombia
Authors: Andrés Felipe Castro Quintero, Luz Adriana Lince Salazar & Orlando Riaño Melo
Number of views: 912
This research estimated erosion potential - EP-,which causes degradation and affecting the fertility of the soil by reducing the crop yield and increasing costs in production. Used the Universal equation of soil loss (USLE/RUSLE), with the formula A = (R) *(K) * (LS), simple random sampling, in eleven ground units such as replications was conducted. He worked with R rain rainfall erosivity factor reported by Lynx (2015), with monthly precipitation of 19 weather
stations for the period 1999-2011. The calculation of
Factor (K) was quantified using a rainfall Simulator,
data were interpolated with kriging, and finally found
the topographic factor - LS-, through treatment in the
Aster GDEM image, owned by Nasa. They then proceeded
to use the algebra of maps. Found that the EP in the municipalities of Buenavista, Pijao, Calarcá, Córdoba, Génova (Quindío, Colombia) presented more than 27% of the study area with moderate soil loss rating values, high and very high ranging from 26 to more than 100 t/ha-1.year-1, and the municipalities of Armenia, Circasia, Filandia, Montenegro, Quimbaya, and La Tebaida they present EP with qualifications considered light to low, representing up to 73% area of study with values that range from 10 to 25 t/ha-1.year-1, and corresponding to little steep slopes which represents significant potential losses in the organic layer of the soil.