Abstract

AOKI, A. M.  and  SERENO, R.. Evaluation of infiltration as soil quality indicator by a micro rainfall simulator. Agriscientia [online]. 2006, vol.23, n.1, pp.23-31. ISSN 1668-298X.

Rainfall simulators have been used for the last twenty years in erosion and runoff research. This paper had two goals: 1) to comparatively evaluate the infiltration as soil quality indicator using a rainfall micro simulator; and, 2) to compare and choose the equations that adequately fit the infiltration process. The assays were made on a typical Haplustol soil with silty loam texture situated in the Central Region of Cordoba Province. Three test sites were selected: a witness site under native forest and two corresponding to soils under soybean monoculture and conventional tillage. Several simulated rain intensities were applied. The statistical fitting of experimental data was compared to two equations: Philip and Horton. The following was observed from field measurements: 1) the final velocity of the infiltration process is a valid quality soil indicator to detect significant differences between superficial horizon conditions of a typical Haplustol soil in a native forest and in a conventional tillage agroecosystem; and, 2) the Horton equation describes the water infiltration process for the soil and conditions of this study better than the Philip equation.

Keywords : Micro rainfall simulator; Soil quality; Tipical Haplustol soil; Infiltration.

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