Agricultural Land Degradation in Brazil

Using the GeoWEPP Model to Predict Water Erosion in Micro-Watersheds in the Brazilian Cerrado

“…The two types of soils represented in our analyses make up over half of the land area of Brazil (Oxisols 38.7 + Entisols 14.5 = 53.2%) [48]. Although the GeoWEPP model validation for crops requires future improvement, the pasture and natural vegetation we validated the model for make up a large percentage of the Cerrado savannah biome at 54.8% for such natural areas and 30.7% for pasture with crops taking up only 13.1% of the land area of the Cerrado biome [49]. Future studies using GeoWEPP can validate the model across a greater variation in types and density of natural vegetation cover since it has been shown in more arid environments such as Brazil's northeast region that denser vegetation cover is associated with lower erosion metrics and greater soil carbon [50].…”

“…Soil erosion is a significant challenge in Brazil, especially in agricultural areas with sandy soils, which can lead to noticeable erosion as rills and gullies even in areas with pasture [52], as well as increased suspended sediments loads in rivers such as the Teles Pires [53]. Brazil's pastures help support ~253 million head of cattle [49]. Using GeoWEPP to model erosion in Brazil's pastures is important due to the predominance of the extensive grazing system in Brazil and the susceptibility of this type of grazing to pasture degradation.…”

Achieving wheat self-sufficiency in Brazil

“…The expansion of wheat in Brazil is primarily concentrated in the central Cerrado region, but research indicates an even greater potential in north and northeast Brazil, which includes some Cerrado lands [19] that could also be converted into productive croplands [20]. Ongoing explorations into Brazilian vertical wheat farms [21], with a potential yield of 1,940 t ha −1 per year in a 10-layer farm [22], promise to reduce agricultural pressure on newly transformed areas.…”