The problems of land resources degradation as a result of misuse of arable land for non agricultural development and lack of appropriate methods and guidelines for land resources assessment are currently evident in Eritrea. These problems, have called for an urgent need for an appropriate land resources assessment in Eritrea. In response to this, a land capability classification in the areas around Asmara city that covers about 11742.7 ha was conducted. The intended aim was to properly assess the potential of the land resources in the study area and classify the capability of the land so as to designate the land according to its capability and foster appropriate land use. All the available natural resources in the study area were carefully assessed. A detailed soil survey was conducted and soil units were examined, described, classified and mapped out. Several criteria for the limitations were selected from the reviewed literature mainly USDA and RSA Land Capability Classification systems and in consultation with the soil survey and natural resources experts of the Ministry of Agriculture in Eritrea. In formation on land and soil characteristics, and the specified limitations and criteria were captured in a spatial digital format and then analysed within a GIS. Based on the specified parameters, different land capability units, subclasses, classes and orders were identified and mapped out. Finally, the sub classes were grouped to create,land capability classes ranging from Class I to Class VII and consequently the capability classes were grouped and mapped out at the level of land capability orders. The results revealed seven land capability classes (Class I to VII). Class III land in the study area covers 4149.43 ha (36.9 percent of the total area). The largest portion of this class is found in the central, southern and south eastern parts of the study area. However, classes I and II are very limited and cover 1562.95 ha (13.9 percent) of the study area. These classes are found mainly in the southern and central parts of the study area. Most of the gentle and steep sloping lands in the north and north eastern parts of the study area are classified as classes IV and VI. These classes have an area of 2652.08 ha (23.6 percent) and 2594.87 ha (23.1 percent) of the study area, respectively. Classes V and VII are very limited. These classes cover 221.53 ha (2 percent) and 57.55 ha (0.5 percent), respectively. The largest portion of class V land is found in the central part of the study area. Class VII land is mainly confined to the north eastern, western and southern corners of the study area. Four land capability orders were arrived at ranging from (high to moderate potential to non-arable land). The high to moderate potential arable lands are largely found in the southern and central parts of the study area. These lands cover 5715.39 ha (50.8 percent) of the study area. However, low potential arable (marginal productive) and non-arable lands have a considerable area of 2652.08 ha (23.6 percent) and 2652.42 ha (23.1 percent) of the study area, respectively. The largest portion of these lands is found in the north, north eastern and eastern parts of the study area. A small portion of the lands in the study area is classified as seasonally wetland. This land has an are~\ of 221.53 h~{2 percent) of the study area and is mainly found in the central part of the study area. It was concluded that nearly 50 percent of the land in the study area is classified as of moderately to high agricultural potential whereas the rest of the land is classified as marginal to non-arable land. However, the steady growth of demand for land for nonagricultural development due to the increasing population that depend on farm production in the study area, renders the prime arable lands as too limited to support the current population in the study area. Hence, protecting the prime arable lands and properly using such lands based on their sustained capacity can only secure the livelihood of the community. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-122).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-08-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:40:51Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000739831.pdf: 9957436 bytes, checksum: ac8cf4ad665c35e7ed91c71092d9a367 (MD5) / O atual contexto nacional da agricultura e da ciência do solo demonstra a importância sobre desenvolvimento de protocolos para delineamento de unidades de mapeamento detalhado do solo e planejamento amostral estratificado. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo utilizar a suscetibilidade magnética (SM), cor do solo e relação solo-paisagem no mapeamento de atributos e planejamento amostral para Latossolos. Foram coletadas 86 amostras em intervalos regulares de 30 m em uma transeção. Nas laterais da transeção, foram coletadas 150 amostras em intervalos de 159 metros (densidade de um ponto a cada 2,5 ha) em 380 ha. Os atributos granulométricos, químicos, SM e cor do solo foram analisados juntamente com resultados de NDVI (Índice de Vegetação por Diferença Normalizada) para os anos de 2009, 2010 e 2011, além de dados da planta coletados em campo. Os resultados da análise “Split Moving Windows” para SM correlacionaram-se com teor de argila (r=0,7; p<0,01), matiz (r=0,4; p<0,05) e NDVI 2010 e 2011 (r=-0,3; p<0,01). Os resultados mostraram que as áreas de manejo específico definidas podem auxiliar no delineamento de unidades de mapeamento detalhado com base na relação solo- -paisagem e variabilidade espacial da SM. Para o estudo do planejamento amostral, em parte da área (150 ha), foram coletadas 60 amostras na densidade de um ponto a cada 2,5 ha com amostragem simples e composta ( 3 subamostras). Diferentes densidades amostrais (um ponto a cada 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8 e 9 ha) foram obtidas na área de 380 ha, retirando-se pontos aleatoriamente. Os mapas de krigagem da SM, teor de argila e saturação por bases elaborados com amostragem simples e compostas tiveram índice de concordância (d) próximo de 1. A correlação dos mapas de krigagem nas densidades amostrais de um ponto a cada 2 a 7 ha foi de 0,9. Para as densidade de um ponto a cada 8 e 9 ha, foram encontradas correlações... / The current national context of agriculture and soil science demonstrates the importance of developing protocols for delineation of units of detailed mapping soil and stratified sampling. This paper aims to use the magnetic susceptibility (MS), soil color and soil-landscape relationship in mapping attributes and sample design for Oxisols. 86 samples were collected at regular intervals of 30 m on a transect. On the sides of the transect 150 samples were collected at intervals of 159 meters (density of one point every 2.5 ha) in 380 ha. The texture attributes, chemical, MS and color were considered together with the results of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation) for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011, and plant data collected in the field. The results of analysis Split Moving Windows correlates to SM-RAM with clay content (r = 0.7, p <0.01), hue (r = 0.4, p <0.05) and NDVI 2010 and 2011 (r = -0.3, p <0.01). The results showed that the specific management of areas can assist in the design of detailed mapping units based on soil-landscape relationship and spatial variability of MS. For the sample planning study, in part of the area (150 ha), 60 samples were collected at a density of one point every 2.5 ha with simple sampling and composite (3 subsample). Different sample densities (one point every 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8 and 9 h) were obtained in the area of 380 ha removing dots at random. The kriging maps of MS, clay content and base saturation made with simple sampling were composed at an index of agreement (d) close to 1. The correlation maps of kriging sampling densities of one point every 2 to 7 ha was 0.9. For the density of a point every 8 and 9 were found correlations ranging from 0.4 to 0.7. There was agreement of kriging map of clay content in the density of one point every 2.5 ha with the map of SM in the density of each point to 7 ha (d = 0.9). The SM can be used to improve estimates of ...

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-09T12:28:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-09-19Bitstream added on 2015-04-09T12:47:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000812419.pdf: 4244747 bytes, checksum: ebbe695f993797fc70a703116e71229d (MD5) / A agricultura exige informações de mapeamento de atributos dos solos em escala detalhada com a apresentação da acurácia. Os objetivos destes estudos foram: (i) avaliar o potencial da geoestatística morfológica no mapeamento de classes de perdas de solo por erosão; (ii) avaliar duas metodologias geoestatísticas: krigagem ordinária e simulação sequencial gaussiana no mapeamento do diâmetro médio do cristal da goethita, e (iii) avaliar o potencial do uso da análise de dissimilaridade entre janelas móveis a partir de dados multivariados de atributos do solo de plantas ao longo de uma transeção para a alocação de unidade de mapeamento. O estudo (i) foi realizado no município de Tabapuã, Estado de São Paulo em uma área de 530 ha, em uma malha amostral de 626 pontos, sendo coletadas amostras de solo, determinados os atributos físicos e químicos, e calculada a erosão do solo pela equação universal de perdas de solo. A partir desses valores, foram realizadas as análises estatísticas descritivas e geoestatísticas, e os valores dos atributos do solo foram estimados por meio da abordagem morfológica da função indicatriz. Obtiveram-se mapas morfológicos a partir de 100 simulações. Foi observada a incerteza desses mapas pela entropia de Shannon, e houve maior incerteza na transição entre as classes de erosão. A simulação é eficiente na caracterização espacial e na definição dos limites laterais das classes de perdas de solo por erosão. O estudo (ii) foi realizado na mesma área anterior, com uma malha amostral de 113 pontos espaçados a cada 10 metros. Nesses pontos foram determinados os teores de goethita da fração argila, calculada a largura a meia-altura e com ela obtiveram-se os valores do diâmetro do cristal da goethita. Foram ajustamos modelos aos variograma, em seguida estimados e simulados por krigagem ordinária e simulação sequencial gaussiana (SSG), respectivamente. Os mapas da krigagem ... / Agriculture calls for attributes mapping as well as soil classification data leading to an accurate presentation. The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the morphologic geostatistical potential for the mapping of soil losses due to erosion; (ii) to assess two geostatistical methodologies; ordinary kriging and gaussian sequential simulation in mapping of the average diameter of goethite crystal; and (iii) to evaluate the potential of the usage of dissimilarity between mobile windows analysis from multivariated attribute data from the soil attributes of plants in a transection for the allocation of the mapping unity. The study (i) was performed in Tabapuã, a municipality in São Paulo State, in a 530 ha area, within a sampling net of 626 points, being soil samples collected, for which physical and chemical attributes were determined, and soil erosion calculated by means of the universal equation of soil losses. Based on those values, descriptive and geostatistical analysis were performed, while soil attribute values were esteemed from a morphological approach of indicator variables (dummy) function. Those resulted in morphological maps from 100 simulations. Some uncertainties of these maps were noticed by means of Shannon entropy and greater uncertainty came for the transition between erosion classes. The simulation is efficient in spatial characterization and in the definition of the lateral limits of soil losses by erosion classes. The study (ii) was in the same former area, having a net sampling of 113 points at each 10 meters. At these points the content of goethite clay fraction was determined, together with the width at halfheight, from which the goethite crystal diameter values were obtained. Models were adjusted to the variograms, followed by estimation and simulation by ordinary kriging and gaussian sequential simulation. Ordinary kriging map does not show extreme values (minimum and maximum) at specific sites ...

Orientador: José Marques Júnior / Coorientador: Gener Tadeu Pereira / Banca: José Alexandre Melo Demattê / Banca: Ricardo Simão Diniz Dalmolin / Banca: Elpídio Inácio Fernandes Filho / Banca: Zigomar Menezes de Souza / Resumo: O atual contexto nacional da agricultura e da ciência do solo demonstra a importância sobre desenvolvimento de protocolos para delineamento de unidades de mapeamento detalhado do solo e planejamento amostral estratificado. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo utilizar a suscetibilidade magnética (SM), cor do solo e relação solo-paisagem no mapeamento de atributos e planejamento amostral para Latossolos. Foram coletadas 86 amostras em intervalos regulares de 30 m em uma transeção. Nas laterais da transeção, foram coletadas 150 amostras em intervalos de 159 metros (densidade de um ponto a cada 2,5 ha) em 380 ha. Os atributos granulométricos, químicos, SM e cor do solo foram analisados juntamente com resultados de NDVI (Índice de Vegetação por Diferença Normalizada) para os anos de 2009, 2010 e 2011, além de dados da planta coletados em campo. Os resultados da análise "Split Moving Windows" para SM correlacionaram-se com teor de argila (r=0,7; p<0,01), matiz (r=0,4; p<0,05) e NDVI 2010 e 2011 (r=-0,3; p<0,01). Os resultados mostraram que as áreas de manejo específico definidas podem auxiliar no delineamento de unidades de mapeamento detalhado com base na relação solo- -paisagem e variabilidade espacial da SM. Para o estudo do planejamento amostral, em parte da área (150 ha), foram coletadas 60 amostras na densidade de um ponto a cada 2,5 ha com amostragem simples e composta ( 3 subamostras). Diferentes densidades amostrais (um ponto a cada 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8 e 9 ha) foram obtidas na área de 380 ha, retirando-se pontos aleatoriamente. Os mapas de krigagem da SM, teor de argila e saturação por bases elaborados com amostragem simples e compostas tiveram índice de concordância (d) próximo de 1. A correlação dos mapas de krigagem nas densidades amostrais de um ponto a cada 2 a 7 ha foi de 0,9. Para as densidade de um ponto a cada 8 e 9 ha, foram encontradas correlações ... / Abstract: The current national context of agriculture and soil science demonstrates the importance of developing protocols for delineation of units of detailed mapping soil and stratified sampling. This paper aims to use the magnetic susceptibility (MS), soil color and soil-landscape relationship in mapping attributes and sample design for Oxisols. 86 samples were collected at regular intervals of 30 m on a transect. On the sides of the transect 150 samples were collected at intervals of 159 meters (density of one point every 2.5 ha) in 380 ha. The texture attributes, chemical, MS and color were considered together with the results of NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation) for the years 2009, 2010 and 2011, and plant data collected in the field. The results of analysis "Split Moving Windows" correlates to SM-RAM with clay content (r = 0.7, p <0.01), hue (r = 0.4, p <0.05) and NDVI 2010 and 2011 (r = -0.3, p <0.01). The results showed that the specific management of areas can assist in the design of detailed mapping units based on soil-landscape relationship and spatial variability of MS. For the sample planning study, in part of the area (150 ha), 60 samples were collected at a density of one point every 2.5 ha with simple sampling and composite (3 subsample). Different sample densities (one point every 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8 and 9 h) were obtained in the area of 380 ha removing dots at random. The kriging maps of MS, clay content and base saturation made with simple sampling were composed at an index of agreement (d) close to 1. The correlation maps of kriging sampling densities of one point every 2 to 7 ha was 0.9. For the density of a point every 8 and 9 were found correlations ranging from 0.4 to 0.7. There was agreement of kriging map of clay content in the density of one point every 2.5 ha with the map of SM in the density of each point to 7 ha (d = 0.9). The SM can be used to improve estimates of ... / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-12-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:31:59Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 demarchi_jc_me_botfca.pdf: 1445779 bytes, checksum: 2bbfc0965a5bf3563befc20f86bd5d66 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / A erosão do solo constitui o principal fator de degradação das terras agrícolas. Ela é influenciada por fatores climáticos, pela suscetibilidade natural dos solos, características do relevo e intervenção antrópica através do uso, manejo do solo e das práticas conservacionistas, que podem acelerá-la ou reduzi-la. O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar uma estimativa de perda de solo por erosão hídrica na Sub-Bacia do Ribeirão das Perobas, localizada no município de Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo – SP, através da Equação Universal de Perda de Solo Revisada (RUSLE), utilizando ferramentas de Geoprocessamento e Sensoriamento Remoto. Foi elaborado o mapa detalhado de solos da sub-bacia, a partir do qual se determinou a erodibilidade, a tolerância de perda de solo e se efetuou a classificação das terras no sistema de capacidade de uso. Os mapas de erosividade da chuva, fator topográfico, uso e manejo do solo e práticas conservacionistas foram elaborados em ambiente de Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG) a partir de dados do programa netErosividade SP, do modelo digital de elevação do terreno e de imagens de satélite, respectivamente. Foram determinados o Potencial Natural de Erosão, a perda de solo (cenário atual), a Capacidade de uso-manejo permissível, o Risco de Erosão Simulado e a Expectativa de Erosão da sub-bacia.Dois cenários de perda de solos foram simulados: 1) adequação do uso, manejo e práticas conservacionistas à capacidade de uso, e 2) áreas agricultáveis ocupadas por cana-de-açúcar sem manejo e plantio em nível. A estimativa de perda de solo através da RUSLE evidenciou que a erosão resulta da interação de fatores dos meios físico e antrópico, mas sofreu maior influência do fator C (uso e manejo do solo). O mapa de capacidade de uso-manejo permissível, associado à capacidade de uso da terra... / Soil erosion is the main factor of agricultural land degradation. It is influenced by climatic factors, natural susceptibility of soils, topography characteristics and by human intervention, through land cover, management and support practices, which can increase it or reduce it. This work aims to perform an estimation of soil loss by water erosion in Ribeirão das Perobas Sub-basin, located in Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Paulo state, through Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), using GIS and Remote Sensing tools. It was elaborated the detailed soil map of the sub-basin, from which were determined the erodibility, soil loss tolerance and it was performed the land classification into the land use capacity system. Rainfall erosivity, topographic factor, cover-management and support practices maps were elaborated in GIS (Geographical Information System), using the netErosividade SP program, the digital elevation model and the satellite images, respectively. The Natural Potential of Erosion, the soil loss (current scenario), the Permissible Land Cover-Management Capacity, the Simulated Erosion Risk and the Sub-basin Erosion Expectation were determined. Two soil loss scenarios were simulated: 1) adequacy of the cover-management and the support practices to the land use capacity, and 2) farming areas occupied by sugarcane crops without management and contour tillage. The soil loss estimation through RUSLE showed that erosion results from the interaction of natural and anthropogenic factors, but it suffered more influence of the C factor (soil cover and management). The Permissible Land Cover-Management map, associated with... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Gener Tadeu Pereira / Coorientador: José Marques Júnior / Banca: Marcílio Vieira Martins Filho / Banca: Livia Arantes Camargo / Banca: Rafael Montanari / Banca: Zigomar Menezes de Souza / Resumo: A agricultura exige informações de mapeamento de atributos dos solos em escala detalhada com a apresentação da acurácia. Os objetivos destes estudos foram: (i) avaliar o potencial da geoestatística morfológica no mapeamento de classes de perdas de solo por erosão; (ii) avaliar duas metodologias geoestatísticas: krigagem ordinária e simulação sequencial gaussiana no mapeamento do diâmetro médio do cristal da goethita, e (iii) avaliar o potencial do uso da análise de dissimilaridade entre janelas móveis a partir de dados multivariados de atributos do solo de plantas ao longo de uma transeção para a alocação de unidade de mapeamento. O estudo (i) foi realizado no município de Tabapuã, Estado de São Paulo em uma área de 530 ha, em uma malha amostral de 626 pontos, sendo coletadas amostras de solo, determinados os atributos físicos e químicos, e calculada a erosão do solo pela equação universal de perdas de solo. A partir desses valores, foram realizadas as análises estatísticas descritivas e geoestatísticas, e os valores dos atributos do solo foram estimados por meio da abordagem morfológica da função indicatriz. Obtiveram-se mapas morfológicos a partir de 100 simulações. Foi observada a incerteza desses mapas pela entropia de Shannon, e houve maior incerteza na transição entre as classes de erosão. A simulação é eficiente na caracterização espacial e na definição dos limites laterais das classes de perdas de solo por erosão. O estudo (ii) foi realizado na mesma área anterior, com uma malha amostral de 113 pontos espaçados a cada 10 metros. Nesses pontos foram determinados os teores de goethita da fração argila, calculada a largura a meia-altura e com ela obtiveram-se os valores do diâmetro do cristal da goethita. Foram ajustamos modelos aos variograma, em seguida estimados e simulados por krigagem ordinária e simulação sequencial gaussiana (SSG), respectivamente. Os mapas da krigagem ... / Abstract: Agriculture calls for attributes mapping as well as soil classification data leading to an accurate presentation. The objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the morphologic geostatistical potential for the mapping of soil losses due to erosion; (ii) to assess two geostatistical methodologies; ordinary kriging and gaussian sequential simulation in mapping of the average diameter of goethite crystal; and (iii) to evaluate the potential of the usage of dissimilarity between mobile windows analysis from multivariated attribute data from the soil attributes of plants in a transection for the allocation of the mapping unity. The study (i) was performed in Tabapuã, a municipality in São Paulo State, in a 530 ha area, within a sampling net of 626 points, being soil samples collected, for which physical and chemical attributes were determined, and soil erosion calculated by means of the universal equation of soil losses. Based on those values, descriptive and geostatistical analysis were performed, while soil attribute values were esteemed from a morphological approach of indicator variables (dummy) function. Those resulted in morphological maps from 100 simulations. Some uncertainties of these maps were noticed by means of Shannon entropy and greater uncertainty came for the transition between erosion classes. The simulation is efficient in spatial characterization and in the definition of the lateral limits of soil losses by erosion classes. The study (ii) was in the same former area, having a net sampling of 113 points at each 10 meters. At these points the content of goethite clay fraction was determined, together with the width at halfheight, from which the goethite crystal diameter values were obtained. Models were adjusted to the variograms, followed by estimation and simulation by ordinary kriging and gaussian sequential simulation. Ordinary kriging map does not show extreme values (minimum and maximum) at specific sites ... / Doutor

Orientador: Célia Regina Lopes Zimback / Banca: Maria Cristina Perusi / Banca: Sergio Lazaro de Lima / Resumo: A erosão do solo constitui o principal fator de degradação das terras agrícolas. Ela é influenciada por fatores climáticos, pela suscetibilidade natural dos solos, características do relevo e intervenção antrópica através do uso, manejo do solo e das práticas conservacionistas, que podem acelerá-la ou reduzi-la. O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar uma estimativa de perda de solo por erosão hídrica na Sub-Bacia do Ribeirão das Perobas, localizada no município de Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo - SP, através da Equação Universal de Perda de Solo Revisada (RUSLE), utilizando ferramentas de Geoprocessamento e Sensoriamento Remoto. Foi elaborado o mapa detalhado de solos da sub-bacia, a partir do qual se determinou a erodibilidade, a tolerância de perda de solo e se efetuou a classificação das terras no sistema de capacidade de uso. Os mapas de erosividade da chuva, fator topográfico, uso e manejo do solo e práticas conservacionistas foram elaborados em ambiente de Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG) a partir de dados do programa netErosividade SP, do modelo digital de elevação do terreno e de imagens de satélite, respectivamente. Foram determinados o Potencial Natural de Erosão, a perda de solo (cenário atual), a Capacidade de uso-manejo permissível, o Risco de Erosão Simulado e a Expectativa de Erosão da sub-bacia.Dois cenários de perda de solos foram simulados: 1) adequação do uso, manejo e práticas conservacionistas à capacidade de uso, e 2) áreas agricultáveis ocupadas por cana-de-açúcar sem manejo e plantio em nível. A estimativa de perda de solo através da RUSLE evidenciou que a erosão resulta da interação de fatores dos meios físico e antrópico, mas sofreu maior influência do fator C (uso e manejo do solo). O mapa de capacidade de uso-manejo permissível, associado à capacidade de uso da terra... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Soil erosion is the main factor of agricultural land degradation. It is influenced by climatic factors, natural susceptibility of soils, topography characteristics and by human intervention, through land cover, management and support practices, which can increase it or reduce it. This work aims to perform an estimation of soil loss by water erosion in Ribeirão das Perobas Sub-basin, located in Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, São Paulo state, through Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), using GIS and Remote Sensing tools. It was elaborated the detailed soil map of the sub-basin, from which were determined the erodibility, soil loss tolerance and it was performed the land classification into the land use capacity system. Rainfall erosivity, topographic factor, cover-management and support practices maps were elaborated in GIS (Geographical Information System), using the netErosividade SP program, the digital elevation model and the satellite images, respectively. The Natural Potential of Erosion, the soil loss (current scenario), the Permissible Land Cover-Management Capacity, the Simulated Erosion Risk and the Sub-basin Erosion Expectation were determined. Two soil loss scenarios were simulated: 1) adequacy of the cover-management and the support practices to the land use capacity, and 2) farming areas occupied by sugarcane crops without management and contour tillage. The soil loss estimation through RUSLE showed that erosion results from the interaction of natural and anthropogenic factors, but it suffered more influence of the C factor (soil cover and management). The Permissible Land Cover-Management map, associated with... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

'The soils resource in the Tofino area of Vancouver Island is considered for land-use planning and management purposes. This was done by completing a series of four studies. The first study describes the study area by looking at those components which were considered to have a major impact on the function of the soils in the landscape. This included geology (bedrock and surficial), soil morphology, depth to water table, vegetation, climate and water quality. The soils exhibit a range of soil development from very little to strongly expressed genetic characteristics including cemented horizons. The presence of many lithologic discontinuities confirms a complex mode of material deposition in the area. The second study is concerned with the physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of the soils. Soil genesis is also discussed. The analyses show a wide range of textures in the soils and varifies the presence of lithologic discontinuities. Pedo-genic processes have changed the structure in some soils by aggregating the Fe and Al oxides into larger sized particles. The soils are low in natural fertility with nutrient cycling occurring primarily in the organic horizons or above restricting layers in the mineral horizons if these are near the surface. Vermiculite is the dominant clay mineral in the surface mineral horizons indicating a weathering environment of moderate intensity. The third study discusses the characteristics and genesis of some placic horizons (thin pans) which have developed in some soils in sand deposits. These horizons exhibit considerable variation in morphology and chemical composition. The primary cementing materials are organic matter (mainly fulvic acid), and Pe which is present as either inorganic amorphous or organically complexed Fe. The morphological characteristics and stability of the placic horizons are dependent upon the amount of OM present and the form in which the Fe occurs. The genesis of these pans is initiated at lithologic discontinuities under differential redox conditions. Diffusion is active in material transport with the pan acting as a template upon which the material is precipitated. The fourth study is an assessment of-the soils for land-use planning and management purposes. Emphasis is given to the identification of processes which control the function of the soils both internally and externally. The soils are grouped into three categories characteristic of the dominant control. The categories are; landscape components, inherent characteristics and genetic features. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate