MODELING OF PHOSPHORUS LOSSES BY WATER EROSION

Abstract

Phosphorus losses in runoff water and eroded sediment may increase the risk of eutrophication. Erosion prediction models can be used to assess and quantify nutrient losses and transport in different soil management scenarios. This study aimed to assess the performance of models to estimate the losses of available phosphorus in eroded sediments and assess their spatial variability pattern. The experiment was installed on a eutrophic Red Ultisol located in Tabapua, northwestern Sao Paulo State, Sao Domingos Stream Watershed. Aiming at estimating and validating the models, measurements were made from 2007 to 2015 at 17 observation points (slopes), determining soil phosphorus content (P-soil), eroded sediments (P-sed), and enrichment rate (ERsed). The models applied to estimate the enrichment rates of phosphorus in the eroded sediment and runoff are efficient when in use with the predictions of the model Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP). The enrichment rates obtained presented a Nash-Sutcliffe (NS) coefficient close to 1. Losses of soluble phosphorus in runoff above 0.02 mg L-1, a critical value for eutrophication, can be obtained in 81% of the watershed area with a probability higher than 75%.