Sediment spatial distribution evaluated by three methods and its relation to some soil properties

An investigation of rates and spatial distribution of sediments on an agricultural field cultivated with sugarcane was undertaken using the Cs-137 technique, USLE and WEPP models. The study was carried out on the Ceveiro watershed of the Piracicaba river basin, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, experiencing severe soil degradation due to soil erosion. The objectives of the study were to compare the spatial distribution of sediments evaluated by the three methods and its relation to some soil properties. Erosion and sedimentation rates and their spatial distribution estimated by the three methods were completely different. Although not able to show sediment deposition, the spatial distribution of erosion rates evaluated by USLE presented the best correlation with other studied soil properties. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.