Resumo

BRAVO-ESPINOSA, M.; MENDOZA, M. E.; MEDINA-OROZCO, L.  e  SAENZ-REYES, T.. Characteristics and control of gully erosion. Terra Latinoam [online]. 2010, vol.28, n.3, pp.281-285. ISSN 2395-8030.

The purpose of this study was to characterize deep gullies, to determine their impacts as a source of sediment and degradation, and to recommend measures for their control. The study was conducted in the Cointzio subwatershed, Michoacan. Sixteen gullies with slopes that varied from 0.10 to 0.25 m m^-1 were characterized. They developed on Acrisols with high clay content (> 60%). Gully length fluctuated from 12.6 to 353.8 m; their depth was related to width at lip and gully length. Growth of gully-head and gully width at lip could be related to the development of tension cracks on gully head and banks, and to preferential flows that promotes their collapse. Gully depth is probably due to the shear stress exerted by runoff discharges that occur during extraordinary rainfall events. Gully erosion is the main source of sediment and the most serious soil degradation process in the Cointzio subwatershed. Gully erosion control should privilege the use of native and exotic vegetation under the watershed management concept, and with the direct involvement of land owners and local institutions.

Palavras-chave : acrisols; erosion; smectite clay; weeping love grass.

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