Comparative analysis of the performance of mixed terraces and level and graded terraces

• Published in: Acta scientiarum. Agronomy Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 351 - 357
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Josiane Rosa Silva de, Pruski, Fernando Falco, Silva, José Márcio Alves da, Silva, Danilo Paulúcio da
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá - EDUEM 01-12-2012
• Subjects: AGRONOMY; control of water erosion; terraces; soil and water conservation; controle da erosão hídrica; terraços; conservação de água e solo
• ISSN: 1679-9275; 1807-8621; 1807-8621
• DOI: 10.4025/actasciagron.v34i4.14755

The terracing of agricultural land is the most widespread mechanical practice used among farmers in the control of water erosion. The objective of this paper was to carry out a comparative analysis between mixed terraces and level and graded terraces. The dimensioning of level terraces was carried out based on the surface runoff volume, while the graded terrace dimensions were based on the maximum runoff flow rate. For the mixed terraces, the dimensioning was carried by considering two surface runoff hydrographs, one for the determination of the terrace channel capacity and another to estimate the flow rate at the extremity of the terrace channel. Therefore, in order to contain and transport the excess volume, an additional value was calculated and added to the depth of the channel. A case study was performed for the Uberaba, Minas Gerais State (Brazil) rainfall conditions, considering events with return periods of 10, 30, and 50 years. The obtained results provided quantitative evidence that mixedterraceshave a lowerheight thanlevel terraces anda higher level than the graded terraces, resulting indirect consequencesfor the soil movement for the terrace construction.