Spatial variability of water storage and daily average water loss on a cultivated soil under no tillage in Campinas, Sao Paulo State

摘要

Soil water storage depends on internal and external environmental characteristics. In this way, the objective of this study was to evaluate the storage (mm) and daily average soil water loss (mm day(-1)) under no tillage system cultivated with castor oil plant (Ricinus cummunis L.) and the relationship with meteorological variables (precipitation, solar radiation, temperature and wind direction) in Campinas (SP, Brazil). The soil water content measurements were made on 01/10 (volumetric method), 02/01 (gravimetrical method), 05/09 and 05/11/2005 (with TDR) at 0.0 - 0.1 m depth, in a Rhodic Eutrudox under no tillage system. The water storage and daily average soil water loss indicate similarity in the spatial variability pattern for the data on the study area. The portion of the area which faces northward showed the largest water losses in the system. It was not possible to determine the magnitude of the effect of meteorological variables on soil water storage for the studied period.