B 3.2. What are the impacts of sugar-cane growing on the loss of farming soils (erosion, quality in Brazils Center-South region)?
Sugar-cane growing has been expanding in poorer areas (especially strongly anthropized Savannahs, most of which consisting of extensive pastures). It contributes to the restoration of those soils by adding organic matter and chemical-organic fertilization, thus helping to improve the physicochemical condition of the soil and incorporating soils into Brazils cultivated area. Today, Brazils sugar-cane growing activity is renowned for its relatively small loss of soil to erosion (compared to soybean and corn growing, for example). This situation continues to improve on the back of the increase in harvesting without burning and reduced preparation techniques, leading the losses to very low levels that are comparable to those for the direct growing of annual crops.
