LAND USE-DRIVEN VARIABILITY IN SOIL ERODIBILITY AND WEATHERING INDICES IN THE BRAZILIAN CERRADO

This study assesses soil erodibility (K factor) and weathering indices (Ki, Kr) in Brazil's Cerrado biome, a neotropical savanna with diverse soils and land uses. We generated topsoil maps of Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and SiO₂ oxides using a Random Forest model in Google Earth Engine. Subsequently, maps of Ki and Kr indices were produced using map algebra. Erodibility was estimated with the EPIC equation using high-resolution soil texture and organic carbon maps. Analysis across Agriculture, Forest, and Pasture areas shows that pasturelands have the highest K factor, suggesting increased erosion susceptibility, while agriculture has the lowest. Ki and Kr values also indicate higher weathering in pasture areas. These findings highlight the impacts of land use and pedogenic factors on Cerrado soil properties, essential for effective land management in tropical ecosystems.