Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Soil and Soil Organic Carbon Losses via Water Erosion in Coffee Cultivation in Tropical Regions

Water erosion has severe impacts on soil and the carbon cycle. In tropical regions, it is significantly influenced by rainfall, soil erodibility, rapid changes in land use and land cover (LULC), and agricultural management practices. Understanding the dynamics of water erosion is essential for implementing precise land degradation control. This study aimed to estimate soil and soil organic carbon (SOC) losses due to water erosion over five years in a coffee-producing area in Brazil using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE). The results revealed that average soil losses in coffee plantation areas ranged from 1.77 to 1.80 Mg ha−1 yr−1, classified as very low. Total and potential soil loss ranged from 2184.60 to 6657.14 Mg ha−1, a 305% difference, demonstrating the efficiency of vegetative cover (C factor) and conservation practices (P factor) in reducing soil loss rates. SOC losses were less than 200 kg ha−1 yr−1, with averages of 17.67 and 13.00 kg ha−1 yr−1 in coffee areas. In conclusion, agricultural management practices, such as the presence of native vegetation, maintaining vegetative cover in coffee rows, contour planting, and improving agronomic techniques, are essential for reducing soil and SOC losses, even in scenarios of biennial alternation in coffee production. Thus, sustainable agricultural management plays a crucial role in mitigating water erosion, maintaining productivity, and addressing climate change.