USLE modelling of soil loss in a Brazilian cerrado catchment
2022
Alves, Wellmo dos Santos | Martins, Alécio Perini | Morais, Wilker Alves | Pôssa, Évelyn Márcia | Castro, Raysa Moraes | Borges de Moura, Derick Martins
Soil is a fundamental resource that supports much of the Earth's vegetation cover and is indispensable for societies. However, the types of use, changes in cover and inadequate management can cause erosion, with negative results for the economy, for the quality of life of the populations and for an ecologically balanced development. This study aimed to evaluate soil erosion in the Verdinho River Basin, located in Southwestern Goiás, in the Brazilian Cerrado, using geotechnology products and tools, in order to provide qualitative and quantitative results to support the planning and management of the river basin effectively and efficiently. The study uses Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) as a modelling tool. The study area is characterized by high rainfall erosivity, medium soil erodability. Potential erosion ranged from weak to very strong. The results on the integration of natural physical aspects with land use (anthropic action) resulted in soil loss corresponding to the category from slight (0–2.5 t ha⁻¹.year⁻¹) to extremely high (>100 t ha⁻¹.year⁻¹). The highest soil losses are observed in the areas of cultivated land, pasture and exposed soil associated with environments with greater natural potential for erosive processes. Inter-rill, rill erosion, as well as inter rill, rill and gully are the recognized soil erosion types gully erosion were observed, indicating which areas in the river basin are exposed to risk of soil erosion at severe level and the need to implement actions of recovery of degraded areas, as well as appropriate soil management and conservation practices.
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