POTENTIAL FOR LAMINAR EROSION IN THE RIBEIRÃO DOURADINHO WATERSHED, IN THE TRIÂNGULO MINEIRO

Abstract

The survey of the potential for laminar erosion results from a detailed analysis of the risk of the evolution of erosion processes in the land due to interference and modifications carried out by human action. For this survey, basically, a matrix crossing of information related to factors of natural erosion susceptibility and soil use and occupation is used. This text reports the results of research dedicated to determining the potential for laminar erosion in the Ribeirão Douradinho watershed, seeking to contribute to the identification of areas where soil use is compatible or incompatible with erosion susceptibility, indicating the places most subject to the intensification of erosion, including the indication of priority actions for changing the form of occupation and use of conservation practices. The integration of information referring to the aforementioned factors resulted in three different classes of potential for laminar erosion, as suggested by Salomão (1999): high potential (I), medium potential (II) and low potential (III). In general, it was evident that, due to the interferences and modifications carried out by anthropic action, 46.11% of the total area of the Ribeirão Douradinho watershed present a current land use incompatible with the degree of susceptibility to laminar erosion.