Uso do solo na bacia hidrográfica do Rio São Mateus empregando ferramentas de geotecnologia

Abstract

The intensification of changes in the landscape of the São Mateus River basin from the 20th century onwards may lead to changes in the region's edaphic processes, especially in attributes associated with soil quality. The present work aims to analyze land use and the need for soil management in the Espírito Santo portion of the São Mateus River through the construction of conservation use potential (PUC) and soil loss potential maps. In the first chapter, we attempted to analyze the PUC using the variables slope, soil type and lithology. Then, data on potential and actual land use were compared, generating a conflict map, indicating areas where land use is not adequate with the capacity to maintain soil quality and water recharge. In the second chapter, rainfall, soil erodibility, ramp length, slope, soil cover and management practices were used to construct the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to determine the erosion potential in the study area. All work was prepared and analyzed using QGIS software version 3.16. The results indicate that the study area mainly presents potential for high and moderate use, occupying 38.91% and 38.63% of the study area, respectively. The study area is suitable for agricultural use, as long as it is associated with management practices, especially in areas of moderate potential. The comparison of uses indicates that 57.03% of the area has a real use compatible with the potential of the soil, while 9.39% of the Espírito Santo portion has an incompatible use. The application of RUSLE revealed that 3.18% of the study site presents erosion above tolerance, indicating that there are areas where soil loss is a problem for maintaining environmental quality. Although a significant part of the study area is within acceptable soil use standards, it is concluded that the anthropization of the landscape has accelerated the loss of soil quality in the Espírito Santo portion of the São Mateus River hydrographic basin and that there is a need for intervention in the productive methods of the basin, mainly in the upper portion