Evolução Temporal da Perda de Solos por Erosão Hídrica no Arraial de São João Batista da Canastra, São Roque de Minas - MG e Adjacências Através da Equação Universal de Perda de Solos Revisada (EUPS-R)

Abstract

The Universal Soil Loss Equation is a formulation based on practical observations and empirical data collected in the field, developed by Wischmeier and Smith (1965 and 1978), which allows estimating the amount of sediment eroded from the soil in regions affected by sheet erosion. This can be an important tool for a spatial and quantitative understanding of the influence of human interference on the occurrence of this form of erosive process. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate, in a GIS environment, the potential average annual soil loss in the Arraial de São João Batista da Canastra and adjacent rural areas, located in the municipality of São Roque de Minas, Minas Gerais, for the years 2000, 2008, 2016, and 2023, through the use of the revised version of the USLE. This location allowed for a comparison of temporal erosion potential due to the growth of the urban area over this period. For this purpose, all factors encompassed by this equation were obtained: the rainfall erosivity factor (R) was obtained through Latitude, Longitude, and Altitude data applied in the methodology developed by Mello et al. (2013); soil erodibility (K) was determined through soil sampling in the study area, laboratory work to obtain soil texture, and application in the equation adapted by de Lima et al. (2007); the topographic factor (LS) was obtained through the Digital Elevation Model of the area; and the factor of land use, management, and conservation practices (CP) was manually elaborated using satellite data for each of the years studied. As a result, the potential values of annual soil loss in the study area showed considerable variability over the analyzed period, ranging between 0 and 40,95 (t∙ha-¹∙year-¹) for the year 2000; 0 and 38,64 (t∙ha-¹∙year-¹) for the year 2008; 0 and 39,18 (t∙ha-¹∙year-¹) for the year 2016; and 0 and 41,78 (t∙ha-¹∙year-¹) for the year 2023. This erosion was classified, according to the classification developed by Lanza (2011), as "negligible to slight," "moderate," and "medium" for all years, with a gradual decrease in the "negligible to slight" class concurrently with an increase in the "moderate" and "medium" classes. This occurred due to the increase in urbanization, particularly with the increase and complexification of dirt roads, which contributed to the increase in soil compaction, interruption of vegetative cover, and modification of surface water runoff, resulting in an increment in soil erosion potential.