Estratégia Metodológica para Zoneamento pelo Potencial de Perda de Solo na Bacia Hidrográfica Cachoeira Cinco Veados, RS-Brasil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to propose a methodological approach to determine the best land use based on USLE model parameters, using the watershed as planning unit. The model USLE parameters were spatialized using the software ArcGis 10.5, for the case study of the Cachoeira Cinco Veados watershed, RS-Brazil, and the erosive values were categorized according to the methodology of Ribeiro (2006). We reclassified the areas in “suitable” and “not suitable” to the tested use, according to two limit-criteria adopted as maximum acceptable soil losses (20 and 50 t ha-1 year-1). The methodology consists of constructing two strategies: the first is a construction of a thematic map, considering a priority order of uses in the watershed, where the most spendthrift use was analyzed first (Script of Hierarchical Analysis among Uses); and the second consists of the construction of maps that correspond to scenarios with watershed areas suitable to a given use, according to the classification criterion used, and their crossing with the current use map (Analysis Script by Use). The results show it is possible to classify the areas in “suitable” and “not suitable” for a given use, allowing with this organizational strategy to identify, quantify and spatialize the areas in accordance with the limit of potential soil loss and point out those that do not tolerate the tested use. This is a useful information for decision makers when studying regional planning.