ANALYSIS OF NATURAL VULNERABILITY TO SOIL LOSS IN THE RIBEIRÃO VERMELHO WATERSHED/MS

Abstract

In order to demonstrate the weaknesses and potentialities that exist in the region, the chosen cut was the Ribeirão Vermelho watershed, in the municipalities of Aquidauana and Dois Irmãos do Buriti, inserted in the Miranda River watershed. In this perspective, the general objective of the research is to identify the natural vulnerability of the Ribeirão Vermelho watershed in relation to soil loss. According to the methodology used, the degree of vulnerability of the basic territorial units is identified based on morphogenesis and pedogenesis, with the attribution of degrees of vulnerability for each landscape unit, being: Geology, Geomorphology, Soil, Climate and Vegetation Cover. The thematic maps were developed in QGIS 3.16 Hannover software, then weighting was applied. The results obtained show that 82.71% of the area is considered moderately vulnerable, with pedogenesis processes prevailing; the medium stable/vulnerable class corresponds to 17.29% of the basin; it occurs in punctual areas, mostly in the lower and middle course of the river, considered an environment with intermediate situations, and a balance occurs between morphogenesis and pedogenesis. Therefore, the study on the natural vulnerability to soil loss of the Ribeirão Vermelho watershed showed that this basin is naturally balanced to the morphogenetic and pedogenetic processes that, although it presents vulnerable areas, it can maintain and enhance the conservation of vegetation, which is a natural territorial unit essential to mitigate erosion and soil loss.