Estimate loss of soil and sediment deposition in a sub-basin river in process of environmental degradation

Abstract

Soil loss and sediment deposition has been the main cause of environmental degradation in sub-basin river. This study aimed to estimate soil loss and sediment deposition in the sub-basin river Jardim Novo Horizonte in different precipitation events, in order to identify areas with higher susceptibility erosion using as a tool the model LISEM. The soils of the sub-basin river are the Oxisol Red and Alfisol Red-Yellow, both of medium texture. For the simulations was used the model LISEM, being collected data about rainfall intensity the years 2009-2012, ten events were selected with higher rainfall intensities for the study period. To obtain the required input parameters, soil samples were collected. These collections were made at ten sites along the sub-basin river, in the different forms of soil use and occupation, being six located in the Oxisol and four in the Alfisol. The sub-basin river Jardim Novo Horizonte presents high susceptibility to erosion process. There is a relation between soil loss and sediment deposition with the runoff and total precipitation. The locations more susceptible to erosion processes correspond to the areas cultivated with pasture, and this is due to soil degradation and inadequate management of these areas. The use of model in sub-basin Jardim Novo Horizonte was satisfactory, it can be said that this is an important tool for diagnostic studies of environmental degradation in watersheds.