Spatial distribution of the potential and current soil erosion for the Sapucai River Basin, MG, Brazil

This study was carried out with the purpose to assess the natural and current soil erosion for the Sapucai river basin using the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) through cartographic modeling to obtain the natural soil erosion potential (EP) and the current soil erosion (EA). Results have indicated that the Sapucai river basin has soils with EP varying from "Very strong", in its headwater region (Mantiqueira Range) to "Weak" potential, in areas with smoothing topography and smaller rainfall erosivity. Regarding EA, more than 55.17 % of the basin area present soil losses smaller than 10 t.ha(-1).year(-1), meaning low current soil erosion vulnerability. The identification of accelerated soil erosion areas, obtained by this study, can be very useful for supporting soil conservation management and planning.