Vulnerability to soil and vegetation erosion in a semi-arid basin

Abstract

The vulnerability of soil erosion is the result of the balance between the mor- phogenetic processes and pedogenetic, as ecodynamics approach, which promote the formation of ground or its loss by erosion, yielding stable landscape units, intermediate or highly unstable. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the vulnerability to erosion of the Experimental Basin Soil Iguatu (EIB), based on the methodology of Crepani et al.  (2001) according to the principles of ecodynamic of Tricart (1977), through remote sen- sing techniques and GIS tools, representing the environmental dimension of ecological zoning. To obtain the vulnerability classes were evaluated pedology issues and vegetation from the maps available in digital form by Cearense of Meteorology and Water Resources Foundation (FUNCEME), all on the scale of 1: 100,000 of Iguatu sheet, (SAD-69 Zone 24S). Vulnerability maps for both themes were defined in five classes: stable, moderately stable, moderately stable / vulnerable, moderately vulnerable and vulnerable. The stable / vulnerable medium class was the most representative of the subject land, occupying 10.87 km² extension (64.9% of the basin), while the theme vegetation predominates the moderately vulnerable and vulnerable classes, occupying 14.93 km² extension (89,21% of the basin). The results are shown as an appropriate way in the decision-making and territorial management of the basin, and allowed the knowledge of the morphodynamics of the basin and their classification in landscape units according to the degree of natural vulnerability to soil loss by erosion, may provide subsidies to ecological zoning.