Processos erosivos e produção de sedimentos: suas relações com a cobertura vegetal na Bacia do Ribeirão do Roque

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the occurrence of erosive processes and sediment yield, and their relationship with vegetation cover in the Roque River Basin - SP. Through the topographic sediment transport capacity (TCI) it was found that the areas with the highest potential for erosion and deposition are located near the drainage headwaters and the steepest terrain and showed compliance with the points identified in the study area. The Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) for the year 2000 indicates that vegetation provides protection against erosion in areas identified as susceptible, as evidenced by the lower number of erosion processes in the area when compared to 2010 and 2018. Average slopes and valleys were the main topographic contributors to the occurrence of erosive processes enhanced by vegetation removal mainly for the years 2010 and 2018. The analysis of water quality in the watershed shows the increase of sediment yield between the 2008 and 2011 and this fact may be related to the increasing number of erosive processes in the area. These processes may be associated with the increase of arable land in the region and inadequate land use practices.