The rational planning of use of the natural resources demands information regarding soils, which are scarce and frequently unknown by the environmental managers. In that sense, the aims of this research were to perform the soil survey of the Itaara county, Rio Grande do Sul state, substituting the traditional photointerpretation by the use of topographical maps; to determine the suitability of land use, considering the environmental legislation and to establish the conflicts of land use. Using geoprocessing techniques in the generation information plans of soils, steepness, permanent preservation areas, agricultural suitability and land use, it was possible to determine the areas that show use conflicts in relation to their agricultural suitability and to the environmental legislation. Itaara is constituted, predominantly, by Leptosols (34%), that has low agricultural potential due to its soil characteristics and the environment where they occur. Through geoprocessing tecniques, it was identified that at least 6.2% of the area is overused.
Pedology; Remote sensing; Land use conflicts
