Simulation of water erosion spatial distribution is an important tool for soil conservation planning in watersheds, being an important application of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) using interpolation principles, such as geostatistics. This study aimed to simulate spatial distribution of water erosion in a watershed of the Alto Rio Grande (MG) region, applying geostatistical tools for mapping, considering different land use scenarios. Water erosion was estimated by the USLE applied to grid cells, weighing pedologic units and land use distribution in each cell. The topographical factor (LS) of the cells was obtained based on a Digital Elevation Model of the sub-watershed, identifying length and main flow direction. Mean annual rainfall erosivity in the region is 8,030 MJ mm ha-1 h-1 year-1 and the underlying soil erodibility values were based on data from the literature. Mapping was carried out considering the current land uses in the entire watershed, where eucalyptus was grown on degraded soils, grasses planted as pasture and corn tilled conventionally. Under the current land uses, soil losses from the watershed were not relevant, except in areas covered with eucalyptus and grass on Cambisol (Inceptisol). In all simulations, the highest soil losses were verified on the eastern side of the watershed, especially for eucalyptus and conventional corn on Cambisol and Dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol (Oxisol), where special soil conservation techniques are needed.
geostatistics; environmental management; mapping; USLE
