Avaliação da degradação ambiental de três microbacias hidrográficas da região campos das vertentes (MG)

Abstract

It was studied the environmental degradation of three watersheds from Campos das Vertentes region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The area is dominated by Cambisols (Inceptisols) and Latosols (Oxisols) Paralelly to a low thechnological levei agriculture and cattle raising, with predominance of milk exploration under extensive regime and having the burning as the main practice of pasture management, it has been installed an agriculture with higher technological level, where it is utilized the agricultural mecanization, correctives, fertilizers and agricultural defensives. The degree of environmental deterioration of three watersheds (Coelho, Marcela and Cedro) was obtained through the socio-economics and physical diagnosis and environmental saneness, beyond the soils characterization, with objective of stablishing relationships of soils with environmental degradation and to make recomendations of more appropriate use and manage ment. Based upon mentioned diagnosis, it was verified that the Cedro Watersheds had the highest degree of environmental degradation, being the physical médium degradation which contributed more for the watersheds degradation. The high degradation index of the physical medium of Marcela watersheds was mainly caused by the burning of native pastures and in the case of Coelho watershed the main factor was the lack of soil conservation