Sistemas de Inmación geográfica en la evaluación de la erosión hídrica en badajoz-espa？a aplicando la metodología usle

the aim of this study was to evaluate the loss of soils by hydric erosion in an area of badajoz province, spain, by using the universal soil loss equation (usle), which allows to determine several losses levels, in mg ha-1 yr-1. eight soil units were defined in the area, taking in account the landscape, lithology and physiographical regions. four factors were taking in account: rainfaill erosivity (r), soil erodibility (k), length and slope degree (ls), and coverage and soil management (c). the arc/info v. 3.4 and idrisi v. 2.0 gis programs were used to analyze and to represent soil losses in the different units of soil. the results showed that the soil loss was under 25 mg ha-1 yr-1 in 79.8% of the area. usle showed that 53% of the area had an erosion rate of 10 mg ha-1 yr-1, which is under the tolerance level (12.5 mg ha-1 yr-1) suggested by icona (1991). the sierras and mountains area (27%) had an erosion rate between 10 and 25 mg ha-1 yr-1; and the remaining 20% of the evaluate area had erosion loss greater than 25 mg ha-1 yr-1. the gis program showed a great value to be used in analysing, and in picturing the spatial distribution of soil loss by hydric erosion in these soils.