Estimation of the soil loss admissibility by water erosion in the stream Napaleofu basin, Buenos Aires Province-Argentina

We analyze the mountain basin of the stream Napaleofu (southeast of Buenos Aires province, Argentina). The aim was to make a quantitative estimation of surface water erosion by means of GIS, by applying the Universal Soil Loss Equation model (USLE), further defining the maximum admisible tolerance of soil loss. The erodibility (K) was zoned and a map of isoerodents (R) was generated. The topography (LS) and the conditions of use and soil management (C and P) were defined. The results allowed a greater dynamism in the process of analysis and representation of background information, with the USLE model. It generated an unprecedented geo-referenced topsoil loss database, defining the maximum tolerance to water erosion and its current eligibility, stating the basin has an 81 % of its surface in a state of slight erosion, accounting for 88 % in allowable tolerance state. These results support the maintenance of current sustainable treatments.