Erosión y desertificación.-Estudio del factor “C” de la RUSLE en la cuenca del río Birrís, Costa Rica

Abstract

ABSTRACT This work contributes to increase the knowledge about the relations between vegetation cover and water erosion in order to obtain technical coefficients based on field data and the RUSLE model. The study watershed produces high erosion rates, mainly due to the decrease of forest cover, land misuses and changes in the drainage network, causing damage in the hydropower, agricultural and pasture production. Values of RUSLE C factor were determined for the different kind of vegetation cover. C factor varies considerably between agricultural cover, C = (0,3 - 0,4), and the other vegetation covers, C = (0,002 - 0,04). Agricultural factor C was calculated for the different phases of the crop (SLRcrop phase). To decrease erosion the implementation of integrated management practices is recommended for soil and water conservation taking into account the vegetation cover proposals that better protect the soil based on the results of the present work.