Avaliação de características morfométricas na relação solo-superfície da Bacia Hidrográfica do Córrego Rico, Jaboticabal (SP)

The analysis of quantitative geomorphologic characteristics is concerned with understanding the soil-landscape relationships, resultant of erosive processes on diverse structures and lithologies. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the morphometric characteristics of the drainage pattern and relief in second order watersheds of the Corrego Rico Watershed in Jaboticabal County, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, covered by Oxisols and Ultisols. The study was based on vertical aerial photographs in a 1:35.000 scale. Photointerpretation techniques were used to draw the drainage network and respective hydrographic basins, where selected variables were evaluated. Classes of degradation risk, which determined the potential soil were established according to the roughness coefficient. The drainage pattern and relief characteristics strongly influenced the hydrology and geology of the hydrographic basins, and allowed the differentiation between soil units. Drainage density and relief were the characteristics that most contributed to the discrimination of the watersheds regarding soil-landscape relationship. A joint analysis of the potential soil use for microbasins indicated Oxisols for agricultural use and Ultisols for pasture and forestation.