Pastures are an essential component of the landscape. In the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, they represent about 65% of the rural area. Pasture degradation has great consequences on soil, water resources, and on wildlife of several ecosystems, interfering in the socioeconomical condition of rural and urban communities. Vegetative cover plays an important role for keeping the soil surface protected from the impact of raindrop. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of pastures, as related to soil surface cover, of "Ribeirão Santa Cruz-RSC and Ribeirão Água Limpa-RAL" small watersheds at Lavras region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. An alternative method was proposed in order to obtain the composition and the percent of cover of pasture in these areas. It was found that pasture degradation is responsible for the presence of erosion in both areas, since sparse cover lets raindrops erode the soil surface. Surface cover is smaller at mixed pasture in RSC, and in planted pastures in RAL watershed.
Erosion; degradation; method; vegetative cover
