This study was conducted with the objective of evaluating the states of accelerated erosion of soil in areas with sugar cane and citrus orchards located in Ribeirão Preto - SP, Brazil, using photointerpretation techniques. Vertical aerial photos, scale of 1:40.000 from the aerophotographic covering of the citric area of the State in 1988 have been used. The map of the land used and accelerated erosion was made in all the areas with five states of the soil accelerated erosion present in the sugar cane plantations and citrus orchards. The study showed the presence of a serious problem caused by the accelerated erosion in the sugar cane plantations and citrus orchards. The presence of areas of severe to extremely severe erosion was verified in the sugar cane plantations and in the citrus orchards, in four soil units, in the study area. The values of the total extension of the areas of the states of erosion 2 to 5 (intense to extremely intense erosive processes) revealed a strong impact of the accelerated erosion on the development of the cultures. This can cause a degradation of the agricultural land and can affect the distribution and quality of the water. The conditions of exposed soil were verified in the areas recently planted with sugar cane or citrus, and those conditions need better agricultural management.
accelerated erosion; sugar cane; citrus
