Evaluación de la pérdida de suelo, asociada al proceso de expansión urbana y reconversión productiva. Caso: comunas de Los Andes, Quillota y Concón, valle del Aconcagua

Abstract

The assessment of soil degradation in Los Andes, Quillota and Concon municipalities, which represents the morphoclimatic environments of Aconcagua Valley, was identified through the Erosion Respones Units (ERUs). Subsequently, the soil loss was quantified through the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) in microbasins, and timely simulations were made for two different scenarios, representing the implementation of soil conservation practices. On the other hand, quality indicators were used to quantify the degradation produced in the last decade on the bottom part of the valley. Results show a clear degradation of agricultural valley soils as a result of both endogenous and exogenous factors. Among them, the topography and vegetation coverage were found to be relevant, in addition to the impact of socio-economic dynamics. Agricultural soils from the bottom part of the valley show the highest vulnerability of the study, due to intense territorial changes in the last decades