The study area is located 12 kilometres from Cáceres, at a place called Gleba Facão. Rill and gully erosion are spread in this area, due to land use mismanagement. To carry out this investigation, several field works were made, in order to monitor the gully evolution, using stakes to measure the gully growth, as well as several soil samples were collected in order to be analysed in the laboratory, so that soil properties could be determined.

The slope where the gullies were monitored showed a very high sand content, usually ranging between 50 and 78%, and silt content usually between 10 and 30%, while the clay content is usually bellow 15%. Also most slopes where the gullies retreated more rapidly showed a low organic matter content, ranging between 1% and 3%. Another parameter which has been determined is the water stable aggegates, which showed very low results for the eroded area.

As a consequence of the spreading soil erosion at Gleba Facão, there has been silting of the rives, rills and gullies are spreading in the area, as well as agriculture is suffering the effects of erosion, because the soil is losing organic matter content, as well as decreasing its nutrients. The investigation, therefore, shows how the gullies are growing in the study area, together with the slope characteristics and how soil properties and land use affect the whole erosion process.