Zoneamento agroambiental e indicadores de sustentabilidade como subsídio ao planejamento agrícola do município de Paty de Alferes, RJ

Abstract

This thesis is a result of the project entitled Environmental interactions and Sustainable development of Córrego do Saco-Rio Ubá watershed, at Paty do Alferes and Miguel Pereira Rio de Janeiro State/Brazil (Environmental Sciences Sub-program/ FINEP). The studies were carried out in the area of Paty do Alferes with 35,945 ha and were performed by the consortium EMBRAPA Solos/UFRJ/UFF/UFRRJ/UERJ/INT/ FIOCRUZ/ EMATERRio/ PMPA. Physical, biological and socio-economical data were collected. In order to store and analyze the data the Geographic Information System ARC/INFO (ESRI/USA) was utilized. The watershed was considered as a planning unit, the geomorphologic compartments were treated as spatial units of reference, and the pedon-environmental units as primary determinants of agro-ecological zones. The socio-economical data were utilized to determine indicators of sustainability and were organized according to the Pressure/State/Response method. After the analysis of spatial pertinence among geomorphologic compartments, types of soils and organization of the latter considering the sustainable utilization, it was possible to establish the following order of environmental offer of watershed agriculture activities: Médio Rio Ubá > Ribeirão das Antas > Córrego do Sertão > Palmeras-Ribeirão do Saco > Rio Pardo. The analysis of special pertinence between use and recommendation of soil utilization indicated that the process of soil degradation was quite extensive in the studied area. The order of soil degradation (from highest to lowest) among the watershed was the following: Rio Pardo > Palmares-Ribeirão do Saco > Córrego do Sertão > Ribeirão das Antas > Médio Rio Ubá. The results regarding community buffering demonstrate that the greatest incompatibility between soil use and recommendation of soil use occurred in the following communities: Aquenta Sol, Coqueiros, Prata, Rio Pardo, Boa Vista, Córrego Rico e Horto Florestal. In general, the socio-economic profile of the farmers were very similar. The typical farmer depends predominantly on his agriculture income which is based on familial work force. The main activity is horticulture with limited diversification of production. The farmers do not have machines and utilize fertilizers and pesticides incorrectly. In addition, they sell their products at CEASA/Paty and are dependent on intermediaries to commercialization. The farmers educational background is restricted, most of them have spent the maximum of three or four years at the primary school. The results of the pressure/state/response method to organize the indicators of sustainability can be efficient for planning the agricultural activities of the city of Paty do Alferes. However, it is necessary to associate these sustainability indicators with the complexity of factors pertinent to the agriculture activity.