Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:53:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 3282351 bytes, checksum: 4bd030dea9fc0164a13290e835c7c301 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Agriculture is an economic activity depends, in large part, the physical environment. The ecological aspect confers fundamental importance to the process of agricultural production. A country or region has several sub-regions with different soil conditions and climate, and therefore with different skills to produce various agricultural goods. Interpretation of ground surveys is to be of significant importance for the use of this natural resource in agriculture and other sectors that use the soil as an integral element of their activities. When it comes to agricultural activities, these interpretations can help to classify land according to their suitability for different crops under different management conditions and feasibility of improvement through new technologies. It can still be considered in the interpretation of ground surveys, the needs for fertilizer and lime, which enable evaluation of potential inputs depending on the acreage in the country. The system of evaluation of land suitability in Brazil began in the 1960s as an effort to classify the potential of tropical lands for agriculture. In pursuit of knowledge of land suitability of Brazil, the Evaluation System of agricultural land suitability (Ramalho Filho and Beek, 1995) has been employed by more be a major tool for understanding the potential and the availability of land in accordance with different levels of technology or management, and the method recommended by Embrapa. Index Geographic and Technological Development (GEOTEC) was prepared from three other indices: the Fitness Index Fund (IAG), the Index Technology (SIT) and the Water Index (IHI). Fontes et al (2008) tested different combinations of the three sub-indices used in their work and reached the following calculation: Geotec = (IAG * 40%) + (ITE * 40%) + (IHI * 20%). For this work we built the index Geographic and Technological II (GEOTEC II), which is made from two other indices: the Fitness Index Fund (IAG) and Index Technology (ITE).The combination proposed for this new index results in the following calculation: Geotec II = (IAG * 50%) + (ITE * 50%). These indices consist of aggregation of geographical variables, assets and liabilities whose relevance is based in the analysis of the determinants of income and growth potential in the context of natural as well as the analysis of economic and social variables. As this work is pervaded units federation of Brazilian territory, the clipping mesorregional was the most appropriate, having been working with mapping "of Brazil macroecological Design" produced by Embrapa (National Survey and Soil Conservation - SNLCS) between the years 1992/93. The objectives of this study were: construction of indices of agricultural suitability (IAG) and technological index (ITE) of meso Brazilian-purpose support of initiatives that enable the development of agricultural regions, and identify the technologies that had the greatest association with the production of different cultures. The highest values of ITE are located in the regions Araraquara / SP, West of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande northwest while the lowest values of ITE located in the regions Marajó / PA, North and South Amazonas Pará. IAG for the highest values are found in Southeast and South and lowest in the North. It was found that the control of pests and diseases is a technology that needs to be more widespread throughout the territory, since only 30% of properties in the country to use, with greater concentration in the states of Goias and Minas Gerais. The highest percentage of use of fertilizer and lime, and tillage is located in the center-south axis of the country, the latter being little used technology in the north. / A agricultura é uma atividade econômica dependente, em grande parte, do meio físico. O aspecto ecológico confere fundamental importância ao processo de produção agropecuária. Um país ou região apresenta várias sub-regiões com distintas condições de solo e clima e, portanto, com distintas aptidões para produzir diferentes bens agrícolas. A interpretação dos levantamentos de solo constitui-se de importância significativa para a utilização racional desse recurso natural na agricultura e em outros setores que se utilizam do solo como um elemento integrante de suas atividades. Em se tratando de atividades agrícolas, estas interpretações podem auxiliar na classificação de terras de acordo com sua aptidão para as diversas culturas, sob diferentes condições de manejo e viabilidade de melhoramento através de novas tecnologias. Pode-se ainda considerar, na interpretação dos levantamentos de solo, as necessidades de fertilizantes e corretivos, que possibilitam a avaliação potencial dos insumos em função da área cultivada no país. O sistema de avaliação da aptidão agrícola, no Brasil, teve início na década de 1960 como esforço em classificar o potencial das terras para a agricultura tropical. Na busca do conhecimento da aptidão das terras do Brasil, o Sistema de Avaliação da Aptidão Agrícola das Terras (Ramalho Filho & Beek, 1995) tem sido o mais empregado por consistir num importante instrumento para conhecimento do potencial e da disponibilidade de terras, de acordo com diferentes níveis de tecnologia ou de manejo, sendo o método preconizado pela Embrapa. O Índice Geográfico e Tecnológico (GeoTec) foi elaborado a partir de três outros índices: o Índice de Aptidão Agrícola (IAG), o Índice Tecnológico (ITE) e o Índice Hídrico (IHI). Fontes et al (2008) testaram diferentes combinações entre os três sub-índices utilizados em seu trabalho e chegaram ao seguinte cálculo: GeoTec= (IAG * 40%) + (ITE * 40%) + (IHI * 20%). Para este trabalho foi construído o Índice Geográfico e Tecnológico II (GeoTec II), sendo este elaborado a partir de dois outros índices: o Índice de Aptidão Agrícola (IAG) e o Índice Tecnológico (ITE). A combinação proposta para este novo índice resulta no seguinte cálculo: GeoTec II= (IAG * 50%) + (ITE * 50%). Esses índices consistem da agregação de variáveis geográficas, ativas e passivas cuja relevância está pautada na análise dos determinantes de renda e de crescimento no contexto das potencialidades naturais, bem como na análise de variáveis econômicas e sociais. Como este trabalho se perpassou nas unidades de federação do território brasileiro, o recorte mesorregional foi o mais adequado, tendo-se trabalhado com o mapeamento “Delineamento Macroecológico do Brasil” produzido pela Embrapa (Serviço Nacional de Levantamento e Conservação dos Solos – SNLCS) entre os anos de 1992/93. Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram: construção dos índices de aptidão agrícola (IAG) e índice tecnológico (ITE) das mesorregiões brasileiras com finalidade de subsidiar iniciativas que permitam o desenvolvimento agrícola das regiões, além de identificar as tecnologias que apresentaram maior associação com a produção das diferentes culturas. Os maiores valores do ITE estão situados nas mesorregiões Araraquara/SP, Oeste Catarinense e Noroeste Rio Grandense ao passo que os menores valores do ITE localizam-se nas mesorregiões Marajó/PA, Norte Amazonense e Sudoeste Paraense. Para o IAG os maiores valores são encontrados nas regiões Sudeste e Sul e os menores na região Norte. Constatou-se que o controle de pragas e doenças é uma tecnologia que precisa ser mais difundida em todo o território, visto que apenas 30% das propriedades do país a utilizam, com maior concentração nos Estados de Goiás, São Paulo e Minas Gerais. A maior porcentagem de utilização de adubos e corretivos e preparo do solo está situada no eixo Centro-Sul do país, sendo esta última tecnologia pouco utilizada no Norte do país.

Agricultural production has contributed over time to food security and rural economic development in developing countries particularly supporting the countryside. Evidence show that crop yields are declining in the Lower River Benue Basin of Nigeria. This study conducted a land use evaluation and suitability mapping for production of yam, cassava and also assessed the possible socioeconomic impediments that may hinder or enhance sustainable agricultural development in the Lower River Benue Basin. The study adopted physical assessments and socioeconomic approach coupled with mapping which incorporated processing of satellite imagery. Statistical methods were used to measure the status, trends, level of dispersion, and relationships between the variables of physical and socioeconomic parameters. Modelling techniques for determining potential impacts assessment, agricultural suitability index, adaptive capacity index, finally producing suitability maps. Geo-informatics processes were used to produce a digital elevation model, land use and land cover map, and normalised difference vegetation index map. The results were thematic maps, weighted percentages of attribute data, and suitability maps produced through weighted overlay. An intensive analysis of climatological data depicted a progressive intensity of rainfall, and a decreasing trend in the number of rain days; a gradual temperature rise; and high relative humidity during the planting season which is about 168 days. Laboratory analysis show that soils in the study area require fertility enhancement with inorganic fertilisers to encourage better crop yield. Results show that the Lower River Benue Basin is suitable for yam, cassava, and rice cultivation as classified on maps of suitable areas. Rice had the highest suitability percentages (38.30%). The study area was found to be moderately suitable for each of the crops examined by more than 40% for each crop. Cassava had the least suitability percentages (34.47%). Evidence suggests that agricultural development in the Lower River Benue Basin is under threat from potential impacts of climate variability and change, population growth, and infectious diseases. The agricultural suitability index of the study area regards the study area as suitable (70.5%) and the adaptive capacity index of the study area was moderate (50.83%), but it was found that serious attention need to be given to farm technology and infrastructure. Mitigation strategies and recommendations which are beneficial to the sustainable development of agriculture have been provided in line with the established characteristics of the Lower River Benue Basin. / Environmental Sciences / D. Phil. (Environmental Management)