GEOTECNOLOGY APPLIED TO CURRENT LAND USE EVALUATION OF RIBEIRÃO JOÃO LEITE WATERSHED, GOIÁS, BRAZIL

Abstract

The agricultural development in Goiás State, Brazil, demands growing land use, for times under inadequate management that could lead to environmental degradation. The objective of this research was to use geotechnology to evaluate land use at the Ribeirão João Leite watershed, Goiás State, Brazil (between 16°13´S and 16°39´S, and 48°57´S and 49°11´W). Using the software Spring, thematic maps were generated, based on decisive factors of land agricultural conditions (soil fertility, water and oxygen deficiency, impediment to mechanization and susceptibility to erosion) for elaboration of land agricultural capability maps, at B and C management levels. Land use and occupation maps were also elaborated and subsequently submitted to cross tabulation operations with the agricultural capability generated maps, being obtained the recommended land use map. The results verified that most of the lands of the studied area are under recommended use or below its agricultural potential, with 71.34% and 66.16%, respectively, at B and C management. It was observed that only 1.81% (management B) and 0.92% (management C) of the area present land under inadequate use. These results characterize sustainability of the agricultural land use of Ribeirão João Leite watershed, Goiás, Brazil.

KEY-WORDS: Agricultural potential; geoprocessing; remote sensing; watersheds.