Levantamento pedológico, perdas de solo e aptidão agrícola das terras na região sob influência do reservatório de Itutinga/Camargos (MG)

Abstract

The present study generated the basic informations for agricultural planning in the region under influence of Itutinga/Camargos (MG) hydroelectrict plant. This work involved a 2,084.39 km2 área, having three phases: (a) soils survey; soil losses and losses tolerance; and (c) evaluation of agricultural suitability and current use of lands. It were generated 1:100,000 scale maps. The soils survey follow the CNPS (EMBRAPA) criteria. It were identified Cambisols, Dark Red Latosols, Una Variant Latosols, Litholic Soils, Indiscriminated Hydromorphic Soils and Red-Yellow Latosols, in this order of dominance. It was observed, in general, a low natural soils fertility. For the second phase, it was adopted the Universal Soil Loss Equation. Here, the estimated losses values ranged from 31 to 593 t/ha/year for the soil classes, being consistently higher than the estimated tolerance limits. The losses had higher levels in the map units where Litholic Soils and Cambisols predominate, and, lower levels, in Latosols in general. Higher losses are conditioned by more energetic relief, higher erodibility index and lower permeability. For the third phase, it was utilized the methodology described by Ramalho Filho, Pereira e Beek (1983). The main group of suitability stablished was the group 6, followed by group 2. It were not identified lands of the group 1. The more widespread use given to the lands are pastures, being the higher portion of the lands of the studied region in disagreement with the determined agricultural suitability, which helps to explain the serious problem that are reflected in the regional socio-economics.