Problemática no uso da terra e no manejo agrícola da bataticultura em Bueno Brandão, MG / Problematic in land use and management of agricultural production of potatoes in Bueno Brandão, MG (Brazil)

Abstract

The potato is a food which has a high biological value and significant social importance in the fightagainst hunger. Its management traditionally uses mechanization before and during cultivation, plenty ofwater in well-drained soils and agrochemicals for soil fertilization and pest control. For many decades,the potato cropping has emerged as one of the most remarkable social-economic activities of the cityof Bueno Brandão, in the southern part of Minas Gerais State. In this work, the potato cropping areasin the sub-basin of Rio das Antas were monitored in order to obtain a pre-diagnosis of the agriculturalmanagement adopted in the region and the environmental impacts due to the intensive use of agrochemicals,proximity to water courses and mechanization in steep slopes areas. It was possible to verify thepredominance of the semi-mechanized system which disregards the terrain slopes. It was also found thatin most cases the soil analysis or consulting agronomists cease to be performed for soil treatment andplanting. Therefore, it was concluded that the production system used is not according to the environmentalfragility of the region, which is mountainous and full of waterways, making it very susceptibleto erosion and water contamination.

Keywords

• Agrochemicals
• permanent preservation area
• mechanization
• erosion
• and contamination.