Author(s): MARTINHO, P. R. R.; DALTIO, J.; FONSECA, M. F.; FERNANDES, I. V.; DALMOLIN, T. DE C.; MAGALHÃES, L. A.

Summary: Land use and suitability are essential tools for territorial planning of rural settlement. This work describes an analysis of these factors in a group of 18 MATOPIBA consolidated rural settlements created more than 10 years ago. These settlements are located in 12 different cities, 1 in Bahia, 6 in Maranhão and 11 in Tocantins, summarizing more than 77 thousand hectares and sheltering almost one thousand families. Regional scale data allows an overview of the situation. A land use analysis indicates a majority of natural vegetation and pasture, which represents 56% and 36%, respectively. Land suitability presents that 63% of the area is suitable for crops use and 36% for pasture. The intensive use for crops heavily depends on the use of technology. This can be a limiting factor for the development of many rural settlements. The intensive use to the land for agriculture heavily depends on the technology application. These results provide a background to discussions about suitable land use and regional development.

Publication year: 2017

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Territorial

Keywords: Aptidão agrícola da terra, Assentamentos rurais, Land suitability, Land use, Rural settlements, Uso e ocupação