Archive | 2019
THE EXPANSION OF CENTER-PIVOT IRRIGATION IN THE CERRADO BIOME
Abstract
THE EXPANSION OF CENTER-PIVOT IRRIGATION IN THE CERRADO BIOME \n\xa0 \n\xa0 \nDANIEL ALTHOFF1 AND LINEU NEIVA RODRIGUES2 \n\xa0 \n1 Department of Agricultural Engineering, Federal University of Vicosa (UFV), Avenue Peter Henry Rolfs, s/n – University Campus, 36570-900, MG, Brazil. [email protected]. \n2 Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA)- Cerrados, BR-020, Km-18, 73310-970, Planaltina, DF, Brazil. [email protected]. \n\xa0 \n\xa0 \n1 ABSTRACT \n\xa0 \nIn the Cerrado biome, irrigation plays a key role in food production and local socio-economic development. In this region, with general gentle topography and large areas planted with annual crops, center pivot, for its automation and uniformity in water application, is the preferred irrigation system, In the last two decades, the Cerrado region has concentrated roughly 80% of all center pivots installed in the Brazilian territory. The region alone has a potential irrigation area of 26.5 Mha and as so it is expected that center pivot irrigation continues increasing. By considering the average trend from recent years until 2050, irrigated area in the Cerrado will still be short from the potential area classified as high priority for irrigation expansion (6.3 Mha). However, as many of these areas are considered of maximum interest for public intervention, the increase trends could be higher than expected. \n\xa0 \nKeywords: agricultural water use, irrigation demand, water balance. \n\xa0 \n\xa0 \nALTHOFF, D.; RODRIGUES, L. N. \nA EXPANSAO DA IRRIGACAO POR PIVOS CENTRAIS NO CERRADO \n\xa0 \n\xa0 \n2 RESUMO \n\xa0 \nA irrigacao desempenha um papel fundamental na producao de alimento e desenvolvimento socioeconomico local no Cerrado. Nessa regiao, com topografia geralmente plana e grandes areas plantadas com culturas anuais, o pivo central, por sua automacao e uniformidade de aplicacao, e o sistema de irrigacao mais utilizado. Nas as ultimas duas decadas a regiao do Cerrado tem concentrado aproximadamente 80% de todos pivos centrais do Brasil. Somente nessa regiao potencial de area irrigada chega aos 26.5 Mha e, dessa forma, e esperado que areas irrigadas por pivos centrais continuem a crescer. Mesmo considerando a projecao de crescimento medio de areas irrigadas dos ultimos anos ate o ano de 2050, a area total irrigada ficara distante do numero classificado como alta prioridade em expansao da irrigacao (6.3 Mha). Contudo, como muitas dessas areas sao consideradas de maximo interesse para intervencao publica, as tendencias podem ser maiores que as esperadas. \n\xa0 \nPalavras-chave: uso da agua na agricultura, demanda de irrigacao, balanco hidrico.