Aplicação de técnicas de agricultura de precisão em pequenas propriedades

Abstract

The adoption of precision agriculture techniques finds great limitation because of the high cost, not always guaranteeing the expected economic return. Among the consequence of this elevated cost it is the restriction use of this technology in small farmers, characterized by the family farm. The present work approaches a bibliographical study about the situation of the family farm in Brazil, pointing to regional focuses. In order to complement this study was made a diagnosis on the existing agricultural machines park and the mechanization used intensity in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, aiming a reflection about the role of the agricultural machine industries for small farmers. This work was dedicated to apply precision agriculture techniques in a small farmer where an area of 10,9 hectares was managed with precision agriculture tools and appropriate information technology to the socioeconomic farmer profile. In order to reach this general objective it was proposed the following specific objectives: a) to identify the horizontal spatial variability of the soil attributes through fertility maps; b) to apply fertilizers in different doses for each handling zones; c) to measure soil resistance to penetration and wheat leaf chlorophyll; d) to make yield map; e) to take note of production costs and to elaborate liquid revenue map for wheat culture; f) to evaluate performance of agricultural machines using GPS tracker. As some results, it was found horizontal spatial variability in soil for phosphorus and potassium and chlorophyll in wheat leaf; it was possible to apply different quantities of fertilizer using seeding and centrifugal broadcaster spreaders without automatic variable rate. In this area, the average of wheat yield was 2427 kg.ha-1, changing from 1915 to 3151 kg.ha-1. Considering the relationship between productivity and production costs, the liquid revenue varied from R$ 14,00 to 358,00 per hectare and had average of R$ 183,48 per ha. The individual crossing among digital models evidenced correlation of 48,6% between productivity and liquid revenue. In general way, precision agriculture tools can help the farmer to know better and more precisely each part of area destined to agricultural activity. It allows to increase the production efficiency through a better soil handling and rational use of the inputs, reducing costs, and other times, increasing productivity.