Abstract:
The objective of this work was to propose and evaluate geospatial indicators to analyze the environmental impact of swine production on licensing at municipal level. The study was conducted in the municipality of Quinze de Novembro, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Environmental indicators in farmlands and watersheds were evaluated. A geospatial database was created using Geographic Information Systems and a systematic survey of swine farmers and farmlands receiving pig slurry, which included swine farms, current land use, soil types, drainage net, and digital elevation model. The geospatial indicators obtained with the geoprocessing tools were: watershed areas with application of swine slurry; areas of permanent preservation and for recovery; application rate of swine slurry; slope; resistance to degradation; distance between farmlands with swine slurry application and watercourse; width of potential buffer zone between farmlands and watercourse; distance between swine barns and watercourse; conflict between facilities and preservation areas; and areas that need environmental recovery. The interpretation of these indicators enables evaluating the potential environmental impacts of swine production in farmlands and watersheds where they are located, which allows to identify the locations with greater risks and to aid the environmental licensing of this activity.
Index terms:
watershed; swine slurry; water pollution; soil pollution
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