Using tools of spatial analysis, the present work was carried out to investigate the geographical evolution of the coffee (Coffea arabic L.) plantation in an important region of the State of Minas Gerais, to verify the sustainability of the coffee production in different climatic and soil zones. In this context, a soil zoning for coffee plantation for the region of the Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba, MG was elaborated. The geographical spatial analysis results were compared to an economic model of decomposition of the variation of the area and its scale substitution effects, for the period of 1985 through 1995/96. The expansion of coffee plantations was observed from the Northwest to the Northeast and accompanied the zoning criteria adopted in the present work. In other words, it was observed that a small expansion verified at Ituiutaba and Frutal have a strong climatic component, while at Araxá the soil factor prevailed. Only Uberaba appears to be an area that meets the climatic conditions for coffee plantation, but, in reality, presented little coffee plantation activity.
Coffea arabica L.; spatial analysis; economic model
