Soils and land suitability of Cafuringa environmental protected area, Distrito Federal, Brazil

A região da APA de Cafuringa, Distrito Federal, ocupa área de 46.510 ha, sendo 45.724,98 ha de solos e os 796,02 ha restantes de afloramentos de rochas, estradas, construções e outros usos. Foram estudadas as principais classes de solos que ocorrem nessa região: Cambissolos, Latossolos, Argissolos, Nitossolos, Gleissolos, Plintossolos, Chernossolos, Neossolos Litólicos, Quartzarênicos e Flúvicos, bem como a aptidão agrícola de cada um desses solos, com o objetivo de subsidiar projetos de desenvolvimento e assentamentos locais. Em relação à aptidão agrícola, os Latossolos da bacia podem ser classificados como 2c, 3(c), 4p, 4(p), 5(n) e 5(s)/5(n). Os Argissolos como 4p, 5n e 6. Os Nitossolos como 2c, 3(c) e 6. Os Chernossolos como 4(p) e 5(n). Tanto os Cambissolos quanto os Gleissolos devem ser classificados no grupo 6. Enquanto os Plintossolos apresentam aptidão 4(p) e 5(n) os Neossolos Flúvicos são classificados como regular 2a havendo, em menor proporção, aptidão superior à indicada, Neossolos Quartzarênicos como 5(s)/5(n) havendo, também, em menor proporção, aptidão superior à indicada e Neossolos Litólicos que não apresentam aptidão agrícola, pertencendo, portanto ao grupo 6. _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe area of the Cafuringa creek basin, in the Brazilian Federal District is about 465,10 km2. The main soil classes of this region are, according to Brazilian classification, Ca mb iso Is, Latosols, A rg iso Is, Nitosols, Plinth oso Is, Gleysols, and Litholics, Quartzarenics and Fluvics Neosols of which the most important soil physical, chemical and morphological characteristics and their land suitability classes are presented. The objective of this paper is to assist projects of land use and rural development. The land suitability of the soils of Cafuringa region are: the Latosols are classified as Regular suitability class for seasonal crops - 2c, Restricted suitability class for seasonal crops - 3(c), Regular suitability class for cultivated pastures - 4p, Restricted suitability class for cultivated pastures - 4(p), Restricted suitability class for wild pastures - 5(n), and Restricted suitability class for wild pastures or forestry - 5(s)/5(n); the Argisols are classified as Regular suitability class for cultivated pastures - 4p, Regular suitability class for wild pastures - 5n, and without land suitability - 6; the Nitosols are classified as Regular suitability for seasonal crops - 2c, Restricted suitability for seasonal crops - 3(c), and without land suitability - 6; the Chernosols are classified as Restricted suitability class for cultivated pastures - 4(p), and Restricted suitability class for wild pastures - 5(n); the Cambisols are classified as without land suitability - 6; the Plinthosols are classified as Restricted suitability class for cultivated pastures - 4(p), but also presents, in minor proportion, upper suitability than that indicated in the legend; and Restricted suitability class for wild pastures - 5(n); the Gleysols are classified as without land suitability - 6; the Fluvics Neosols are classified as Regular suitability class for seasonal crops 2a, but also presents, in minor proportion, lower suitability than that indicated in the legend; Quartzarenics Neosols are classified as Restricted suitability class for wild pastures or forestry - 5(s)/5(n), but also presents, in minor proportion, lower suitability than that indicated in the legend; and Litholics Neosols are classified as without land suitability - 6