Producing agroecological coffee in Southern Minas Gerais: alternative systems for intensive production of agrochemicals

Abstract

This work had the aim of analyze the socio-economic, environmental and plant health coffee agroecosystems under conventional management, organic-mineral, organic and agroforestry conducted in the municipalities of Machado and Poço Fundo, located in southern of the State of Minas Gerais. The research was based on DRP (ParticipatoryRural Diagnosis). It was found that the conventional agroecosystem is dependent on external sources of inputs to the need for interventions in the use of agrochemicals The system uses organic inputs from outside the property as the castor bean bran, bovine manure and industrial organic products and wind breaks with bananas reaching the highest average productivity of the systems (45 bags ha-1). The agroecosystem organic-mineral fertilizer chemical use through crop diversification with interim. The agroforestry offers the lowest yield (14 bags ha-1) between the systems and its management is characterized by the weed mowing, use of coffee straw and afforestation. The productivity of the agroecosystem is less than the conventional organic-mineral and organic, while the system that uses more external inputs which may contribute to its sustainability over the medium to long term.