Uso da teledetecção no planeamento estratégico de unidades de exploração de bovinos de corte a pasto no distrito de Namaacha

Abstract

This study evaluated the contribution of remote sensing to the strategic planning of pasture-based beef cattle production units in the Namaacha district, Maputo province. The research adopted a mixed methodological approach, integrating remote sensing techniques with fieldwork for data validation. Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 satellite images processed in ArcGIS Pro v.2.3.7 were used for land use characterization, NDVI calculation, and flood risk mapping. In parallel, field sessions were conducted at 15 sampling points for biomass collection, botanical characterization, and questionnaire application. The results demonstrated a significant correlation (R = 0.933) between NDVI values ​​and biomass measured in the field, and the reliable prediction model (R2 = 0.87) recorded an average availability of 4.41 t/ha estimated by satellite against 4.35 t/ha observed in the field, with no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). The land use analysis identified the predominance of pastures (94.3%), with Urochloa mosambicensis standing out as the most frequent species (43.16%). The flood risk map revealed that the existing corrals are located in an area classified as moderate risk, a confirmation corroborated by the recurrent formation of puddles during episodes of intense rainfall. It is concluded that remote sensing constitutes a valid and effective tool for strategic livestock planning in Namaacha, allowing the monitoring of pasture availability and the identification of safe locations for infrastructure, thus contributing to the sustainability of animal production systems in the region(TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)