Sustentabilidade de um agroecossistema com barragem subterrânea no território do médio sertão alagoano

Abstract

The Brazilian semiarid region, located in the Caatinga Biome, is considered one of the most vulnerable to climatic variations due to irregular rainfall, water deficiency, and poverty among the population. As a result, current public policy programs have been investing in social water technologies for rainwater harvesting and storage to help rural families overcome the challenges posed by water scarcity. The technology of underground dams has been the subject of various research projects conducted by Embrapa and its partners, as it provides access and multiple uses of rainwater for farming families in the region. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in implementing underground dams in the rural agroecosystems of the Brazilian Semiarid, leading to the establishment of many units. Since the 1980s, research on this technology has played a crucial role in exchanging experiences and knowledge among farmers, development agents, and researchers, particularly regarding technical construction aspects, soil and water management, and suitable crop options. However, studies on the impacts of this technology on the agroecosystem and the lives of farming families are still in their early stages. Considering this, the present study aimed to conduct a case study evaluating the contribution of underground dams to the sustainability of an agroecosystem located in the Middle Sertão Alagoano Territory. The study was conducted as part of the ZonBarragem Project by Embrapa Solos UEP Recife. Soil samples were collected for morphological, granulometric, and chemical characterization of the area where the underground dam was planted. Participatory Rural Diagnosis (DRP) tools, such as semi-structured interviews, participant observation, construction of maps of natural resources on the property, and sustainability assessment charts, were used for sustainability evaluation. The results clearly showed that the underground dam, along with other rainwater harvesting technologies, is contributing to the improvement of the family's quality of life and the resilience of their agroecosystem to climatic adversities.