{"id":26424,"date":"2025-12-17T13:17:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T17:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/2025\/safra\/mapa-inedito-revela-intensificacao-do-uso-do-solo-e-consolida-2a-safra-como-eixo-da-producao-agricola-no-brasil\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T13:17:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T17:17:08","slug":"mapa-inedito-revela-intensificacao-do-uso-do-solo-e-consolida-2a-safra-como-eixo-da-producao-agricola-no-brasil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/2025\/safra\/mapa-inedito-revela-intensificacao-do-uso-do-solo-e-consolida-2a-safra-como-eixo-da-producao-agricola-no-brasil\/","title":{"rendered":"A groundbreaking map reveals the intensification of land use and consolidates the second crop as the mainstay of agricultural production in Brazil."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Agricultural activities already occupy approximately 321% of Brazilian territory, according to data from... MapBiomas<\/a>The area is predominantly covered by planted pastures, which account for 56.71 TP4T of this area, while agriculture represents 231 TP4T. Satellite images analyzed by the initiative indicate a consistent process of intensification of land use in both cropland and livestock areas.<\/p>\n

In the case of agriculture, almost two-thirds of the areas occupied by temporary crops, such as soybeans, corn, and cotton, presented more than one productive cycle throughout the year. In total, 641 TP4T of these areas, equivalent to 31.4 million hectares, were cultivated with a second crop or with cover crops after the harvest of the main crop. As for pastures, 781 TP4T of the mapped area, or 121.4 million hectares, exhibit medium or high vigor, a condition that allows for higher stocking rates and an increase in the number of animals per hectare.<\/p>\n

This advance in agricultural intensification gains a new perspective with the launch of the first version of the MapBiomas second-crop agriculture map. The survey identifies crops planted after the summer harvest and complements the map of the number of cycles released last year. Still in beta version, the database covers the period from 2000 to 2024 and focuses on states with the highest production of second-crop corn and cotton, classifying the areas into three categories: corn, cotton, and other temporary crops or cover crops.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Esmael Lopes dos Santos<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Data shows that corn is by far the main second-crop crop in the country. In 2024, 14.7 million hectares were identified as being cultivated with corn in this system, in addition to 2.5 million hectares of cotton and 6.5 million hectares occupied by other temporary crops or species used for soil cover.<\/p>\n

According to MapBiomas, approximately 95% of second-crop corn fields were planted after the soybean harvest, highlighting the consolidation of this production arrangement in large agricultural regions.<\/p>\n

According to Professor Eliseu Weber, one of the coordinators of the agriculture theme at MapBiomas, the second crop is a central element of the competitiveness of Brazilian agriculture. "The second crop is a trump card for tropical agriculture in grain production. It increases the economic return for the producer and contributes to the conservation of native vegetation, as it allows for increased production without opening new areas," he states.<\/p>\n

According to Weber, the system also brings significant agronomic benefits. \u201cIn addition to utilizing nutrients remaining from the previous crop, the second crop increases the potential for carbon sequestration. Corn, in particular, leaves abundant straw after harvesting, which is fundamental for soil and water conservation and for carbon fixation in the soil via no-till farming,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Despite the benefits, the researcher warns of the risks associated with more intensive land use. \u201cThe expansion of the second crop faces significant challenges. One of them is soil degradation due to more intensive use, which requires increased attention to management practices,\u201d he observes. He adds that climate change also imposes limits on the system. \u201cThere is a trend towards reduced rainfall and a longer dry season, which could make the second crop unviable in the future, especially corn, in some regions,\u201d he concludes.<\/p>\n

Concentration in the main agricultural hubs of Brazil<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

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Photo: Gilson Abreu<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In terms of regional analysis, the survey highlights the strong concentration of the second crop in the main centers of Brazilian agribusiness. In 2024, Mato Grosso maintained its absolute leadership, with 7.1 million hectares cultivated with corn, equivalent to 48% of the total area mapped for this crop in the second harvest, in addition to 1.6 million hectares of cotton. Paran\u00e1 follows, with 5 million hectares destined for the second harvest, of which 2.2 million hectares are planted with corn and 2.8 million hectares are occupied by other temporary crops or cover crops.<\/p>\n

In Mato Grosso do Sul, the second crop totaled 2 million hectares, predominantly corn, which accounted for 1.9 million hectares, while cotton occupied approximately 100,000 hectares. Goi\u00e1s presented a similar configuration, with 2 million hectares cultivated in the second crop, with 1.7 million hectares planted with corn and 300,000 hectares with cotton.<\/p>\n

Expansion of the second crop<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

The expansion of the second crop is directly linked to the growth of soybeans in the summer crop. According to MapBiomas, the area cultivated with soybeans in Brazil jumped from 4.5 million hectares in 1985 to 40.7 million hectares in 2024. Currently, almost two-thirds of the mapped agricultural area in the country, approximately 651 TP4T, corresponds to first-crop soybean fields.<\/p>\n

Intensification of land use<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

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Photo: SAA SP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The data also show that intensified land use is the norm in this system. In 2024, 65% of the area occupied by soybeans in the first crop had two cultivation cycles, equivalent to 26.3 million hectares, while 6.1% went through three cycles, totaling 2.5 million hectares. Only 21% of the area, about 8.6 million hectares, was cultivated in a single cycle.<\/p>\n

Following the soybean harvest, corn consolidates itself as the main successor crop. In 2024, 14 million hectares of corn were cultivated in the second crop, in addition to 2.4 million hectares of cotton and 6 million hectares of other temporary crops. Mato Grosso concentrates most of this dynamic: 6.7 million hectares of corn were planted after soybeans, meaning that 941% of all corn produced in the state occurs in succession to the summer crop. Next are Paran\u00e1, with 2.2 million hectares, and Mato Grosso do Sul, with 1.8 million hectares.<\/p>\n

For Kenia Mour\u00e3o, Agriculture Coordinator at MapBiomas, the new mapping represents a significant advance in understanding agricultural land use in the country. \u201cThe mapping of the main second-crop cultures in Brazil represents progress in understanding the use of agricultural areas in the country, and its availability through MapBiomas marks an important step in overcoming the challenges associated with this type of monitoring,\u201d she states.<\/p>\n

According to her, Brazil's climatic diversity and territorial extension required the development of a methodology capable of capturing different agricultural calendars. "This process involved a detailed analysis of the agricultural dynamics of each state and the manual and systematic collection of samples over time," explains Kenia, emphasizing that the results are aligned with official estimates, such as those from Conab, but she acknowledges that there are still gaps, especially in states like Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.<\/p>\n

Permanent and semi-permanent crops<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

In addition to temporary crops, MapBiomas also recorded the expansion of permanent and semi-permanent crops over the last few decades. The sugarcane area increased from 2.2 million hectares in 1985 to 10.1 million hectares in 2024.<\/p>\n

During the same period, rice cultivation grew from 390,000 to 1.1 million hectares, while citrus orchards expanded from 100,000 to 400,000 hectares. Oil palm cultivation showed significant growth, increasing from 10,000 hectares in 1985 to 240,000 hectares in 2024, a movement concentrated mainly in Par\u00e1. Meanwhile, forestry areas jumped from 1.56 million to 9 million hectares during the same period.<\/p>\n

Land use<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

The survey also highlights structural changes in land use. The expansion of agriculture occurred mainly on pasture areas, while the expansion of the pastures themselves largely took place on areas of native vegetation, especially forest and savanna formations.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the data indicate a significant regeneration trend: over the decades, millions of hectares of pastureland have reverted to native vegetation, primarily savanna. Specifically, 1.4 million hectares were recovered between 1985 and 1994, 3.5 million between 1995 and 2004, 3.9 million between 2005 and 2014, and 4.9 million hectares between 2015 and 2024.<\/p>\n

Brazilian pasture areas<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

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Photo: Gisele Rosso<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Despite half of Brazilian pastures being over 30 years old, approximately 77.8 million hectares, and a third existing since 1985, vigor indicators point to a relatively favorable picture. Only 21.6% of the mapped area, or 33.4 million hectares, presents low vigor, characterized by lower forage production and greater soil exposure. Most pastures are classified between medium vigor (43%, or 66.6 million hectares) and high vigor (35.4%, or 54.8 million hectares).<\/p>\n

Between 2000 and 2024, there was a net gain in vigor across 6.2 million hectares of pastureland. During this period, vigor increased on 20.8 million hectares, while it decreased on 14.6 million. Another 62 million hectares remained stable, and 11.1 million hectares progressed to a high vigor condition, reinforcing the role of intensification and management as central factors for the sustainability of Brazilian livestock farming.<\/p>\n

Biomass production<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

MapBiomas incorporated into its survey an indicator considered central to evaluating the productive capacity of pastures: biomass production, which expresses the amount of plant matter available for feeding the herd. The greater this volume, the greater the carrying capacity of the area. In 2024, Brazilian pastures produced approximately 3.63 gigatons of biomass or forage, reinforcing the strategic role of livestock farming in the use of national territory.<\/p>\n

The data show significant differences between biomes. The Amazon presented the highest pasture biomass productivity, with values exceeding 25 tons per hectare per year. In the Cerrado and Pantanal, the predominant production was in the range of 15 to 20 tons per hectare per year.<\/p>\n

In the Caatinga biome, pastures exhibited lower productivity, generally less than 15 tons per hectare per year. In the Atlantic Forest, pasture biomass showed greater variability, with values ranging from 10 to 25 tons per hectare per year, reflecting the environmental heterogeneity of the biome.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Breno Lobato<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Despite the positive indicators, the survey points out that a significant portion of pasture areas still faces structural problems. \u201cDespite the good indicators of vigor and forage production of Brazilian pastures, the nearly 221 TP4T of planted pastures mapped as having low vigor in 2024 suggest a condition of severe degradation,\u201d states Laerte Guimar\u00e3es Ferreira, coordinator of the Pasture theme at MapBiomas.<\/p>\n

According to him, this area, estimated at approximately 34 million hectares, represents a strategic potential. "This is a huge opportunity as a land reserve for other uses, in line with the National Program for the Conversion of Degraded Pastures implemented by the federal government," he emphasizes.<\/p>\n

Territorial concentration of pastures<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

The territorial concentration of pastures is also striking. Six states account for almost 701,000 hectares of all pastureland in the country. Par\u00e1 leads with 21.7 million hectares, followed by Mato Grosso (20.2 million hectares), Minas Gerais (19.3 million hectares), Bahia (14.6 million hectares), Mato Grosso do Sul (12.2 million hectares), and Goi\u00e1s (12 million hectares).<\/p>\n

Together, these states account for 69.8% of the 155 million hectares of pastureland mapped in Brazil, consolidating their importance in the dynamics of livestock farming and in the debate on productive intensification and sustainable land use.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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As atividades agropecu\u00e1rias j\u00e1 ocupam cerca de 32% do territ\u00f3rio brasileiro, segundo dados do MapBiomas,…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25268,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[258],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-safra"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26424"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26424\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/belacereais.com.br\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}