ANALYSIS OF LAND COVER AND USE THROUGH THE SOIL-ADJUSTED VEGETATION INDEX (SAVI) IN THE CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF LAJEDO/PERNAMBUCO, NORTHEAST, BRAZIL

Abstract

The vegetation corresponds to an important component in the dynamics of landscapes, from this, the present study sought recognize the soil cover in the municipality of Lajedo Pernambuco to analyzing the degradation processes related to the conditions of plant density through the vegetation index adjusted to the soil (SAVI). As a result, the classes of dense vegetation (18.298km²) located on the river banks were obtained, agricultural areas with high photosynthetic activity (associated with the Cultivation cycle), whose largest area is in the northern end of the municipality in the rural area; semi-dense vegetation (39.188km²), this class contains spacing between the vegetation, identified mainly in some points of the river banks and surrounding the water reservoirs constituted by shrub extract and grass; sparse vegetation (109.106km²) refers to areas without dense vegetation in larger portions of exposed soil, with its use mainly linked to pasture with animals of different sizes, as well as arable areas; and absence of vegetation (22,450km²) composed of built-up areas, water reservoirs and exposed soil. The vegetation index corroborated the soil cover analysis, being noticeable in the field some degradation processes agreed with the classes that showed less or absence of photosynthetic activity.