Journal of Environmental Science and Water Resources ISSN 2315-7259 Vol. 2(8), pp. 290 - 301, September 2013 2013 Wudpecker Journals Integration of hydrologic processes for zoning agricultural landscapes: perspectives for ecosystem services maintenance Ramon F. Bicudo da Silva 1, *, Sílvio F. de Barros Ferraz 2 , Anderson A. da Conceição Sartori 3 , Célia R. Lopes Zimback 3 1 Center for Environmental Studies, University of Campinas; Rua dos Flamboyants, 155 - Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas, SP - Brasil - CEP 13083-867. 2 Departament of Forest engineer, Laboratory of Forest Hydrology, University of Sao Paulo; Av. Pádua Dias, 11 – Agronomia, Piracicaba, SP - Brasil – CEP 13418-900. 3 Departament of Soil Sciences, State University of Sao Paulo; Rua José Barbosa de Barros, 1780, Faculdade de Agronomia, Botucatu, SP – Brasil – CEP 18610-307. *Corresponding author E-mail: ramonbicudo@gmail.com; Tel.: +55-19-3521-7690; Fax: +55-19-3521-7690. Accepted 02 August 2013 Integration of hydrologic processes for zoning agricultural landscapes forms a better perspective for ecosystem services maintenance. The loss of hydric and natural potential of water resources and soils converts diverse landscapes and that leads to loss in agricultural productivity. The paper deals with the maintenance of ecosystem services for the management of agricultural landscapes in the Sao Paulo state, Brazil. Suggestions have been made on proper management of areas and watershed zoning at different levels of sensitivity so as to keep water cycle most suitable for crops and best management practices. Information also given on the spatial integration of tree hydrologic process in a GIS-based approach in order to zone agricultural landscapes in the perspective of ecosystem services maintenance. The paper proposes combined use of infiltration potential, erosion susceptibility and variable source area & their potential to transport contaminants to the surface drainage network, groundwater as well as their erosion susceptibility, based on the analytic hierarchy process and ordered weighted averaging methods. Recommendations have also been provided to deal with the situation. Key words: Water resources; hydrologic process, analytic hierarchy process, ordered weighted average, support decision. INTRODUCTION Taking into account the current world population (Kollodge and Puchalik, 2011) and its prospective growth for the coming decades, it is evident that a great challenge is posed to humanity by hydric and nutritional security. Considering the potential of Brazil for agricultural and, more recently, biofuel production, the assurance of hydric resource availability and conservation and maintenance of ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes have become key to planning and decision-making in areas intended for the development of these activities (Margules and Pressey, 2000). The need for studies on the watershed and the physical environment for modeling hydrologic processes, in order to conserve ecosystem services or landscape management are identified by numerous studies (Arnold et al., 1998; Belmonte et al., 1999; Biswas, 2004; Brauman et al., 2007; Chowdary et al., 2003; Chowdary et al., 2004; Foley et al., 2005; Gonçalves et al., 2007; Yang et al., 2000; Scanlon et al., 2007; Silva et al., 2010). The loss of hydric and natural potential in many regions in response to land use and inappropriate use of water resources and soils, has led diverse landscapes toward a collapse in agricultural productive capacity of their systems (Christofidis, 2003; Foley et al., 2005; Lohmar and Wang, 2002; Ojeda-Bustamente et al., 2007; Paz et al., 2000; Silva et al., 2010). According to Brauman et al. (2007), the ecosystem service, the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems,