Soil Cover and Chemical and Physical Attributes in Oxisol in the Atlantic Forest Biome

Abstract

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical and physical attributes of different soil cover in a Oxisol with a strong wavy relief in the Atlantic Forest Biome, in which were selected three watersheds, employed with grazing (watershed P), forest (watershed M) and coffee (watershed C). Deformed and not deformed samples were collected in three depths for physical and chemical characterization. The chemical characteristics of soil in different watershed studies presented low levels of fertility. It was observed an elevation of pH in the soil and contents of Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ in the watersheds P and C in relation to the watershed M. Due to deforestation and the establishment of agriculture and livestock, there was a decrease in the contents of soil organic matter in the watershed P and C, not altering the physical characteristics of the soil in the watershed P. The implementation of coffee plantation is causing a reduction in the soil quality of watershed C in comparison to the watershed P and M, therefore indicating a need to adequate soil management in this area.Keywords: Land use; Aggregates; Organic carbon. COBERTURA DO SOLO E ATRIBUTOS QUÍMICOS E FÍSICOS SOB LATOSSOLO VERMELHO AMARELO NO BIOMA MATA ATLÂNTICARESUMO -Neste trabalho propôs-se avaliar os atributos químicos e físicos de diferentes coberturas vegetais num Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo no bioma Mata Atlântica, onde foram selecionadas três microbacias de cabeceira, ocupada por pastagem (microbacia P), mata (microbacia M) e cafeeiro (microbacia C). Foram coletadas amostras de solo em três profundidades para caracterização física e química. As características químicas nas diferentes microbacias estudadas apresentaram baixos níveis de fertilidade. Foram observadas a elevação no pH do solo e nos teores de Ca 2+ e Mg 2+ nas microbacias P e C em relação a microbacia M. Com a retirada da mata e o estabelecimento da agricultura e pecuária houve uma redução dos teores de matéria orgânica do solo nas microbacias P e C, não alterando as características físicas do solo na microbacia P. A implantação da lavoura de café está ocasionando a redução da qualidade do solo na microbacia C em comparação as microbacias P e M, indicando a necessidade de adequação do manejo do solo nesta área.Palavras-chave: Uso do solo; Agregados; Carbono orgânico.

Land Use, Land Cover Change and Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture and Livestock in the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest in Brazil

“…Despite pasture area losses, this is still one of the main land uses of the Atlantic Forest, in which most of them are under some degradation condition [91]. Generally, there is a lack of pasture management, use of inputs, liming and fertilization [92]. Soil management through burning is still used [93].…”

Biochar and legumes improve pastures in Brazil: environmental and socioeconomic analysis of three forage grasses in a field experiment

“…In particular, barren abandoned pastures dominate the Atlantic Forest biome. Typically, farmers in this region do not apply fertilisers, soil improvers or rotational grazing (Bertossi et al, 2016;Rocha Junior et al, 2016). Since pasturelands provide a range of products ecosystem services such as meat production and carbon sequestration (Lal, 2004), it is important to understand how different pasture management approaches can increase feed production and soil carbon stocks.…”