Soil physical quality of Luvisols under agroforestry, natural vegetation and conventional crop management systems in the Brazilian semi-arid region (original) (raw)

Physical quality of a Luvisol under agroforestry systems in a semi-arid region, Brazil

Soil Research, 2016

Agroforestry systems provide many environmental benefits in semi-arid regions; however, trampling by cattle, and agricultural practices, can degrade physical quality of the soil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of compaction and the compression behaviour of a Luvisol after 14 years under agro-silvopastoral (ASP) and silvopastoral systems (SILV), compared with a soil under natural vegetation (NV). We evaluated the degree of soil compactness, compaction index, pre-consolidation pressure, maximum bulk density, critical water content and the stocks of total organic carbon (C), organic matter (OM), C in light organic matter (LOM), and nitrogen (N) in LOM. The results indicated that agroforestry systems change the compressive behaviour of the soil, increasing maximum bulk density (P < 0.05) and reducing critical water content (P < 0.05). Despite the increases in maximum bulk density, changes induced by agroforestry system did not affect the pore space, as shown by s...

Characterization, agricultural potential, and perspectives for the management of light soils in Brazil

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 2016

Light soils occupy 8% of the Brazilian territory and are especially expressive in the new and last agricultural frontier in Brazil: the Matopiba region - in the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia -, where they represent 20% of the area. These soils fit into the textural classes of sand and loamy sand or sandy loam, down to 0.75-m soil depth or deeper, and they are mainly represented by Neossolos Quartzarênicos (Quartzipsamments) and, partly, by Latossolos (Oxisols) and Argissolos (Ultisols). The understanding of soil functioning depends on the establishment of distinguishing criteria for: organic matter dynamics; content and mineralogy of the clay fraction; coarse sand and total sand contents, in relation to those of fine sand; mean diameter of the sand fraction; and water retention capacity. These criteria can contribute for the zoning and for the conservation and fertility management of light soils, as well as for the estimation of their agricultural potential. Integr...

Agroforestry Systems in the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region

This paper gives a brief overview of the Brazilian semi-arid region, presenting some of its problems, limitations and potentialities. Within this context, it emphasizes the urgent need of agric~tural diversification due to the high risks to which rainfed agriculture is subjected. Based on the potentialities, and on the characteristics of the region, it is suggested the use of agroforestry systems as an important alternative for increasinç and improving the regional agricultural productivitv. minimizing ecological probterns. Among the intercropping systems, the silvopastoral ones, that is, the association of forest and livestock activities, are presented as the most viable alternative for best utilizing the soil productive capacitv. assuring a greater socio-economical stability to farmers:-Another alternative presented is the utilization of trees as living fences and windbreakers. The latter has a great potential for irrigated areas. In addition, some research data are presented rega...

Physical-chemical soil of agroforestry system and areas of natural regeneration in southeastern Pará , Brazil Físico-química do solo de sistema agroflorestal e áreas de regeneração natural no sudeste do Pará

2020

Recebido: 12/11/2019 Aprovado: 26/06/2020 The soil is extremely important for the maintenance of a forest ecosystem, and the agroforestry systems allow considerable improvements in the resource. This study aimed to carry out the physical-chemical characterization of the soil in an agroforestry system and areas of natural regeneration in southeastern Pará. The study area is the Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro Settlement Project, in the municipality of Nova Ipixuna, Pará, which was divided into an Agroforestry System with five years of implementation and areas of natural regeneration with six and ten years, in which four samples, with three subsamples each, at a depth of 0-20 cm from the soil, to carry out chemical and soil texture analyzes. The data were subjected to the normality test and the principal components, using computer programs. Regarding the normality test, the probability distribution was normal, as for the analysis of variance, the treatments submitted did not show si...

Comparative Study between Silvopastoral and Agroforest Systems on Soil Quality in a Disturbed Native Forest of South-Central Chile

Agronomy

Agroforestry systems (AFSs) have gained recognition as a land use strategy to address food security and climate change. They involve intentionally cultivating trees alongside crops and/or animals. AFSs cover approximately 5% of the global forest area and promote sustainable soil conservation, including soil organic carbon (C) sequestration (CSEQ). In some areas of Chile, AFSs are used to preserve the ecological value of native forests. This study evaluates the effects of two AFSs, namely, an agroforest for fodder production (AGROFRST) and Silvopastoral (SPS), within a degraded native forest (Nothofagus obliqua sp.). The evaluation focuses on their impact on CSEQ capacity and soil quality (SQ), using soil quality indexes (SQIs) derived from 30 soil quality indicators (SINDs) related to physical, chemical, and microbiological properties at two depths (0–5 and 5–20 cm). The results for the total depth analyzed (0–20 cm) indicate an average CSEQ of 6.88 and 4.83 Mg C yr−1 and a global S...