Abstract
In the province of Entre Ríos (Argentina), land-use changes have been noticeable in recent years, because the portion of land devoted to pasture decreased whereas the proportion and length of crops in the rotation increased. We evaluated soil-use intensity effects on selected physical and chemical properties of a Mollisol in a crop–pasture rotation experiment located in Entre Rios. Treatments included (1) continuous cropping, (2) crop–pasture rotation, (3) pasture, and (4) natural (never-cultivated) land as a reference. Soil samples were analyzed for chemical (pH, carbon and nitrogen contents, extractable phosphorus, cation exchange capacity) and physical (aggregate stability, percolation index, bulk density, pore-size distribution, and specific surface area) properties. Clearing of the native vegetation resulted in a significant reduction of soil organic carbon content and losses of structure stability and soil porosity. No differences were seen in cation exchange capacity between native forest and cultivated land, whereas specific surface area increased with decreased levels of organic carbon content following agricultural use. Although the studied soil properties showed no significant differences when crop–pasture rotation and continuous cropping were compared, the former soil management system is recommended to maintain or promote sustainability.
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