Abstract
Temperature is a fundamentally important factor for understanding the physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur in soil. However, there are few studies in the Brazilian semiarid zone that seek to understand how soil degradation affects its thermal characteristics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of cultivation techniques on the thermal characterization of soil, using the model proposed by Johansen. The study was conducted in the Agreste region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil on two plots of land, one with native vegetation (Caatinga) and the other with spineless cactus (O. ficus - indica). It was observed that the procedures used to prepare the soil for cultivation of spineless cactus caused a reduction in the capacity to transmit the surface temperature to the interior of the soil. Changes in the physical properties of the soil required for cultivation resulted in a reduction in the average value of the volumetric heat capacity of about 22%; an increase of approximately 5% in the average volumetric heat capacity and a 26% increase in the thermal diffusivity of the soil, as well as a reduction of approximately 50% in the heat flux from the surface of the soil.
Highlights
Soil is a vital part of the environment
The objective of this work was to quantify the influence of spineless cactus (O. ficusindica) cultivation on the thermal characteristics of a soil originally covered with native forest (Caatinga), using the model proposed by Johansen
The analyzed plots consisted of 2.0 ha of soil with native forest (Caatinga) and 4.5 ha of soil cultivated with spineless cactus (O. ficus-indica)
Summary
Soil is a vital part of the environment It influences the distribution of plant species and provides a habitat for a wide range of organisms. The soil is relevant to the fate of human society due to the services, goods and resources it gives to the humankind It reacts to the changes in vegetative cover with changes in soil erosion, runoff, water conservation and temperature, among others (Keesstra et al, 2016; Van Hall et al, 2016). There are few studies in the Brazilian semiarid zone that seek to understand how soil degradation affects its thermal characteristics The changes in these characteristics may compromise the germination of some plant species, both in speed and in the percentage of germination, making regrowth of the original vegetation impossible
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Ambiente e Agua - An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Science
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
