Abstract
The objective of this work was to assess the relationship between macrofauna, mineralogy and exchangeable calcium and magnesium in Cerrado Oxisols under pasture. Twelve collection points were chosen in the Distrito Federal and in Formosa municipality, Goiás state, Brazil, representing four soil groups with varied levels of calcium + magnesium and kaolinite/(kaolinite + gibbsite) ratios. Soil macrofauna was collected in triplicate at each collection point, and identified at the level of taxonomic groups. Macrofauna density showed correlation with contents of kaolinite, gibbsite and exchangeable Ca + Mg in the soils. Mineralogy and exchangeable Ca + Mg had significant effects on taxonomic groups and relative density of soil macrofauna. The termites (Isoptera) were more abundant in soils with low exchangeable Ca + Mg; earthworms (Oligochaeta), in soils with high levels of kaolinite; and Hemiptera and Coleoptera larvae were more abundant in gibbsitic soils with higher contents of total carbon.
Highlights
The Cerrado region, the second largest biome in Brazil, occupies an area of 204 million ha
The objective of this work was to assess the relationship between macrofauna, mineralogy and exchangeable calcium and magnesium in Cerrado Oxisols under pasture
Twelve collection points were chosen in the Distrito Federal and in Formosa municipality, Goiás state, Brazil, representing four soil groups with varied levels of calcium + magnesium and kaolinite/(kaolinite + gibbsite) ratios
Summary
The Cerrado region, the second largest biome in Brazil, occupies an area of 204 million ha. The majority of the soils of this region is highly weathered, and characterized by low cation exchange capacity, low base saturation and high aluminum saturation. These characteristics are valid for the Oxisols or “Latossolos”, according to the Brazilian soil classification (Santos et al, 2006), there soils cover almost half of the region’s total area (Reatto & Martins, 2005). Notably in the Cerrado biome, macrofauna plays an important role in maintaining ecosystem services (Lavelle et al, 2006), as it is intimately associated with the processes of organic material decomposition and nutrient cycling (Blanchart et al, 2006), and affects the physical, chemical and
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
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 call