Abstract
ABSTRACT Considering that nematodes are quite sensitive to anthropic interventions, these organisms can be used as indicators of soil quality (SQ). The objective of this work was to study chemical and physical attributes and soil nematode as an indicator of soil quality in pasture areas with successive application of pig slurry (PS) in the Northwest of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. For this, the different areas were considered: Azevém + Tifton pasture with PS use for 14 years (A14), Azevém + Tifton pasture with use of PS for two years (A2) and native forest (NF), with a chemical and physical attributes nematofauna of the soil, with three replicates per treatment, in a randomized complete block design. The soil chemical attributes were sensitive to changes in pasture areas with successive application of PS, with increase in P content, compared to the NF area and soil OM content in the A14 area similar to that found in the NF area. In relation to the soil physical attributes, density and microporosity increased with the successive application of PS in ryegrass + tifton pasture areas, while macroporosity decreased, compared to NF areas. The nematodes of the Discocriconemella, Paratylenchus, Pratylenchus, Trichodorus, Tylenchus and free-living groups were efficient as indicators of soil quality, since they were able to evidence alterations in soil chemical and physical attributes between the ryegrass + tifton use of PS and in relation to the native forest.
Highlights
In recent years, concern about soil quality (SQ) has grown, since intensive use and mobilization can reduce its ability to maintain a sustainable biological production (CARVALHO et al, 2004; FREITAS et al, 2012)
The identification of individuals in each functional group allows advances in the understanding of processes arising from the edaphic and cultural management, and in the resilience of the ecosystem (RITZINGER et al, 2010). These organisms are sensitive to changes in the environment, as studies show that nematodes present in a community are more or less diversified according to the degree of anthropization of the environment in question, and that the activity and diversity of these organisms is influenced by fluctuations in soil physicochemical characteristics (HOCEINI et al, 2017)
The pH values were lower in areas A14 and A2 in relation to the native forest area (NF) area (Table 1), which was already expected, because due to the replacement of forest cover, there was degradation of organic matter (OM) and rapid mineralization, thereby acidifying the environment (ROVEDDER et al, 2013)
Summary
Concern about soil quality (SQ) has grown, since intensive use and mobilization can reduce its ability to maintain a sustainable biological production (CARVALHO et al, 2004; FREITAS et al, 2012). The disposal of pig slurry (PS) is a serious environmental problem (BERWANGER et al, 2008), but if well managed, it can serve as an important alternative to pasture fertilization (SILVA et al, 2016) and positively influence the chemical (SCHERER et al, 2010), physical (RESENDE et al, 2012) and biological characteristics of the soil (SILVA et al, 2014; SILVA et al, 2016), acting on the edaphic quality as a whole In this regard, in addition to soil physical and chemical indicators, the abundance and diversity of edaphic organisms, including nematodes, have been used as important indicators of soil quality (SANTORUFO et al, 2012). These organisms are sensitive to changes in the environment, as studies show that nematodes present in a community are more or less diversified according to the degree of anthropization of the environment in question, and that the activity and diversity of these organisms is influenced by fluctuations in soil physicochemical characteristics (HOCEINI et al, 2017)
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