Abstract
ABSTRACT The use of trees in integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems (ICLF) allows diversifying production, increasing profitability per area, and providing a higher animal comfort. However, the influence of tree component on soil chemical attributes in this system is still little studied. This study aimed to assess the effect of trees and sun-exposed faces to solar radiation on soil nutrient availability at different distances of tree rows in an integrated crop-livestock-forestry system. This study was carried out in the northern Mato Grosso State, Brazil, in the Cerrado - Amazon Forest transition region in an ICLF with the tree component formed by three eucalyptus rows. The assessment carried out in the second year of ICLF implantation considered the effect of tree distances (3, 6, 10, and 15 m) on two sun-exposed faces to solar radiation (north and south) on the main soil chemical attributes. Soil sampling was performed at depths of 0-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0.20-0.30 m. The results indicated a homogeneity of the average nutrient contents obtained in the north and south-exposed faces, as well as in the comparison of the same distances in both assessed sun-exposed faces. Effects of trees on soil chemical attributes were verified only when an isolated analysis was carried out in the north-exposed face for K and Al contents. For these attributes, the increased distance in the row was associated with a reduction in their contents in the more superficial and deeper layers, respectively. Trees do not significantly affect soil nutrient availability in the first years of ICLF implantation in systems with homogeneity of solar radiation incidence in the sun-exposed faces although there may be discrete nutrient reductions with the distance of trees.
Highlights
Integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems (ICLF) or agrosilvopastoral systems have received the attention of producers and researchers due to their higher versatility in soil use and productivity considering all the involved components
This study aimed to assess the effect of trees and sun-exposed faces to solar radiation on soil nutrient availability at different distances of tree rows in an integrated crop-livestock-forestry system
Differences were only observed for Ca in at depths of 0.0–0.05 and 0.1–0.2 m and for P and K at a depth of 0.1–0.2 m, with the average contents of these nutrients being higher on the south-exposed face
Summary
Integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems (ICLF) or agrosilvopastoral systems have received the attention of producers and researchers due to their higher versatility in soil use and productivity considering all the involved components. Among other advantages, these systems are characterized by a higher diversification, intensifying soil use, increasing nutrient cycling, adding carbon in the soil, offering a higher comfort to animals due to the shading of trees, and constituting a source of alternative income (Lemaire et al, 2014; Gil et al, 2015; Oliveira et al, 2015; Weimann et al, 2017). Few studies seek to understand the influence of trees in ICLF on soil chemical attributes in the area adjacent to the row of trees, i.e. in the non-wooded area
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