Abstract
Production systems of agroecological nature, such as agrosilvopastoral systems, have been considered as beneficial in various regions of the world. In semi-arid regions, these systems can contribute not only to food production, but also to soil conservation. Considering the specificities of each plant component, it is supposed that there is a different influence on soil structure, so that some components can be more efficient than others in the improvement of this structure. In the present study, the objective was to evaluate physical attributes with emphasis on the pore distribution, shape and size of a Luvisol in the influence area of different plant components of an agrosilvopastoral system in the semi-arid region of the Ceará state. The study was carried out in an agrosilvopastoral system established in the municipality of Sobral (Ceará, Brazil), with a completely randomized strip-plot design and four replicates. The treatments corresponded to three plant components: arbustive (Leucaena leucocephala), arboreal (Poincianella pyramidalis) and agricultural (Zea mays); and four soil layers: 0.0-0.05, 0.05-0.18, 0.18-0.25 and 0.025-0.41 m. For physical and micromorphometric analyses, undisturbed soil samples were collected in profiles in the areas covered by the plant components. The following attributes were analyzed: soil density, soil-air intrinsic permeability, soil-water characteristic curve, total porosity and pore distribution by shape and size. The soil under the influence of the components L. leucocephala and P. pyramidalis showed better structure, represented by the lower values of density, higher intrinsic permeability to the air and larger total area of pores, in comparison to the soil under the influence of Zea mays. The unfavorable result of the annual crop is due not only to the plant component, but also to the grazing of crop residues in the management system.
Highlights
Semi-arid regions have poorly developed soils, which are minerally rich, little thick and with reduced water retention capacity (Verheye, 2009)
Soil samples collected in the horizons of each profile were analyzed for granulometry, clay dispersed in water, flocculation degree, assimilable phosphorus and organic carbon (Table 1), determined in four replicates
Granulometry, clay dispersed in water (CDW), flocculation degree (FD), assimilable phosphorus (P) and organic carbon (OC) of soil profiles under the influence of three components of the agrosilvopastoral system (Leucaena leucocephala, Poincianella pyramidalis and Zea mays) in the Brazilian semi-arid region
Summary
Semi-arid regions have poorly developed soils, which are minerally rich, little thick and with reduced water retention capacity (Verheye, 2009). Trees often have deep root system and produce more residues than the other types of vegetation cover, increasing the organic matter content of the soil and improving its water retention. This increases soil porosity and facilitates water infiltration (Ilstedt et al, 2007). Measurements of pore size distribution, shape and arrangement provide elements that enable a more detailed knowledge on the soil in agrosilvopastoral systems, allowing to characterize the structural differences caused by the plant components. The objective was to characterize the morphology of pores and physical functioning of the soil under the influence of three types of vegetation cover (arboreal—Poincianera pyramidalis, arbustive—Leucaena leucocephala and agricultural—Zea mays) in four soil layers under agrosilvopastoral system in the Brazilian semi-arid region
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