Abstract
The monitoring of soil attributes allows the evaluation of its ability to perform its functions within an agroecosystem. The objective of this work was to evaluate the spatial variability of soil physical attributes, litter and carbon stock in a family farming system in the Cerrado Tocantinense. The area is located in the southern region in the state in the municipality of Aliança do Tocantins. Four types of land use were diagnosed in the area: brachiaria pasture intercropped with stylosanthes, Andropogon pasture, orchard and native forest. The native forest was considered as a reference. The study area totaled 7.9 ha-1 in which it was distributed an irregular sample grid composed of 160 points. Deformed and undeformed samples were collected for each georeferenced point at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm, as well as samples to determine the litter and soil carbon stock. Data were submitted to exploratory analysis and geostatistical study. It was found that the conversion of native forest for different soil uses through orchard, brachiaria, andropogon and native forest caused spatial variability in physical attributes, litter and soil carbon stock at depths 0-10 and 10-20 cm. The orchard subarea stood out as a promising system in the accumulation of organic carbon due to cattle manure.
Highlights
Soil quality varies according to its natural composition and is strongly related to interventionist practices
The annual rainfall is 1,617 mm, with Aw climate. It has a rainy season in summer from November to April and a clear dry season in winter from May to October, according to Köppen and Geiger (1928)
According to the Brazilian Soil Classification System, the soil is classified as a typical Petroferric Eufrophic Alfiso, which is characterized by the presence of an iron oxide concretion layer, which is an obstacle to root penetration and soil tillage
Summary
Soil quality varies according to its natural composition and is strongly related to interventionist practices. Among the properties of the soil, the physical characteristics are those that perform the main functions, so their knowledge is important for a better support to the proper use and management of the soil. In this sense, unlike precision agriculture, family farming, with its importance for the country, is lacking studies on spatial variability in its production systems. Unlike precision agriculture, family farming, with its importance for the country, is lacking studies on spatial variability in its production systems The soil has both vertical and horizontal heterogeneity, depending on the nature of the factors responsible for its formation. The attributes soil density, texture, structure, porosity, soil penetration resistance, litter and soil organic matter have been used as indicators for soil quality measurement
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