Spontaneous Vegetation Research Articles

Grassroots Citizen Science in Urban Spontaneous Vegetation

This paper documents the research processes and outcomes of four collegial citizen-science projects about urban spontaneous vegetation. The artist- and designer-initiated collegial projects in this study use a variety of art, design, and natural history strategies to collect and analyze data, as well as to visualize and disseminate their findings. In addition to physical outcomes, the project leaders use legitimating narratives and discourses about urban ecosystem services to counter negative claims about urban spontaneous vegetation, which are often pejoratively labeled ‘weeds.’ A challenge and opportunity for projects focused on altering the normative bias against so-called “weeds” is mainstreaming a new nature ethic for this type of urban flora.

Early ecological succession on landslide trails, Hong Kong, China

ABSTRACTIn Southeast Asia, intensive rainstorms caused by strong monsoon and tropical cyclones can trigger landslides in mountainous or hilly regions, which may significantly impact the natural terrains. This mostly includes the loss of vegetation cover, the emptying of seed banks and degradation of the top soil. The objective of this study was to assess the spontaneous vegetation regeneration on nine landslide trails approximately 2.5 years after disturbance. A systematic vegetation sampling was conducted using 5 × 5 m quadrats. A total of 1,304 individuals from 72 tree and shrub species were recorded across the landslide trails, with a mean density of 1.09 ± 0.71 individual m−2. The woody component of the regeneration was dominated by bird-dispersed species, followed by wind-dispersed species. Ground cover was dominated by two mat-forming ferns Dicranopteris pedata and Blechnum orientale. In order to facilitate the vegetation restoration and to speed up ecological succession on landslides, it is recommended to establish pioneer trees to improve both the top soil stability and soil-building process. The importance of providing bird perches must be emphasized, as it improves seed rain to the disturbed landscapes, thus promoting the regrowth of trees and shrubs.

Intercropping cover crops with a poplar short rotation coppice: Effects on nutrient uptake and biomass production

The risks of soil erosion and nutrient leaching can be considered appreciable in short rotation coppices especially in the first growth phases because of the absence of any plant cover. The temporary intercropping with legumes or grasses used as cover crops can help to overcome these environmental issues. The present research work aims to evaluate the effects of the introduction of cover crops in a short rotation poplar (Populus deltoides W. Bartram ex Marshall) with two-year harvest cycle. The plantation was located in a Typic Xerofluvent, silty-loam soil of the coastal Central Italy. Two different species of cover crops, Trifolium subterraneum L. (TS) and Lolium perenne L. (LP), were compared along with an untreated control, colonised by spontaneous vegetation (CO). Several plant and soil parameters were evaluated: the above ground biomass and nutrient accumulation for the three different soil cover types, the nitrate and water content in two soil layers (0.00-0.30 and 0.30-0.60 m), the poplar yield and nutrient content in branches and leaves. TS returned to the soil about 70 kg ha–1 of nitrogen at the end of its biological cycle, thanks to the high N content (over 2%) and to the noticeable amount of dry matter produced (3.46 t ha–1 of dry matter). This value was considerably higher than those of the LP (23 kg ha–1 of N) or CO (10 kg ha–1). The different amount of nitrogen returned to the soil affected both nitrate concentration in topsoil (0.00-0.30 m) and accumulation of nitrogen in poplar organs. Concerning phosphorous, the differences among treatments were less evident and the amount of P returned to the soil ranged from 2 (CO) to 10 (TS) kg ha–1. However, the effect of soil cover type on P uptake in poplar was still appreciable. Generally, the soil water content was slightly affected by the soil cover types. Indeed, the differences between the cover crops and the control became significant only in the shallowest soil layer and over the summer season. In the first year, LP induced a significant decrease in poplar yield (10.1 t ha–1 of dry matter) in comparison with TS (14.7 t ha–1) and CO (13.4 t ha–1), whereas in the second year there were no significant differences among treatments due to the weak regrowth of cover crops. These results show how to make it feasible a long lasting coexistence between cover crops and SRC, a clever design of agro-forestry systems is therefore needed.

Experimental addition of olive mill waste compost in an old agroecosystem: identifying main short-term vegetation responses

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is the main residual product of olive processing and its disposal can represent a relevant environmental issue in Mediterranean countries. OMW is characterised by high pollutant load, salinity and phytotoxic levels of polyphenols, but also by a high amount of organic compounds and plant mineral nutrients. In this perspective, a technology named MATReFO was developed, with a final dry product easy to transport for commercial use. Here, we assessed the short-term effects of OMW and MATReFO applications on spontaneous vegetation in an old agroecosystem. Following a randomized block design soil was amended with different quantities of OMW or MATReFO and vegetation was sampled for 4 years after the treatments. Multivariate and univariate analyses of plant data showed that: (1) only high volume of MATReFO affected spontaneous vegetation, whereas OMW and low volume mixture addition did not determine significant effects; (2) plant species composition and abundance varied significantly among years and exhibited considerable variation over the study period, particularly with high volume of MATReFO; (3) vegetation dynamic had already undergone first steps of natural succession in control and almost all treatments. Our results revealed no negative effects of olive mill waste compost addition in plant community assemblage, since vegetation changes can be mainly related to the abandonment of soil tillage. Therefore, we can assert that OMW and MATReFO can be discharged in abandoned agroecosystems without short-term effects on natural vegetation.

Relationship between soil organic matter fractions and cover plants in Olive post planting

Abstract Erosion is the main cause of soil degradation, compromising soil productivity and sustainability. As soil organic matter (SOM) is a key indicator of quality, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different olive tree managements on SOM and its soil fractions in soil (Inceptisol) and erosion sediments. Five treatments were installed: bare soil, olive cultivation in bare soil, olive tree intercropped with jack bean, olive tree intercropped with pearl millet, and olive tree cultivated with spontaneous vegetation; a contiguous area of native vegetation was used as reference. Carbon in soil and sediment were determined by wet oxidation with external heating, while the fractionation of SOM was performed based on granulometry. The Carbon Management Index (CMI) was determined by the proportions of SOM fractions. The results indicated that SOM associated with minerals is the most present in soil and sediment erosion, regardless of the adopted management. Results on CMI showed that the systems olive tree intercropped with pearl millet or with spontaneous vegetation are the most favorable to increase the carbon stock in the soil.

Visual assessment of pasture degradation: validation by ground cover and seasonal variation

Visual assessments of pasture degradation levels are widespread because they are rapid, practical and inexpensive. However, they can be subjective, making it difficult to distinguish between degradation levels to establish management practices. This fact, in association with the lack of standardization of the number of levels and the assessment periods, suggests a need for further studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between the degradation levels of visually evaluated pastures and the soil cover measured in fields in summer and winter. Percentages of Brachiaria grass, bare soil, spontaneous vegetation (broad and narrow leaf) and mulch were evaluated in 35 areas with different levels of visual degradation. Canonical discriminant analysis showed that a reduction in the visually assessed degradation level correlates better with the field-measured soil cover in summer. Visual distinctions between the degradation levels were difficult by the visual ambiguity between spontaneous vegetation and pasture in both assessment periods and the visual ambiguity between bare soil and mulch in winter. Visual assessments of pasture degradation should be standardized in the summer period and simplified to two degradation levels, making them more accurate and better related to the vegetation cover measured directly on the field.

Monitoring of Mercury Content in the Main Environmental Components Caused by Lignite Combustion in Large Thermal Power Plants

The aim of experiment was to evaluate the local impact of mercury accumulations, discharge from coal power plants, by examining samples of ash, slag, soil, spontaneous vegetation and crop plants, using as analytical techniques the cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. Mercury determined in samples of lignite (0.020 mg. Kg-1), is found in fly ash samples retained by filters (0.037 mg.Kg-1), bottom ash transported hydraulic in deposit (0.022 mg.Kg-1), adjacent soils landfill and the power plant (0.12 mg.Kg-1 or 0.049 mg.Kg-1). The mercury content in vegetation presents differentiated values depending on the bioavailability of plant, area and the positioning of the emission source, reaching values between 0.014 at 0.005 mg.Kg-1 in the wild flora and 0.022 mg.Kg-1 to 0.004 mg.Kg-1 for plants crop. Data obtained for plants, confirmed that most families tend to accumulate mercury plant in larger quantities in the roots (0.022 � 0.0016 mg.Kg-1) and moderate quantities in the foliar level by translocation or by direct vapor absorption.

Análise econômica da produção de alface crespa em cultivo sucessivo de plantas de cobertura em sistema de plantio direto

The objective of this study was to obtain economic indicators of the production of crisp lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in successive cultivation to cover plants under no-tillage system. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, with six treatments: Crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea), guandu (Cajanus cajan), jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), in addition to a control treatment, with the use of spontaneous vegetation, with four replications. The productivity was evaluated and economic indicators were estimated for a production area of 1000 m2. It was observed that the cultivation of lettuce in succession to forage sorghum and maintenance of the straw on the soil provided an increase in productivity and monetary gains. The operational profit obtained with the production of 3.05 tons of lettuce cultivated in beds containing sorghum straw was R$ 3,754.35. This value exceeded R$ 608,06, R$ 1,269.60, R$ 4,052.28 and R$ 3,361.44 the values obtained with the pre-harvest millet, jack bean, guandu and crotalaria, respectively and R$ 2.426,80 the control treatment. Thus, the use of forage sorghum as a predecessor crop is recommended to produce crisp lettuce under no-tillage system.

Efecto de técnicas de agricultura de conservación en la respiración del suelo en plantaciones de almendro en la región mediterránea (SE, España)

The soil-management system in agricultural lands could be affected substantially on dynamics of CO2 fluxes from soil. An experiment was carried out in Lanjaron (SE Spain) to evaluate the effect of three soil-management systems in almond plantations: 1) minimum tillage with spontaneous vegetation strips (MTSV), 2) minimum tillage and thyme ( Thymbra capitata L.) strips (MTT), and 3) minimum tillage without plant strips (MT). The CO2 emission rates from soil presented the following increasing trend MTSV>MT>MTT, showing highly variability in the short term. Also, higher CO2 soil emissions were recorded during the spring, in contrast to autumn. Moreover, the soil- water content was the most influential environmental factor. Consequently, the use of conservation agricultural techniques such as minimum tillage and plant strips to sequester atmospheric carbon are sustainable measures for Mediterranean rainfed agro-ecosystems.

Labile and stable soil organic carbon and physical improvements using groundcovers in vineyards from central Spain

Mediterranean vineyards are usually managed with continuous tillage to maintain bare soils leading to low organic matter stocks and soil degradation. Vineyards are part of the Mediterranean culture, their management can be sustainable. We propose the setup of two types of groundcovers with the aim to assess their potential influence to improve soil properties. A field trial was performed to compare the effects of a seeded (Brachypodium distachyon) and spontaneous groundcovers, on a set of soil parameters, in comparison with the traditional tillage in four vineyards located in the center of Spain. Three years after the groundcovers establishment soil organic carbon stocks increased up to 1.62 and 3.18Mgha−1 for the seeded and the spontaneous groundcovers, respectively, compared to conventional tillage. Both labile and stable fractions improved their soil organic carbon content with the use of groundcovers, particularly the labile fraction. Moreover, soil structure and functional soil properties improved through better aggregate stability, pore connectivity and infiltration rates. The higher root biomass input of the spontaneous groundcovers derived in higher soil organic carbon increases and soil quality improvement. Consequently, under low rainfall conditions (<400mmperyear) spontaneous vegetation, properly managed according to site conditions, is an effective soil management strategy to revert soil degradation and increase soil quality in Mediterranean vineyards.

Winter cover crops affecting physical and chemical soil attributes in a commercial vineyard

ABSTRACT: Cover crops may have direct or indirect effects on the physical and chemicalsoil attributes; these cropsplay a key role in the cycling of nutrients in the soil and add labile organic carbon, bringing economic and environmental benefits to the system. To study the effect of cover crops on the physical and chemical properties of an Oxisol, a three-year experiment was conducted in a commercial vineyard located at Epagri’s Experimental Station in Videira, SC, Brazil. Different winter species (white clover, red clover, common vetch, turnip, corn spurrey, black oat, rye, and ryegrass) were sown in addition to treatments with manual weeding or mechanical mowing. Certain chemical and physical attributes of soil were determined in samples collected fromlayers 0-0.1 and 0.1-0.2m deep on the vinerows and between rows, as well as the dry mass of winter cover crops. Few chemical and physical attributes of the soil changed among winter cover crops and did not differ from the crops managed with mechanical mowing or hand weeding of spontaneous vegetation. Vine rows provided more adequate values of most physical and chemical soil attributes.

Can Flowering Greencover Crops Promote Biological Control in German Vineyards?

Greencover crops are widely recommended to provide predators and parasitoids with floral resources for improved pest control. We studied parasitism and predation of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) eggs and pupae as well as predatory mite abundances in an experimental vineyard with either one or two sowings of greencover crops compared to spontaneous vegetation. The co-occurrence between greencover flowering time and parasitoid activity differed greatly between the two study years. Parasitism was much higher when flowering and parasitoid activity coincided. While egg predation was enhanced by greencover crops, there were no significant benefits of greencover crops on parasitism of L. botrana eggs or pupae. Predatory mites did not show an as strong increase on grapevines in greencover crop plots as egg predation. Overall, our study demonstrates only limited pest control benefits of greencover crops. Given the strong within- and between year variation in natural enemy activity, studies across multiple years will be necessary to adequately describe the role of greencover crops for pest management and to identify the main predators of L. botrana eggs.

Ligno-cellulosic materials as air-water separators in low-tech microbial fuel cells for nutrients recovery

Low-cost materials and low-tech architectures could give competitive advantage in scaling-up applications of microbial fuel cells (MFC), especially for nutrients recovery from wastewater. Here a novel concept is presented, based on cylindrical ligno-cellulosic materials, available as agricultural residues or spontaneous vegetation. Giant canes (Arundo Donax L.) and maize (Zea Mays) stalks were used as porous separators (naturally tubular) for air-cathode MFC modules (GC-MFC and MS-MFC, meaning Giant Cane and Maize Stalk, respectively), with carbon cloth-based electrodes. The MFCs were operated across 100 Ω external load, enriching swine-farming wastewater with addition of sodium acetate (3 g L−1). Initially, these systems showed relatively high internal resistances (especially GC, with Rint = 5600 Ω), before the material was completely imbibed by the anolyte. After 10–20 days acclimation, despite sufficient electrolytic conductivity was established in both systems (internal resistance around 60–90 Ω), relatively low power densities (around 40 mW m−2, normalized by cathode's surface projection) were achieved, if compared to state-of-the-art MFCs, oriented to electricity harvesting. However, the generated electric field was enough to sustain electro-osmotic ions mobility and to establish high pH conditions (pH 11–12) at the cathode. Over 70 days of operation, electro-migration and deposition phenomena of valuable elements (Na, Ca, Mg, Mn, K, etc.) were observed, both inside the separator and on the cathode surface. Simultaneously, partial biodegradation of the ligno-cellulosic biomass, especially for MS, drove partial release of organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and other elements in the anodic chamber. These relevant phenomena have to be taken into account in view of possible applications of ligno-cellulosic materials in MFC-driven nutrients recovery from wastewater.

Greenhouse gases emissions from a closed old landfill cultivated with biomass crops

Closed landfills need after-closure rehabilitation. The chosen option should ensure greenhouse gases release, from the landfill, is not promoted once settled. The objective of this study was to estimate and confront, during different seasons, CH4, CO2 and N2O emissions under three vegetation covers in a closed landfill in Buenos Aires, Argentina. CH4 (methane), CO2 (carbon dioxide) and N2O (nitrous oxide) emissions from landfill’s technosol under spontaneous vegetation (control), Pennisetum purpureum and Miscanthus giganteus (biomass crops), were quantified with non-steady-state non-flow-through chambers, in July 2014 and from February to July 2015. A linear regression analysis was performed to relate the variables “flux of a gas” and “concentration of that gas” from the 3 treatments and 6 dates, separating the 5 sampling times. A high correlation between concentrations and fluxes of CO2 and N2O was found, but no correlation was established for CH4. Mean emissions (2014–2015) varied from: −2.3 to 639.41 mgCH4 m−2 day−1, 3884 to 46,365 mgCO2 m−2 day−1 and 0.40 to 14.59 mgN2O m−2 day−1. Vegetation covers had no significant effect on CH4 and N2O concentration in time, but they had on CO2 concentration. Season of the year had a significant effect on concentration of the three gases. This is the first study on CH4, CO2 and N2O emissions from a landfill closed 27 years ago covered with biomass crops.

Green roof evolution through exemplars: Germinal prototypes to modern variants

This paper evaluated a knowledge gap regarding the origin and historical development of green roofs as an evolving human invention. Forty-three cases from different parts of the world, marked by innovative and unique features, were chosen as pioneering exemplars. They were organized into five time periods, namely Antiquity, Medieval, Early Modern, Late Modern, and Recent. The lineage in antiquity was initially expressed through monumental aristocratic and religious structures. Vernacular sod roofs were developed serendipitously in response to harsh environments and lack of durable building materials. Their utilitarian trait allowed continual use in modern times. Medieval Europe witnessed refined Renaissance landscape design with some established as terrace gardens. Modern reinforced concrete generated many buildings with flat roofs amenable to greening. A revised roofing technology in Germany permitted flourishing of spontaneous vegetation, inspiring conscious installation of modernized green roofs. Technological revamping of materials and skills since the 1960s has primed and popularized green roof applications. Despite the new advances, the core principles and practice of ancient green roofs have remained. Continual innovations in landscape and engineering designs have enhanced the diversity, quality and scope of recent green roofs.

DISTRIBUTION OF Meloidogyne enterolobii IN GUAVA ORCHARDS IN THE STATE OF CEARÁ, BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Among the factors negatively impacting guava (Psidium guajava) crop in Brazil, one of the most important is the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii, which may cause considerable yield losses and even the cessation of guava cultivation in some areas. In addition to affecting guava, the pathogen has been reported as a parasite in various other crops, among them both oleraceous and ornamental crops, as well as in spontaneous vegetation. The aim of this study was to verify the occurrence of M. enterolobii in plants collected in guava orchards in different counties of Ceará state, identified through electrophoresis with the isoenzyme esterase, and to observe its infecting behavior into Meloidogyne differentiating plants. Fifty root samples from guava, tasselflower (Emilia fosbergii), and jurubeba (Solanum paniculatum), were collected in 13 counties from eight micro-regions in the state of Ceará. In all analyzed samples, only esterase phenotype M2 (Rm: 0.6; 0.9), characteristic of M. enterolobii, was detected, showing that the nematode is widespread in orchards throughout the state, where is affecting these fruit tree, and that it is also able to parasitizing plants of the spontaneous vegetation. Based on the results, this nematode currently constitutes a serious threat to guava plantations in Ceará, and effective control mechanisms are crucial to prevent the spread of this pathogen to other, still unaffected, areas.

Spatial and temporal variability of spontaneous grass cover and its influence on sediment losses in an extensive olive orchard catchment

Vegetal covers protect the soil against erosion in agricultural systems. In marginal olive farms, spontaneous grass covers are preferred due to their low cost, despite their high spatial and temporal heterogeneity which limits their efficiency. Although the impact of different managements, soil conditions or cover crops species has been evaluated and compared, there is currently insufficient information available on the spatial and temporal patterns of spontaneous grass covers in olive groves. This work focuses on the analysis of the spatial distribution patterns, temporal stability and protection capacity of spontaneous grass covers in olive orchards. First, the temporal variability of spontaneous grass cover was explored in relation to the meteorological conditions and the management system. Second, spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE) was applied to explore the spatial patterns and persistence of the spontaneous cover. Finally, a descriptive analysis of events was made to illustrate the degree of influence of the cover on the hydrological response of the catchment.A total 12 surveys were carried out on a seasonal scale over 3years (2011−2013) to measure the cover percentage of spontaneous grass through surface photograph analyses. A regular, permanent grid of 37 points (6samples/ha) was used to define each sample-location. In order to evaluate the relations between the cover percentage and meteorological variables, multiple linear regressions were adjusted while the SADIE approach and correlation analysis were used to describe possible spatial aggregation patterns and its dependence on topographical and soil attributes such as aspect, slope, drainage area, height, richness of grass species and apparent electrical conductivity.The average annual percentage of cover ranged from 23% to 36%, with a coefficient of variation of 57% and 6%, respectively. On the seasonal scale, the cover varied between 0.2% and 50%. Accumulated precipitation during the precedent 15days, the average of minimum temperature of the previous 60days and the cumulated potential evapotranspiration of the same period showed a significant correlation with the mean cover percentage in the catchment. A simple multiple linear regression adjustment between the cumulated precipitation for the 15 previous days and the number of months since the vegetation was removed using herbicide or by summer conditions gave a determination coefficient of 77%. Moreover, a permanent spatial pattern was observed for periods characterized by abundant preceding rainfall. Only the apparent electrical conductivity of the topsoil (50cm in depth) showed significant correlations with the spatial patterns of spontaneous grass. Finally, similar rainfall events taking place with different degrees of soil cover presented very different hydrological responses, which allowed us to quantify the contribution of spontaneous vegetation to sediment dynamics during humid periods.

Residents’ perceptions and valuations of urban wastelands are influenced by vegetation structure

Among the different urban green spaces, wastelands are valuable spaces for conserving urban biodiversity. By hosting wild and spontaneous vegetation, wastelands can promote the contact citizens have with nature. However, lack of regular management can lead to negative perceptions. In this study we assessed perceptions, valuations and uses of wastelands by residents in two cities in the centre of France. We tested whether preferences for wastelands depended on where wastelands were located in the city, plant community characteristics or resident characteristics. The study investigated 18 wastelands, in three successional stages (initial grassland, intermediate grassland and shrubbery stages) and located in three categories of distance from the city centre (downtown, suburban, periurban). Vegetation was sampled in each wasteland and several plant community metrics were calculated. A total of 72 residents (4 per wasteland) living in the vicinity of the wastelands were interviewed about their use, valuations and perceptions of wastelands. Based on qualitative and quantitative analyses, the results highlighted that a significant proportion of residents (36%) conducted various activities in wastelands and that perceptions and valuations of wastelands were diverse, ranging from either negative (when wastelands were perceived as wild or abandoned areas) or positive (when wastelands were considered as natural and recreational). Valuations strongly depended on the successional stage, with intermediate grassland-like wastelands being preferred. We found no effect of wasteland location in the city, whereas resident characteristics (age and gender) marginally influenced valuations. This study provides new insights into the determinants of perception and valuations of urban wastelands. Particularly, we suggest that intermediate grassland-like wastelands could be easily integrated into urban planning both for recreational activities and conserving biodiversity. Alternatively, awareness of the value of initial grassland-like and shrubbery wastelands should be raised to improve their acceptability.

Chemical Properties in Macroaggregates of a Humic Dystrudept Cultivated with Onion under No-Till and Conventional Tillage Systems

ABSTRACT Nutrients present in soil aggregates are essential for maintaining the productive capacity of agroecosystems and environmental quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical properties of macroaggregates of a Humic Dystrudept cultivated with onions under a no-till vegetable system (NTVS) compared to the conventional tillage system (CTS) and a forest area in Ituporanga, SC, Brazil. The treatments consisted of the following single and mixed cover crops with onion under the NTVS: spontaneous vegetation, 100 % black [...]

Reforestation of a Degraded Area with Eucalyptus and Sesbania: Microbial Activity and Chemical Soil Properties

ABSTRACT Mining activities generally affect soil quality, degrading it and creating the need for consistent environmental recovery efforts. This study evaluates the influence of monospecific and mixed stands of Sesbania virgata (S) and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (E) on the chemical properties and microbial activity of the soil in a degraded area by clay extraction in the northern part of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four treatments (100S:100 % Sesbania , 100E: 00 % Eucalyptus , 50S:50E: 50 % Sesbania + 50 % Eucalyptus , and DASV: a degraded area with spontaneous vegetation) were established according to a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Samples were collected in the 0.00-0.10 m layer in the rainy season (March) and the dry season (September). The properties evaluated were pH in water; contents of P, K + , Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Al 3+ , H+Al, N, and C; C/N ratio; total microbial activity (soil respiration - CO 2 emission); and total enzymatic activity (fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis). The reforestation of degraded areas by clay mining with the species S. virgata and E. camaldulensis either in monospecific or mixed stands increased the nutrient contents, C levels, and total microbial activity in the soil. It was possible to separate the planting systems (100S, 100E, 50S:50E) and the DASV using principal component analysis. In both seasons, soil C contents, chemical properties, and biological variables improved in the planted areas, in contrast with the DASV. The revegetation of degraded areas by mining improved the chemical and biological properties of the soil, leading to higher soil quality in revegetated areas compared to degraded areas with natural vegetation.