João Bosco Vasconcellos Gomes

Análise de componentes principais de atributos físicos, químicos e mineralógicos de solos do bioma cerrado

Behavior differences between soils of the South-American and Velhas geomorphic surfaces of the Cerrado region, all of them under native vegetation cover, were evaluated by physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterizations, and principal component analyses. According to their sub-region and geomorphic surfaces, the soils were separated in three groups: 1. clayey to very clayey texture, low- and mesoferric; 2. medium to sandy texture, lowferric; 3. clayey to very clayey texture, ferric. Water retention in the surface horizons of the studied soils was positively correlated with the clay and organic carbon contents. Soils of Group 3 showed the greatest amount of exchangeable bases in the surface horizons, which is mainly a consequence of the greater recycling efficiency imposed by the local forest formation when compared to the Cerrado formation (verified in 31 of the 33 soil profiles of Groups 1 and 2). Soils of Group 3, formed from mafic rocks, were the most homogeneous in mineralogical terms, since all profiles were hematitic. In averages, Groups 1 and 2 presented an overlapping mineralogical composition, though Group 1 is more gibbsitic than Group 2. In comparison to the US Soil Taxonomy, the efficacy of the Brazilian Soil Classification System at discriminating the studied soils is higher owing to the use of the ferric character in conjunction with the other attributes both systems have in common. The principal component analysis supported the understanding of the pedologic environment differences and similarities identified in the field.

Soil attributes under agroecosystems and forest vegetation in the coastal tablelands of northestern Brazil Atributos de solo de agroecossistemas e coberturas florestais dos tabuleiros costeiros do nordeste do Brasil

This study evaluated the changes occurred in a set of soil attributes, particularly those related to the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC), as a function of the replacement of native forest for agricultural ecosystems of regional importance in the coastal tablelands of Northeastern Brazil (orange, coconut, eucalyptus and sugarcane). Six commercial sites under these agroecosystems were compared to neighboring areas of native forest in five areas along this region (Coruripe, Umbauba, Acajutiba, Cruz das Almas and Nova Vicosa). Soil samples were taken from 0-5 and 5-20 cm depth and analyzed for particle size distribution, bulk density, organic C (OC), particulate organic matter, C in soil solution, microbial biomass C, total cation exchange capacity and water stable aggregates. Linear correlation and multivariate techniques were used for data analysis. The values of base saturation and Al saturation for the 0-20 cm depth layer were also calculated. In all the studied areas, soils under native forest presented better status of physical and chemical attributes than their agroecosystem counterparts, especially in the 0-5 cm layer. For both layers, OC content was the attribute most strongly correlated with the overall changes in all attributes. Unexpectedly, the OC content showed no significant correlation with the sum of silt and clay contents. The set of variables investigated in this study is sensitive to differentiate the quality of soils under perennial and semi-perennial land uses from their counterparts under natural vegetation in the landscapes of the coastal tablelands of Northeastern Brazil.

Morphology, mineralogy and micromorphology of soils associated to summit depressions of the Northeastern Brazilian Coastal Plains

The scarcity of comprehensive characterizations of soils associated to gentle summit depressions of the Northeastern Brazilian Coastal Plains justifies this work, which had as objective to provide basic information for the more diverse agricultural and non-agricultural uses. For that, representative soils (Spodosols or similar soils) from these environments were selected in Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia states. This approach included characterization of morphological, mineralogical and micromorphological properties of the soil profiles, employing standard procedures. The morphological characterization corroborated the effect of the podzolization process during the formation of these soils. The mineralogy of the clay fraction of these soils was basically composed of kaolinite and quartz, which, associated to the very sandy texture, helped in the understanding of the obtained data. The soil micromorphological study, besides confirming the field morphology, mainly in regard to the strong cementation, aggregated value to the work in terms of the secure identification of the clay illuviation process (non-identified in the field), in association with the dominant podzolization process.

Relações entre atributos do solo e atividade de formigas em restingas

In restinga soils with sand-quartzous constitution the influence of the organic fraction and biological activity on soil key functions is increased, e.g., the capacity of recycling and storing nutrients. The analysis of soil attributes and edaphic fauna at sites under different vegetation cover types is important to understand the behavior of these environments. In this study, chemical, physical and microbiological soil attributes of restinga sites and their relationships with ant populations under different vegetation types in the state of Sergipe were evaluated. Samples of six vegetation types (three sites per cover) were collected, four of which in the area of Caju (forest, ginger-grass, coconut palm plantation and brushwood) and two in the area of Pirambu (dune plateau forest and dune footslope forest). Chemical attributes were analyzed in samples collected from the layers 0-5 and 5-20 cm and the microbial activity evaluated by hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate, in samples collected from the 0-10 cm layer. The organic fragment mass was evaluated at different depths. Ant communities with activity on the soil surface were considered for evaluation. The principal component analysis was used to compare the sites. The organic compartment attributes (organic C, dissolved organic C and organic fragments) were very sensitive to modifications in the vegetation cover at Caju sites, isolating the native forest sites from the disturbed ones and the ginger-grass site from the coconut palm and brushwood sites. Soil solution attributes influenced by sea-salt spray (electric conductivity, K, Na and Mg) distinguished the Pirambu from the Caju sites. The ant groups had a high level of specialization. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated a low percentage of variance of distribution of these groups and isolated the forest sites from other uses, indicating the existence of other attributes to be considered for distribution.

Mineralogia e micromorfologia de solos esqueléticos do bioma cerrado, no leste de Goiás

The great amount of mineral material with a diameter > 2 mm in soils of the Cerrado biome is an intriguing characteristic that needs highlights the importance of further studies on soil formation, soil classification, land use and management. For a comparison of the morphological, physical, chemical, mineralogical, and micromorphological attributes of such skeletal soils, profiles of Petric Plinthosols and Haplic Cambisols from the eastern Goias, Brazil, were studied and compared with similar profiles described in the literature. A pit was dug in each of the six soil profiles for morphological description and sampling at two depths (total of twelve soil samples). The petroplinthite nodules in the soil coarse fractions contribute to increase the Fe2O3 content extracted by sulfuric acid of Plinthosols. The Feo/Fed ratios are generally very low, reflecting the high stability of the crystalline Fe forms. The studied Plinthosols and Cambisols presented relatively low Ki and Kr values when compared to other soils of the same classes and with skeletal character in the Cerrado biome. The absence of hematite in the clay fraction of the studied soils results in yellowing of the moister pedoenvironment along the chapada borders. This landscape position is typical for Plinthosols, from where eroded materials contribute to the formation of Cambisol downslope. The hematite occurs only in the sand fraction of Plinthosols, associated with petroplinthite nodules. Magnetite/maghemite were identified in both soils. In the Cambisols, the presence of mica detected by X-ray diffraction analysis of the sand fraction, and the presence of minerals with strong interference colors in the thin sections, besides the higher values of Ki and Kr indices, highlights the less weathered nature of Cambisols as compared to Plinthosols. The small amount of plasma (10 % of the thin section area) indicates the skeletal character of the studied soils. Plinthosols have a dense granular structure, whereas the pore space of the microstructure of pellicular grains of the Cambisols is less connected and dominated by chambers and channels.