Propriedades hidrodinâmicas de neossolo regolítico sob pastagem e caatinga no agreste pernambucano

Abstract

Soil cultivation leads to modifications in its attributes, depending on the staging intensity and management used. Soil degradation, due to the compaction, destruction of its structure and oxidation of organic matter, results in negative effects on its properties. Thus causing damage to the development of plants, and reducing the productivity of these soils. The main objective of this study is evaluating the impact of grazing on the hydrodynamic properties of Regolithic Neosols in the semi-arid "Agreste" region of Pernambuco State, Brazil, analyzing the spatial variability of the parameters in the curves θ(h) and K(θ) described by models from van Genuchten (1980) and Brooks & Corey (1964), respectively. Such curves were obtained from application of Beerkan method in two areas, the first is an area of pastures (Brachiaria decumbens) and the second is a native forest (Caatinga). The shape parameters (m, n e h) from the curves θ(h) and K(θ) largely dependent on soil texture and are obtained from the particle-size distribution. In turn, the parameters for standardization (q0, Ks e hg) are dependent on the soil structure and are obtained from infiltration tests using the simple ring infiltrometer. The results showed that the use of pasture soil with these properties altered significantly when compared with the soil caatinga, and that the most significant changes were found in soil density and hydraulic conductivity. The geostatistic analysis identified the existence of an structure of dependency between the studied attributes allowing the mapping of experimental areas, this defined zones of greater or lesser variability of the properties analyzed for strategic purposes soil management.