Conservação da água e qualidade do solo em sistemas agroflorestais

Abstract

Most of the agricultural production systems adopted worldwide have negative consequences for the environment, and the main causes are related to the inadequate management of natural resources. The soil is an essential component for agricultural activities, and its conservation is very important to ensure the maintenance of adequate levels of productivity. In this way, the conservationist production systems emerge as an alternative to more sustainable agriculture, as is the case with agroforestry systems (AFs). AFs are integrated production systems that include agricultural, livestock and forestry activities, which take place in the same area in consortium, succession or rotation. The main objective of this study was to characterize, through a literature review, how agroforestry systems can be used as a management strategy for water conservation and soil quality. In the various studies analyzed, composed of agroforestry systems with different arrangements, implantation time, climate, approach and species, the efficiency of water use was evaluated, as well as ways of reduce water competition between the species of the system and the evaporation of water from the soil, in addition to the physical, chemical and biological aspects of the soil, indicating its quality. The evaluated data allowed us to conclude that AFs can be used as a management practice to help maintain water and soil quality, however additional studies comparing conventional plantations are recommended. The physical, chemical and biological attributes of the soil improved after the implementation of AFs, in addition to promoting greater efficiency in the use of water. It was also found that the use of agroforestry systems is able to minimize competition for water and decrease water evaporation on the soil surface.