Sistemas de cultivos com diferentes intensidades de uso alteram a qualidade do solo?

Abstract

Soil quality is determined by land use and management practices, which modify the physical, chemical, and biological attributes essential to ecosystem functioning. This study evaluated soil quality under different management systems at two depths (0–0.1 m and 0.1–0.2 m), based on physical, chemical, and biological indicators. The systems assessed included chickpea (intensive cropping), irrigated grass (intensive cropping), extensive pasture, eucalyptus monoculture, and native forest (reference). In the 0–0.1 m layer, intensive cropping enhanced soil fertility, with increases of up to 82% in phosphorus, as well as improvements in pH, sum of bases, base saturation, and cation exchange capacity. Conversely, it reduced β-glucosidase activity and microbial carbon by 60% compared with native forest, indicating lower biological stability. Eucalyptus soils exhibited greater compaction (1.52 g cm⁻³ at 0.1-0.2 m) and low concentrations of phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. Pasture soils showed the highest Carbon Management Index (CMI) at 0.1–0.2 m, associated with greater carbon accumulation. In summary, intensive systems enhanced soil fertility, whereas perennial pasture improved soil quality through increased CMI at depth.