ABSTRACT Mining is a significant driver of soil mobilization, which impacts its physical, chemical, and biological properties. Changes in land-use affect the distribution of organic matter fractions in stable aggregates, a process that is still poorly understood, especially in drastically altered areas. Recovering and monitoring soil quality to ensure the sustainable development of agricultural crops in these areas after mining is challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of agronomic practices in soil rehabilitation in a bauxite-mined area after […]

ABSTRACT Brazilian soil scientists have increased the use of the term “soil quality” in their scientific publications in the last decade. However, it remains unclear if those publications only mention “soil quality” in a broad context, or the studies are focused on soil quality assessments, integrating soil chemical, physical and biological indicators. The objective of this systematic review was to carry out a critical analysis of the conception in using the term “soil quality” in recent publications derived from studies […]

Soil quality (SQ) assessment is an important strategy for defining management practices and systems capable of maintaining and/or improving the sustainability of agricultural systems. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate changes in SQ by physical, chemical, and biological indicators in an Oxisol under different tillage systems and fertilizer sources. The study was conducted in Taquaruçu do Sul, RS, Brazil based on an experiment set up in 2009 in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments […]

The use and management of Quartzipsamments can influence soil organic matter (SOM), but the magnitude of these variations for the specific conditions in the Cerrado (savanna-like vegetation) is still poorly studied. The aim of this work was to study the variations in SOM in a Quartzipsamment, after the conversion of native vegetation to cropland (soybean-millet rotation). Soil was sampled from 0-5, 0-10, 0-20 and 0-40 cm depths of a commercial field in Alto Garças, Mato Grosso, Brazil, of plots under […]

Soil mechanical penetration resistance exerts a strong influence on plant development since the root growth as well as crop yield are inversely related to this variable. On the other hand, soil organic matter and pH are also relevant for plant development, for being directly linked to soil nutrient availability. In the 2005/2006 growing season, the following dendrometric parameters of Eucalyptus camaldulensis were analyzed: (a) wood volume (WV), (b) perimeter at breast height (PBH) and c) plant height (PH), and the […]

Native forests have frequently been substituted by Eucalyptus or annual crops cultivation in Brazil. In southern Minas Gerais State the substitution of Araucaria angustifolia forests by agricultural systems or extensive Eucalyptus stands has also been observed. However, few studies are focused on the impacts of such land use changes on soil physical, chemical and microbial and visual aspect of soils. With this goal in mind, different ecosystems were selected, including introduced Eucalyptus and Araucaria and native forest and pasture in […]

The soil quality (SQ) evaluation is an important part of agricultural planning. It allows the identification and improvement of high-yielding management systems with characteristics of environment preservation. This study was carried out in two long-term soil management experiments (10 and 15 years) in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Soil Quality Kit (SQK) developed by the Soil Quality Institute – ARS – USDA, compared to traditional soil science […]