Assessment of soil health in mangroves under environmental pressures in the Amazon region

• Grant number: 25/08259-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Maurício Roberto Cherubin
• Grantee: Livia Odorisi Pavan
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10573-4 - Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON), AP.CEPID

Abstract

The mangrove is a coastal ecosystem whose ecological importance is widely recognized for hosting a great diversity of species, supporting relevant economic activities (e.g., aquaculture and agriculture), and providing other vital ecosystem services for environmental balance (e.g., carbon sequestration, metal retention, habitat for biodiversity, etc.). However, improper use and the consequent degradation of mangrove soils threaten the functionality of these ecosystems. In this context, there is a lack of methodologies that allow for the quantification of the impacts of mangrove use and management on soil health. Therefore, the study aims to establish an appropriate soil quality index for evaluating mangroves subjected to land-use changes, as well as to investigate the dynamics of soil organic carbon in response to these modifications. Additionally, it intends to identify which ecosystem services have been most impacted by these transformations. To this end, soil samples collected in mangrove areas subjected to different land uses in the Amazon will be analyzed and subjected to statistical analysis to investigate the behavior of chemical, physical, and biological attributes. Different methods will be employed for the optimized selection of soil indicators and calculation methods for the soil health index. It is expected to develop a quantitative methodology for assessing soil health in mangrove areas. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the student will develop technical-scientific skills in data analysis software, such as R, as well as enhance skills in statistical analysis and scientific writing. (AU)