Soil Attributes and Ecosystem Services Provision under Different Land Use and Management Systems

• Grant number: 25/08789-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Physical Geography
• Principal Investigator: Hermano Melo Queiroz
• Grantee: Luisa Canedo Romano
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Soils perform multiple functions as a result of their physical, chemical, and biological behavior, directly influencing the provision of ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and water regulation. However, changes in land use and management, especially under conventional agricultural practices, have compromised their functional capacity. This project aims to investigate how soil physical and chemical properties relate to the provision of ecosystem services under different land use types in Monteiro Lobato (São Paulo, Brazil), located in the Serra da Mantiqueira. Three land use systems will be evaluated: an agroforestry system (SAF), a native forest area, and a pasture with cattle. Soil samples will be collected at three depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) and analyzed for attributes such as pH, organic matter, texture, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and base saturation. Data will be normalized to enable comparative estimation of ecosystem services and used to generate service-specific scores associated with classification categories. For the SAF system, a qualitative extrapolation of potential socio-environmental benefits will be performed based on the edaphic results, relating ecosystem service provision to direct and indirect impacts on the local community. The study expects to identify which soil properties most influence service provision and how land use affects this relationship, contributing to sustainable management strategies and soil conservation. (AU)