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| Author(s): |
Fernanda de Carvalho
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | Piracicaba. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) |
| Defense date: | 2005-07-27 |
| Examining board members: |
Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira Cardoso;
Maria Victoria Ramos Ballester;
Fatima Maria de Souza Moreira
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| Advisor: | Elke Jurandy Bran Nogueira Cardoso |
| Abstract | |
Brazil Pine (Araucaria angustifolia) has been the most explored Brazilian tree species due to its high quality wood and nowadays it is endangered of extinction. Therefore the preservation of the remainders becomes even more important, considering that the extinction of one species could endanger the whole ecosystem. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of biochemichal soil attributes as soil quality indicators in six Brazil Pine ecosystems. The following biochemichal attributes were evaluated: carbon and nitrogen of the microbial biomass, soil respiration, the metabolic quotient, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis and the activities of β-glicosidase and urease. The different Brazil Pine ecosystems that were considered, consisted of native forests, replanted areas, impacted area in the two state parks (PECJ and PETAR), located in two different regions of the State of São Paulo-Brazil, Campos do Jordão and Apiaí, respectively. Five Pine trees for each ecosystems were selected and three 0-10cm deep soil samples were collected under the crown of each tree, totalizing fifteen samples. The samplings were carried out in the winter of 2002 and 2003 and in the summer of 2003 and 2004. The carbon and nitrogen microbial biomass by themselves were less sensitive than other attributes as indicators of soil quality. Parameters related to soil processes in the ecosystems (soil respiration, metabolic quotient, FDA hydrolysis and the enzymatic activity of urease and β-glicosidase were more responsive to environmental disturbance. Nevertheless, these parameters suggest that all evaluated the ecosystems are sustainable, and that the vegetation (rhizosphere) is very important for maintenance of its functionality. (AU) | |