| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Cherubin, Mauricio R.
[1]
;
Karlen, Douglas L.
[2]
;
Franco, Andre L. C.
[3]
;
Cerri, Carlos E. P.
[1]
;
Tormena, Cassio A.
[4]
;
Cerri, Carlos C.
[5]
Total Authors: 6
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Sao Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz Coll Agr, Dept Soil Sci, 11 Padua Dias Ave, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
[2] USDA ARS, Natl Lab Agr & Environm, 2110 Univ Blvd, Ames, IA 50011 - USA
[3] Colorado State Univ, Dept Biol, 200 West Lake St, Ft Collins, CO 80523 - USA
[4] Univ Estadual Maringa, Dept Agron, 5790 Colombo Ave, BR-87020900 Maringa, PR - Brazil
[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Nucl Energy Agr, 303 Centenario Ave, BR-13400970 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 5
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | Soil Science Society of America Journal; v. 80, n. 1, p. 215-226, JAN-FEB 2016. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 12 |
| Abstract | |
The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was developed to evaluate impacts of land use and management practices on soil quality (SQ), but its suitability for Brazilian tropical soils was unknown. We hypothesized that SMAF would be sensitive enough to detect SQ changes associated with sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) expansion for ethanol production. Field studies were performed at three sites across the south-central region of Brazil, aiming to quantify the impacts of a land use change sequence (i.e., native vegetation-pasture-sugarcane) on SQ. Eight soil indicators were individually scored using SMAF curves developed primarily for North American soils and integrated into an overall Soil Quality Index (SQI) and its chemical, physical, and biological sectors. The SMAF scores were correlated with two other approaches used to assess SQ changes, soil organic C (SOC) stocks and Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS) scores. Our findings showed that the SMAF was an efficient tool for assessing land use change effects on the SQ of Brazilian tropical soils. The SMAF scoring curves developed using robust algorithms allowed proper assignment of scores for the soil chemical, physical, and biological indicators assessed. The SQI scores were significantly correlated with SOC stocks and VESS scores. Long-term transition from native vegetation to extensive pasture promoted significant decreases in soil chemical, physical, and biological indicators. Overall SQI suggested that soils under native vegetation were functioning at 87% of their potential capacity, while pasture soils were functioning at 70%. Conversions of pasture to sugarcane induced slight improvements in SQ, primarily because of improved soil fertility. Sugarcane soils are functioning at 74% of their potential capacity. Based on this study, management strategies were developed to improve SQ and the sustainability of sugarcane production in Brazil. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 13/17581-6 - Soil quality in areas of land use change for sugarcane cultivation in SOUTH-CENTER of Brazil - data for the evaluation of environmental sustainability of ethanol |
| Grantee: | Maurício Roberto Cherubin |
| Support type: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| FAPESP's process: | 12/22510-8 - Soil engineering by macroinvertebrates: controls on soil organic matter storage across land use change |
| Grantee: | Andre Luiz Custodio Franco |
| Support type: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| FAPESP's process: | 14/16612-8 - Soil quality indicator response to land use change |
| Grantee: | Maurício Roberto Cherubin |
| Support type: | Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate |