Physical aspects of the soil in different management systems as an indicator of sustainability

Abstract

In order to assess the physical characteristics of soils in areas under different uses in the Porto Seguro Sustainable Development Project, located in the municipality of Marabá - PA, physical soil indicators were used, such as soil density that directly influences particle density and soil porosity. Soil samples were collected in the 0 to 15 cm layer by the volumetric ring method from areas belonging to three different uses (native forest, agroforestry-SAF system and cassava cultivation) using the volumetric ring method (MAV), according to Embrapa (1997). The results were submitted to ANOVA analysis of variance and the comparison between the averages was made by the Tukey test at 5% with the aid of the PAST program. The implemented SAF not only helped in the protection but also improved the physical qualities of the soil, increasing the supply of organic matter that helps in the formation of aggregates and, therefore, helps to preserve the macropores that are important for the infiltration process.