Changes in Soil C, N, and P Concentrations and Stocks after Caatinga Natural Regeneration of Degraded Pasture Areas in the Brazilian Semiarid Region

Luiz Filipe dos Santos Silva, Luiz Guilherme Medeiros Pessoa, Emanuelle Maria da Silva, Maria Betânia Galvão dos Santos Freire (), Eduardo Soares de Souza, Denizard Oresca, José Orlando Nunes da Silva, Genival Barros Júnior, Alan Cézar Bezerra and Eduardo Silva dos Santos
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Luiz Filipe dos Santos Silva: Graduate Program in Crop Production, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada 56909-535, PE, Brazil
Luiz Guilherme Medeiros Pessoa: Graduate Program in Crop Production, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada 56909-535, PE, Brazil
Emanuelle Maria da Silva: Graduate Program in Crop Production, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada 56909-535, PE, Brazil
Maria Betânia Galvão dos Santos Freire: Graduate Program in Soil Science, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife 52171-900, PE, Brazil
Eduardo Soares de Souza: Graduate Program in Crop Production, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada 56909-535, PE, Brazil
Denizard Oresca: Graduate Program in Crop Production, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada 56909-535, PE, Brazil
José Orlando Nunes da Silva: Graduate Program in Soil Science, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife 52171-900, PE, Brazil
Genival Barros Júnior: Graduate Program in Crop Production, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada 56909-535, PE, Brazil
Alan Cézar Bezerra: Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Conservation, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada 56909-535, PE, Brazil
Eduardo Silva dos Santos: Campus of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, Brazil

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: The conversion of caatinga vegetation areas into pastures in the Brazilian semiarid region has depleted soil fertility due to degradation. The natural regeneration of the caatinga has been the alternative adopted to restore soil fertility. However, the real effectiveness of this practice in recovering organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient stocks is unknown. This work evaluated the effect of natural regeneration of the caatinga vegetation on the restoration of levels and stocks of SOC, N, and P as a strategy to maintain the sustainability of the environment. We collected soil samples every 5 cm, up to 20 cm deep, in areas of degraded pasture, caatinga in regeneration (10 years), and regenerated caatinga (35 years) to evaluate the levels and stocks of SOC, N, and P. The depth significantly affects the levels and stocks of SOC, N, and P. Stocks and levels of SOC, N, and P were higher in regenerated caatinga > regenerating caatinga > degraded pasture. The regenerated caatinga increased SOC, N, and P stocks by 115%, 110%, and 117%, respectively, compared to the degraded pasture. Although 35 years of regeneration of the caatinga has improved soil fertility, the levels and stocks of SOC, N, and P remain low.

Keywords: dry forest soil; land use change; soil degradation and regeneration; environmental sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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