Use of topsoil for restoration of a degraded pasture area

Authors

  • Israel Marinho Pereira Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Rodovia MGT 367, km 583, no 5000, Alto da Jacuba, CEP 39100-000 Diamantina, MG.
  • Luise Andrade Amaral Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Rodovia MGT 367, km 583, no 5000, Alto da Jacuba, CEP 39100-000 Diamantina, MG.
  • Michele Aparecida Pereira da Silva Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Rodovia MGT 367, km 583, no 5000, Alto da Jacuba, CEP 39100-000 Diamantina, MG.
  • Marcio Leles Romarco de Oliveira Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Rodovia MGT 367, km 583, no 5000, Alto da Jacuba, CEP 39100-000 Diamantina, MG.
  • Evandro Luiz Mendonça Machado Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Rodovia MGT 367, km 583, no 5000, Alto da Jacuba, CEP 39100-000 Diamantina, MG.
  • Marcelo Luiz Laia Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Departamento de Engenharia Florestal, Rodovia MGT 367, km 583, no 5000, Alto da Jacuba, CEP 39100-000 Diamantina, MG.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2017.v52.23292

Keywords:

ecosystem restoration, fertility, natural regeneration, topsoil application

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of topsoil thickness, shading and origin when performing environmental restoration in a degraded pasture area. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with a factorial (3 x 2 x 2) + 2 layout. Treatments consisted of combinations of topsoil origins (forest at early or middle regeneration stages), topsoil thicknesses (10, 20, or 30-cm superficial soil layer), and presence or absence of 70% shading; with two additional control treatments. Surveys on topsoil physical-chemical attributes and flora and soil coverage were conducted. Good correlation was observed between bulk density and total porosity. Vegetation comprised a total of 2,932 individuals of herbaceous, shrub and subshrub plants; 33 species in 11 families and 1 morphospecies were identified. A floristic survey of the tree stratum revealed 235 individuals belonging to 21 species and 14 families, as well as 2 unidentified species. The best natural regeneration index is observed in the 20-cm topsoil layer, where shading exerts a positive influence on the humidity and natural regeneration of the seed bank. Topsoil from middle-stage forest is the most suitable for restoration of degraded pasture areas.

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Published

2017-12-18

How to Cite

Pereira, I. M., Amaral, L. A., da Silva, M. A. P., de Oliveira, M. L. R., Machado, E. L. M., & Laia, M. L. (2017). Use of topsoil for restoration of a degraded pasture area. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 52(11), 1080–1090. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2017.v52.23292

Issue

v.52, n.11, nov. 2017

Section

SOIL SCIENCE