Soil losses and productivity of improved native pastures under different management practices

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate soil losses by erosion and the native pastures productivity with and without introduction of exotic species under different systems of soil management. Soil losses were evaluated under natural rainfall conditions measuring changes in the level of soil surface by erosion process. It were utilized metal pines stuck into the soil (dystrophic Cambisol) (Inceptisol). The tested treatments, in plots measuring 36 m² each, were the following: Brachiaria brizantha (Bb) sowed in pits; Bb in pits + scarification among pits; Bb in furrows; Bb broadcasted in scarified soil; Andropogon gayanus (Ag) sowed in pits; Ag in pits + scarification among pits; Ag in furrows; Ag broadcasted in scarified soil; native pasture with scarification; native pasture. Plots without vegetation and management practices were also maintained. A global analysis of data obtained suggests the possibility of improvement of these native pastures by scarification, liming and fertilization, and the potential of exotic species introduction using these management practices aiming to increase the available forage quantity, in accordance with the soil losses tolerance limits.