ANALYSIS OF THE CHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES OF A TYPIC HAPLUDULT SOIL UNDER FOREST SYSTEMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical quality of a Typic Hapludult soil under secondary forest (capoeira), pasture and three leguminous tree species: Acacia auriculiformis, Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia and Inga edulis, in Conceição de Macabú County, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, implemented in December 1998. Soil samples from the 0-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m layers were collected and analyzed in July/2015. The C content in the 0.10 m layer was higher in capoeira and lower in the pasture. The CECef and CECpH=7 values and the N, P, Ca, Mg and K levels were lower in pasture, higher in Acacia auriculiformis or capoeira, and intermediate in Inga edulis and Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia. The chemical variables regarding the vegetation cover generally had the lowest values in the pasture, the highest in the Acacia auriculiformis or capoeira, and intermediate values in Inga edulis and Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia. It was concluded that revegetation leads to changes in the superficial layer of the soil which make its attributes closer to those of capoeira and further away from those of pasture, indicating an increase in quality to support the functioning of a forest ecosystem, despite the worsening of some Agronomic quality indicators.