Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the potentialities and limitations of the agricultural use of representative classes of semi-arid regions of the state of Bahia, based on the pedological and evaluation of their soil characteristics. Five areas were selected where trenches were opened to collect samples for the analyses: Eutric Haplustept which presents vulnerability to physical and chemical degradation due to poor drainage with risks of erosion, waterlogging, salinization and compaction but having good natural fertility; Abrupt Kandiustalf with high vulnerability to physical degradation due to the presence of gravel and pebbles which may limit the development of deep rooting plants and mechanization but also with good natural fertility; Typic quartzipsaments and Typic Eutrustalf with no limitations related to drainage as low risk of compaction but featuring limitation of low moisture-holding capacity and nutrients; and Arenic Haplustulf wose characteristics are high vulnerability to degradation due to the drainage limitation related to the Btx horizon cementing in addition to low natural fertility and therefore is not recommended to agricultural use. However, in general, they feature no serious impediments for agricultural use. The amounts of OM is low in all soils but the use of management systems aiming at their accumulation and maintenance in appropriate levels will contribute to the CEC increase as well as to improve the chemical and physical properties.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do cultivo orgânico de videira de vinho sobre características físicas e químicas de Argissolo da região semiárida do Brasil. Foram coletadas amostras de solo na linha e entrelinha de plantio e em área de pousio nas profundidades de 0,00-0,10, 0,10-0,20, 0,20-0,30 e 0,30-0,60 m. As amostras foram coletadas aos seis e doze meses após a implantação da cultura para avaliação do estado de agregação, densidade do solo, porosidade total, índice de floculação, matéria orgânica, cálcio, magnésio e sódio. Os resultados foram submetido à análise estatística. A adoção do cultivo orgânico contribuiu para o processo de agregação do solo. A densidade do solo e a porosidade total não diferiram significativamente entre as avaliações, entretanto, encontraram-se entre os limites críticos para solos arenosos agricultáveis. A floculação das argilas, não colaborou na formação de agregados, sendo este processo influenciado principalmente pela matéria orgânica. O período de um ano foi considerado curto para obtenção de resultados conclusivos sobre a melhoria da qualidade do solo sob cultivo orgânico, tendo em vista a dificuldade de incremento de matéria orgânica em solos de regiões tropicais.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of organic farming of wine grapes under physical and chemical characteristics of Ultisol Brazil's northeastern semiarid region. The samples of soil were collected from the row and interrow of the farming and from the fallow area, at the depths of 0.0-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and 0.30-0.60 m. The samples were collected at six and twelve months after the culture implementation to evaluate the state of aggregation, bulk density and total soil porosity, flocculation index and organic matter contents, calcium, magnesium, and sodium. The results were submitted to statistical analysis. The adoption of organic farming contributed to the soil aggregation process. The bulk density and total soil porosity did not differ significantly between the evaluations, but were within the critical limits for sandy soils. The index flocculation did not have a great influence on the aggregates formation, being this process influenced by organic matter. The period of one year was considered short to obtain conclusive results in improving the soil quality by organic farming, since there are difficulties in tropical soils in promoting significant increases in organic matter content in short time.