With the purpose of evaluating the effect of leguminous crops on the chemical characteristics of a degraded Alfisol, in the municipal district of Alagoinha, PB, Brazil, an experiment was conducted during 1997-99 with twelve species: Crotalaria juncea L, Cajanus cajan L, Cajanus cajan (L) Millsp, Calopogonium mucunoides L, Canavalia ensiformis L, Dolichos lab lab L, Pueraria phaseoloides L, Macroptilium atropurpureum L, Leucaena leucocephala L, Clitoria ternatea L, Styzolobium aterrimum L, and Styzolobium cinereum Piper and Tracy besides a control treatment. In this study, the soil of the experimental site did not receive mineral fertilizer nor any corrective. The chemical characteristics of the soil were evaluated at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depths. The results showed significant effects of the leguminous crop on the fertility of the soil, in comparison to control, with significant increments of pH and of exchangeable bases, reflecting positively in CEC and in the base saturation. In the organic matter, there was no significant effect among the leguminous crops and control.
soil management; soil fertility; green manure; chemical recovery of soil
