Summary
A pedological study of the most common "latossolos amarelos, alicos, argilosos" (heavy yellow clay latossols) was made on the plateau of the ZF 2 region.
The "initial reference state" under the primary forest is characterized by the presence of a medium horizon that is porous and contains strong micro-agregates between two less porous horizons. This soil is also characterized by a uniform and deeply distributed organic matter content.
Soil under young secondary regrowth showed a different distribution of pores and organic matter. However with time, these evolve towards the former situation under the initial forest.
Mechanically cultivated soils have a low porosity in the surface and progressively less organic matter down to 45cm.