The study aimed to compare the natural and disturbed areas of a palm swamp vegetation according to its soil characteristics and phytosociological structure. The study was done at a site near Uberlândia, MG (19º11'40" S and 48º24'31" W). Chemical analysis was carried out at threes depths: 0-1 cm, 1-16 cm and 16-32 cm. The phytosociological survey was done by the line intercept method. Two classes of soil were found: Relatively Humic Glei and Humic Glei, which had low values of pH and available bases. The highest percentage of organic matter occurred in the lowest depth of the palm swamp area. Some 101 species and 29 families were sampled. The preserved slope had a lower species richness than the disturbed area. Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Asteraceae were the families with the highest number of species, 33, 13 and 10, respectively. Schizachyrium tenerum, Echinolaena inflexa, Loudetia flammida and Erianthus asper were more frequent in the preserved area and Schizachyrium tenerum, Hypogynium virgatum and Ageratum fastigiatum in the disturbed area.
Phytosociological; soils; palm swamp
