The conversion of native vegetation into agricultural areas can modify soil organic matter content and decomposition and synthesis processes and therefore the nutrient avalilability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical and physical soil properties (0-15 cm depth) in a toposequence characterized by planted pasture beside the native Cerrado vegetation cover. The study was carried out in Colméia, State of Tocantins. Ten sampling points were determined (five samples in native vegetation and five samples in pasture) for each relief position (summit, midslope and footslope) and at each point soils were sampled at three depths (0-5, 5-10 and 10-15 cm), totaling 90 samples. The following chemical and physical properties were analyzed: organic C, P, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, H + Al, pH, and texture. Organic C content found under native vegetation did not differ from pasture and the relief positions. The conversion from native vegetation to livestock use decreased P contents. The removal of native vegetation did not alter available K contents. There was an increase in sand content from midslope to the footslope positions.
native vegetation; pasture; relief
