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CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL UNDER VEGETABLE CROPPING IN WATERSHEDS, AFTER ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

ABSTRACT

Soil organic matter is an important primary source of nutrients for plants and influences infiltration, water retention, susceptibility to erosion, and soil aggregation. However, this process is conditioned on the quality and quantity of organic matter supplied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the environmental disaster caused by rain in areas of horticulture production in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro. The following areas were selected: A1- no impact (control); A2 - totally covered by landslide and cultivation of oats + vetch; A3 - river overflow and cultivation of millet + sunflower; A4 - river overflow and extensive deposition of sand and growing of black oats; A5 - river overflow with extensive deposition of sand and no cultivation; and A6 – river overflow on a small scale and no cultivation. The soil properties analyzed were texture; bulk density (BD); particle density (Pd); mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) of water-stable aggregates; pH(H2O), Al3+, Ca2++Mg2+, Na+, H+Al, K, P, and total organic carbon (TOC); and particle size and chemical organic matter fractions. The highest values of the DMG and DMP were observed in areas A6 and A3, which also have the highest clay contents. The TOC content and its chemical and physical fractions showed differences compared to the control, with the lowest values observed in areas that underwent the impact of river overflow and extensive sand deposition, since the areas that were affected by landslide with predominance of the clay fraction showed values similar or superior to reference values. Principal component analysis clearly showed a distinction among the areas studied, and this distinction is clearly associated with soil texture and particle density.

weighted average diameter; environmental impact; landslide; soil organic matter

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