Resumo Os atributos físico-hídricos do solo são interdependentes e o planejamento e o manejo do solo são dificultados devido à alta variabilidade desses atributos. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a variabilidade dos atributos físico-hídricos em uma topossequência inserida em área de regeneração espontânea na Baixada Litorânea Fluminense. Foram selecionados quatro perfis, e nestas coletadas amostras nos horizontes superficiais e subsuperficiais para quantificação dos valores da umidade, densidade do solo, macroporosidade, microporosidade, condutividade hidráulica, granulometria e resistência do solo à penetração (com penetrômetro de bancada e em campo). Foi realizada a análise exploratória e calculados os parâmetros descritivos, o teste de correlação de Pearson e a análise dos componentes principais. Nos horizontes A, o teor de argila variou de 59,0 a 577,0 g kg-1, a umidade de 1,5 a 16,4% e a microporosidade 10,4 a 46,2%, entre os perfis P3 (Planossolo) e P4 (Gleissolo). A resistência à penetração nos dois métodos esteve mais relacionada com o perfil 1 (Argissolo), entretanto, os valores máximos não restringem o desenvolvimento das raízes. A variabilidade dos atributos físico-hídricos em vertentes de pequeno comprimento é alta, principalmente para os atributos condutividade hidráulica, umidade, microporosidade, e argila do solo. Na baixada a maior variabilidade dos atributos físico-hídricos é explicada pelos atributos argila, microporosidade, silte e umidade. O incremento de argila em profundidade aumenta a densidade e a resistência do solo à penetração das raízes.

Abstract Soil physical and hydraulic properties are interdependent, and soil-use planning and management are complicated by the high variability of these attributes. The current study assessed the variability of physical and hydraulic properties of soils along a toposequence located in a forest fragment under spontaneous regeneration in the coastal lowlands of Rio de Janeiro. Four soil profiles were selected, and samples were collected from surface and subsurface horizons for determination of moisture content, bulk density, macroporosity, microporosity, hydraulic conductivity, texture, and soil resistance to penetration (measured using benchtop and field penetrometers). Exploratory and principal component analyses were performed, and descriptive parameters and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated. In A horizons of profiles 3 (Planossolo) and 4 (Gleissolo), clay contents ranged from 59.0 to 577.0 g kg-1, moisture contents from 1.5 to 16.4%, and microporosity from 10.4 to 46.2%, respectively. Field- and laboratory-measured penetration resistances showed a stronger association with profile 1 (Argissolo); however, values were not sufficiently high to limit root development. The variability in soil physical and hydraulic properties in short slopes is high, mainly in terms of hydraulic conductivity, moisture, microporosity, and clay content. The greater variability of soil physical and hydraulic properties in lowland is attributed to clay and silt fractions, microporosity, and moisture content. The increment in clay content with depth increases bulk density and resistance to root penetration.

Resumo A erosão hídrica é uma das principais formas de degradação do solo, causando danos econômicos, ambientais e sociais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes estágios de formação de voçorocas (inicial - IG; juvenil - JG; maduro - MG; e senil - SG) nos atributos químicos, matéria orgânica e microbiológicos do solo, utilizando uma floresta secundária (SF) e duas áreas de pastagem como referência no ambiente “Mar de Morros” do bioma Mata Atlântica brasileira. Amostras de solo (profundidade 0-0,05 m) foram coletadas no final das estações chuvosa e seca. As voçorocas em diferentes estágios de formação promoveram diminuição da fertilidade do solo e modificação dos atributos microbiológicos, principalmente quando comparados com a área de floresta secundária. Reduções de mais de 60% no carbono orgânico total (TOC), carbono orgânico oxidável (POXC), atividade da FDA, β-glicosidase, fosfatase ácida, C (MBC) e N (MBN) da biomassa microbiana, respiração basal do solo (BSR) e proteína do solo relacionada à glomalina (GRSP) foram observados em voçorocas nos estágios inicial (IG) e intermediário (JG e MG) quando comparados ao SF. Verificou-se que o efeito da erosão sobre os atributos químicos e microbiológicos do solo é mais intenso em voçorocas nos estágios inicial e intermediário em comparação com ao senil (SG). Usando a multivariada PCA, os atributos microbiológicos e químicos do solo discriminaram as voçorocas com distintos estágios de formação. Os atributos químicos, TOC, POXC, atividade FDA, β-glicosidase, fosfatase ácida, MBC and MBN, SBR e GRSP são bons indicadores para avaliar o processo de estabilização da erosão em voçorocas.

Abstract Water erosion is one of the main forms of soil degradation, causing economic, environmental, and social damage. This study evaluated the effects of different formation stages of gullies (initial - IG; juvenile- JG; mature - MG; and senile - SG) on the chemical, organic carbon and microbiological attributes of soil, using a secondary forest (SF) and two areas of pasture as references in the “Mar de Morros” environment of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Soil samples (depth 0-0.05 m) were collected at the end of the rainy and dry seasons. Gullies in different stages of formation promote a decrease in soil fertility and modification of microbiological attributes, particularly when compared with secondary forest areas. Reductions of over 60% in total organic carbon (TOC), oxidizable organic carbon (POXC), FDA activity, β-glycosidase, acid phosphatase, C and N from microbial biomass, basal soil respiration (BSR) and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) were observed in gullies in early (IG) and intermediate (JG and MG) stages when compared to SF. It was found that the effect of erosion on soil chemical and microbiological attributes is more intense in gullies in the initial and intermediate stages compared with those in the senile stage (SG). Using multivariate PCA, the microbiological and chemical attributes of the soil are discriminated between gullies with distinct formation stages. Chemical attributes, TOC, POXC, FDA activity, β-glycosidase, acid phosphatase, MBC and MBN, BSR, and GRSP are good indicators for evaluating the process of erosion stabilization in gullies.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of natural pasture and spontaneous regeneration on soil chemical properties and epigeal fauna community using a secondary Atlantic Forest as reference. The study areas were located in Passa Vinte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. In each study area, pitfall traps were used to sample epigeal fauna in the dry and rainy seasons. Earth samples were collected at a depth of 0-5 cm in the dry and rainy seasons for analysis of chemical attributes. The pasture and regeneration areas showed an overall activity of epigeal fauna and functional groups similar to the forest area. However, the diversity evaluated by the Shannon and Pielou evenness indices and the total richness were lower than the observed in the forest. The best fertility attributes were observed in the forest and pasture areas.

ABSTRACT The Atlantic Forest degradation and fragmentation imposes the need for soil and vegetation assessments in order to estimate the environmental vulnerability of the remnants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the georadar applications in areas of Atlantic Forest under different forms of use in Pinheiral, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, through penetrometer impact and ground penetrating radar (GPR). Forest fragments at different stages of regeneration, and pasture and agriculture (perennial and annual) areas were selected for study. Soil characterization was performed through measurements of soil resistance to penetration (SRP) with an impact penetrometer, and the soil properties with a ground penetrating radar (georadar). SRP increased in the forest areas at initial, medium and advanced stages from 2.0 to 2.5, 2.0 to 3.0 and 2.5 to 6.0 MPa, respectively. In the perennial and annual agriculture areas, the increase in SRP was due to differences in their mineral composition, and the lowest values found in the annual agriculture area were due to fauna activity. The employment of GPR generated information in a more rapid manner than with the use of impact penetrometer.

ABSTRACT The removal of original vegetation for crops and pasture production and then followed by natural regeneration is a standard practice in the Atlantic Forest, which has produced patches with different degrees of degradation and regeneration across the landscape. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacement of native forest by pasture and natural regeneration of vegetation on soil and on soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics in the dry and rainy season in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Passa Vinte, Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. Soil samples were collected in the rainy and dry season, at a depth of 0.00-0.05 m. The variables determined were total organic carbon (TOC) and particle-size fractions of SOM [particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC)]; microbial activity by basal respiration (BR) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC); species richness (SR) and spore abundance (SA) of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF); and total and easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (T-GRSP and EE-GRSP, respectively). The conversion of native forest into pasture reduced TOC, POC, MOC, AMF-SA, T-GRSP, and EE-GRSP. However, it did not reduce MBC and BR. The fallow period in the area under natural regeneration was not long enough to restore soil TOC, POC, MOC, BR, MBC, T-GRSP, and EE-GRSP to levels approaching those observed in the forest area. Nevertheless, natural regeneration of vegetation stimulated the production of seedlings (spores) of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which are important for the establishment of plant species and advance of ecological succession. Seasonality affected some of the biological soil properties and SOM dynamics.