ABSTRACT Anthropic activities in their various aspects have promoted soil degradation in the Brazilian semi-arid region (SAB). As a result, significant losses in productivity and in the ability of soils to fulfill their ecological functions have been reported. The present study investigated the effects of degradation on soil attributes and properties under dense (CAD) and sparse (CAE) shrubby Caatinga in Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. Samples from the 0-20 cm layer of soil were investigated via physical (particle size distribution and soil density), chemical (acidity, electrical conductivity, macronutrients, soil organic matter) and microbiological attributes (microbial biomass carbon (C-BMS), basal respiration of the soil (RBS) and metabolic quotient (qCO2) Data were submitted to the Mann-Whitney Test and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Anthropic actions on the CAE promoted the exposure of the saprolitic layer on the surface. This layer has imperfect drainage, low levels of nutrients and organic matter and high sodicity, which contributes to the slow regeneration of vegetation. Carbon stock and microbial activity are significantly lower in CAE compared to CAD. Degradation resulted in losses of supporting ecosystem services (nutrient cycling and primary production) and regulation (erosion control and climate regulation). The results can be used to understand the dynamics of landscapes of low complexity (high degradation) in the SAB and serve as a framework to find strategies to restore the productive capacity of extensive degraded and/or desertified areas in the SAB.

RESUMO As atividades antrópicas em seus diversos aspectos têm promovido a degradação dos solos no Semiárido brasileiro (SAB). Como consequência, têm sido reportadas perdas significativas de produtividade e da capacidade dos solos em cumprir suas funções ecológicas. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar os efeitos da degradação nos atributos e propriedades de solos sob Caatinga arbustiva densa (CAD) e esparsa (CAE) em Campina Grande, PB, Brasil. Amostras da camada de 0-20 cm do solo foram analisadas quanto aos atributos físicos (granulometria e densidade do solo), químicos (acidez, condutividade elétrica, macronutrientes, matéria orgânica) e microbiológicos (carbono da biomassa microbiana (C-BMS), respiração basal do solo (RBS) e quociente metabólico (qCO2). Os dados foram submetidos ao Teste de Mann-Whittney e à Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP). As ações antrópicas na CAE promoveram a exposição da camada saprolítica em superfície. Esta camada possui drenagem imperfeita, baixos teores de nutrientes e de matéria orgânica e elevada sodicidade, o que contribui para a lenta regeneração da vegetação. O estoque de carbono e a atividade microbiana são significativamente mais baixos na CAE em relação à CAD. A degradação acarretou em perdas de serviços ecossistêmicos de suporte (ciclagem de nutrientes e produção primária) e de regulação (controle da erosão e regulação do clima). Os resultados podem ser utilizados para compreensão da dinâmica de paisagens de baixa complexidade (elevada degradação) no SAB, bem como para adoção de estratégias de restabelecimento da capacidade produtiva de extensas áreas degradadas e/ou desertificadas no SAB.

ABSTRACT Most studies regarding the impacts of agricultural systems on soils of the Amazon region of Brazil have been carried out on upland soil, locally known as terra firme. Information regarding the impacts of different land-use systems on floodplain soil properties is still scarce. There is a need to broaden this knowledge to understand this Amazonian ecosystem better, especially how its soils respond to human interventions. This study aimed to describe the major chemical features of floodplain soils along the Solimões-Amazon Rivers and the effects of different land-use systems on soil nutrient levels. Sixty-two different land-use systems were sampled in 15 communities located in three different regions of the Solimões/Amazonas River floodplain complex: Upper and Middle Solimões (UMS), Lower Solimões and Middle Amazon (LSMA), and Lower Amazon (LA). Soils under cultivation showed a high availability of Ca2+, Mg2+, and P and low levels of exchangeable Al, in contrast to soils under forest and secondary vegetation, which were more acid and showed higher levels of exchangeable Al. Although most of the samples showed high contents of K+, for some areas, the low level (K+ <0.15 cmolc kg-1) of this nutrient can become limiting to crop production. The low levels of N found in most of the analyzed samples confirm that this element may be the limiting nutrient for agriculture in floodplain ecosystems. The use of legumes and other nutrient-rich plants, which naturally occur in the Amazon floodplain environments, could potentially address this N deficiency in these soils.