ABSTRACT Given the heterogeneity of soils in Roraima state, Brazil, and the need for a phosphorus (P) extraction protocol, this study aimed to assess the efficiency of the Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, Bray-1 extractants and anion exchange resin (AER) in determining available P in soils representative of the state. The chemical, physical and mineralogical attributes of seven soil classes were determined. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, using a randomized block design in a 7 x 5 factorial scheme with four repetitions. The first factor was the soils (LA (ITÃ), LV (ITÃ), LA (SERRA DA PRATA), LA (CCA), PA (CCA), FT (BONFIM), SN (SURUMU)), and the second P doses, estimated based on the maximum P-adsorption capacity (MPAC). A polyethylene pot containing 5 dm3 of soil and five plants was defined as the experimental unit. The indicator species was corn grown in two 30-day phases. The P doses were applied using monopotassium phosphate. Soil samples were removed before planting to determine available P using the extractants. Corn dry weight was assessed at the end of the two-phase experiment. Correlation tests were performed for dry weight versus extractant and extractant versus extractant. The Mehlich-3 and Bray-1 extractants were the most sensitive to variations in soil attributes. The resin exhibited the greatest correlations with the different soils individually and combined, showing potential in determining available P in soils from the humid tropical region of the Brazilian Amazon. state Brazil (P protocol Mehlich1, Mehlich1 Mehlich 1, 1 Mehlich-1 Mehlich3, Mehlich3 3, 3 Bray1 Bray Bray- AER (AER chemical determined greenhouse repetitions ITÃ, ITÃ , (ITÃ) SERRA PRATA, PRATA PRATA) CCA, CCA (CCA) BONFIM, BONFIM (BONFIM) SURUMU, SURUMU (SURUMU)) Padsorption adsorption MPAC. MPAC . (MPAC) dm unit 30day day 30 phases phosphate twophase phase Mehlich- combined Amazon (ITÃ (CCA (BONFIM (SURUMU) (MPAC (SURUMU

O estudo de solos em ilhas florestais inseridas em áreas de domínio de savanas é fundamental para compreender os processos de formação da paisagem. Este trabalho caracterizou propriedades morfológicas, físicas e químicas de solos em quatro fragmentos naturais de florestas de ocorrência no mosaico savana-floresta em Roraima, norte da Amazônia. O método consistiu em transectos atravessando as ilhas nos sentidos leste-oeste e norte-sul, onde foram abertas cinco trincheiras para a coleta de amostras e estudos de solos. Nas áreas de savana contíguas a cada ilha foram estabelecidos transectos de 100 m de comprimento e abertas cinco trincheiras equidistantes para caracterização química e física do solo comparativa. Os Latossolos foram as classes de solos predominantes nas quatro ilhas investigadas, seguida de Argissolos e Plintossolos, todos predominantemente oligotróficos (distróficos, de baixa CTC, ácidos). Condições químicas e físicas melhores foram verificadas nos solos das ilhas florestais em relação às áreas de savana circundantes, numa mesma classe de solo. Assim, embora a classe de solo não tenha variado entre diferentes fitofisionomias em um dado gradiente, características químicas e físicas específicas variaram e podem exercer influência positiva no estabelecimento de vegetação florestada. Embora florestas e savanas ocorram lado a lado, em mosaico, o clima atual com longa estação seca é concordante com a existência da savana em relevo plano e a ocorrência das ilhas florestais parece condicionada a variações físico-químicas sutis dos solos, sem necessidade de invocar uma relação com oscilações paleoclimáticas. Estudos mais aprofundados posteriores poderão testar a hipótese de contração ou expansão florestal durante o Quaternário, buscando evidências de que tais ilhas possam representar relíquias paleoclimáticas imersas em domínio savânico.

Studies on soils of forest islands within the savanna domain are key for understanding processes of landscape formation and evolution. We characterized the morphological, physical and chemical properties of soils at four different forest fragments that occur in the savanna-forest mosaic of northeastern Roraima, north Amazonia. The methodology was based on transects crossing the entire island, from east-west and north-south direction, digging up five soil profiles for sampling and classification. In addition, the neighboring savannas were also sampled following the same strategy, at 100 m long transects departing from the border, allowing comparisons to be made. Latosols were the dominant soil class in all four islands, followed by Ultisols and Plinthosols. All soils were dystric , with low CEC and acid. Better chemical and physical conditions were observed in forested soils compared with surrounding savannas, in a given soil class. Thus, in spite of no variation on soil class at different phytophysionomies at a given gradient, specific chemical and physical attributes were significantly varied, exerting a positive effect for the establishment of forest vegetation. Despite their occurrence side-by-side in the savanna- forest mosaic, the present -day climate agrees with the existence of savanna in the flat landforms, whereas forest islands are conditioned by subtle, yet significant, soil physico-chemical variations, with no need to invoke any paleoclimate for explaining this relationship. Further in depth studies may contribute for testing the hypothesis that Quaternary shifts of the expansion and contraction of forest may represent paleoclimate relicts isolated within the savanna domain.

O Estado de Roraima apresenta ampla diversidade pedológica e de ecossistemas, sendo gradativamente ocupados com pastagem, que dependendo do manejo podem estar associadas à degradação física do solo. Dentro desse contexto, este trabalho foi realizado com os objetivos de avaliar e comparar os atributos físico-hídricos de um Argissolo Amarelo sob os ecossistemas de savana e floresta natural, convertidos em pastagem para pecuária. Os tratamentos principais foram savana natural (SN), savana convertida em pastagem (SC), floresta natural (FN) e floresta convertida em pastagem (FC) e os tratamentos secundários foram as profundidades de amostragem do solo, 0-10, 10-20 e 20-40 cm. Os atributos avaliados foram: granulometria, densidade do solo (DS) e de partículas (DP), resistência à penetração (RP), porosidade total (PT), umidade gravimétrica (UG), capacidade de armazenamento de água (CAD) e matéria orgânica do solo (MOS). A DS foi superior nas duas áreas de Savana, não havendo diferença entre SC e SN em nenhuma das profundidades. A RP variou em função das áreas e da profundidade, verificando-se influência da conversão nesse atributo. A PT foi maior na FN e menor na SC; houve diminuição da porosidade com a profundidade. A CAD foi maior na FN apenas na profundidade de 0-10 cm. A MOS foi superior nas áreas de FN e FC. Portanto, a conversão dos ambientes naturais em pastagem provocou alterações significativas na RP, DS, CAD, PT e MOS, com maior expressividade nas áreas da FC em razão da supressão da cobertura vegetal natural, que tem na matéria orgânica o condicionador da qualidade físico-hídrica do solo. Na SC, por sua vez, a supressão da cobertura vegetal natural não provocou a mesma expressividade por causa dos teores significativamente inferiores de MOS.

The broad soil and ecosystem diversity of the state of Roraima is gradually being replaced by pasture and, depending on the management system adopted, this can be associated with soil physical degradation. Within this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the soil physical attributes of an Argissolo Amarelo (Ultisol) under savanna and forest natural ecosystems, and their conversion into a cattle pasture system. The primary treatments were natural savanna (NS), savanna converted to pasture (CS), natural forest (NF) and forest converted to pasture (CF). The secondary treatments were the soil sampling depths of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm. The following physical properties were evaluated: texture, bulk density (SD) and particle density (PD), resistance to penetration (PR), total porosity (TP), gravimetric moisture (GM), available water capacity (AWC), and soil organic matter (SOM). The SD was greater in both savanna areas, without differences between CS and NS at any depth, associated with the cohesive character of savanna soils. The average PD value was typical of kaolinite soils. PR varied as a function of the areas and the depths; the effect of conversion on this property was observed. TP was greater in NF and less in CS, and TP decreased along with depth. AWC was greater in NF only at the 0-10 cm depth. SOM was greater in the NF and CF areas. The study concluded that conversion of the natural environment into pasture systems caused significant changes in PR, SD, AWC, TP and SOM, with major expressiveness in CF, due to the removal of natural vegetation, leading to the loss of SOM, which is an important conditioner of soil physical and water properties. In CS areas, suppression of the natural vegetation did not lead to the same expressiveness, mainly due to the significantly lower SOM contents.