Gênese e variabilidade espacial de solos no núcleo de desertificação dos cariris velhos na Paraíba

Abstract

The inadequate management and exploitation of natural resources that has been perpetuated over time in the Cariri region of Paraíba resulted in the degradation of a vast area in this region and compromised the provision of the various ecosystem services that the soils are capable of providing. On the other hand, areas where natural resources are preserved, such as the private reserve of private heritage (RPPN) located in the city of São José dos Cordeiros in the state of Paraíba, contribute to the proper functioning of the ecosystem. The study was carried out in two distinct areas allocated within the Cariri region of Paraíba and focusing on Luvissols, Neosols and Planosols. An area that has conserved natural resources for 40 years, Private Reserve of Natural Heritage – (RPPN), and another area that is undergoing an intense process of degradation, Experimental Station of São João do Cariri (EESJC). The processes that resulted in the degradation of the EESJC area impacted the ability of soils to sequester and store C and N when compared to soils of the same classes of the RPPN. Rubeification, claying, elutriation, pedaling and sodification proved to be the main specific pedogenetic processes active in the genesis of the studied soils. The sampling grids adopted in the studied soil profiles were efficient for the geostatistical study and all attributes evaluated showed spatial variability.