INFLUENCE OF CATTLE TRAMPLING ON CHANGE OF PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SURFACE HORIZONS IN SANTO ANTONIO DE PÁDUA (RJ)

Abstract

Soil degradation is a common phenomenon in Brazil and in many places on the planet. Among the various forms of degradation, changes in soil physical characteristics due to agricultural or livestock use appear to be one of the most frequent forms. In Santo Antônio de Padua Municipality, soil degradation began in the 18th century with the removal of forests for planting sugar cane and coffee, and later with the introduction of livestock in the 20th century. The work was developed in order to physically characterize the superficial horizons under forest fragments, pasture, and cattle tracks. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the surface horizons under forest fragments and pastures in relation to the organic matter content, soil density, and total porosity. However, when the surface horizons in the forest fragments are compared with the cattle track samples, the difference is significant in relation to soil density and total porosity. Between pastures and cattle tracks the difference is not significant. The global evaluation of the results showed that the superficial horizons in the pastures constitute an intermediate environment between the forest fragments and the cattle tracks. With better soil management practices, the activity of cattle breeding could be practiced with a smaller impact than that verified in the properties of the municipality.