Land-Use Changes the Chemical and Physical Properties of an Oxisol in the Brazilian Cerrado

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of different land-uses on physical and chemical properties of Oxisols under cerrado conditions in central region of Goiás, Brazil. The data were analysed in a randomized experimental design in a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement with five replications. The land-uses were- 1-Annual crops, 2-Pasture, 3-Sugarcane and 4-Native forest (control). The second factor consisted of three sampling depths- 0-0.05, 0.1-0.2 and 0.2-0.3 m. The physical attributes analysed were- total clay (TC), natural clay (NC), bulk density (BD), particle density (PD), total porosity (TP), degree of flocculation (DF), soil resistance to penetration (SRP), gravimetric water content (%GWC). Chemicals attributes analized- pH in water (pH), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), aluminium (Al), potential acidity (H+Al), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), soil organic matter (SOM), cation exchange capacity (T) and base saturation (V%). Annual crops showed higher K levels (0-0.3 m) and lower SOM values (0-0.3 m), Ca and Mg (0-0.05 m) affecting T in relation to the forest. The use sugarcane showed higher values of BD, PD and SRP, and smaller values of TP, SOM, P and T. On the other hand, the values of Ca and Mg are kept close to those of the control. The attribute V% is preserved for annual crops, sugarcane and pasture with values higher than those verified in native forest. The use pasture reduced TP and P and Ca, Mg and T. The land-uses studied reduced soil quality compared to the forest, in descending order were sugarcane > annual crops > pasture.