Agricultural impacts of hydrobiogeochemical cycling in the Amazon: is there any solution?

Abstract: Expansion of agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon has been driven not just by demands from traditional, rural producers, but also large agriculture and cattle producers, both of whom have put considerable pressure on remaining forests and their watersheds. Monitoring of these watersheds has been a focus of intensive study for the past 20 years and although this work has greatly increased our understanding, considerable gaps still remain in our ability to provide adequate recommendations for land management and associated public policies. In this study we present a summary of findings from these previous results. For small properties, the use of fire to prepare land for cultivation remains controversial, while in large properties, forest conversion to pasture and/or crop production has had a meaningful and adverse effect on water quality. Riparian forest conservation can make a significant difference in reducing impacts of land-use change. Secondary vegetation can also play an important role in mitigating these impacts. New types of sustainable agricultural production systems, together with incentives such as payments for ecosystem service can also contribute. Continued monitoring of these changes, together with robust sustainable development plans, can help to preserve forest while still addressing the social and economic needs of Amazonian riverine inhabitants

CO2-driven cation leaching after tropical forest clearing.

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of dissolved CO2 (H2CO3*) as a mechanism of cation removal from surface soils under secondary land uses in the tropics. Soil leachate columns were prepared with 0?10 cm soils from mature and secondary forest, and managed pastures, and extracted with H2CO3* from deionized water equilibrated with 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 10% CO2 (g). Extraction of soil cations slowed over time following an exponential form for the cumulative data. The rate of cation concentration decline varied as a function of CO2 concentration with the 10% solution resulting in a greater percent decline with extraction volume. Potassium removal from the exchange sites of all soils and for all solutions was nearly complete ranging from 85% to 97% while removals of Mg (31% to 71%) and Ca (12% to 42%) were lower. The asymptotic patterns of cation loss observed in this study suggest that H2CO3* acid-driven losses of cations may become self-limiting over time. Other stronger acids from atmospheric deposition or organic sources may serve to perpetuate cation removal, and re-forestation on these cleared lands would certainly re-distribute cations from soils to vegetation

Tree growth soil response to P fertilization in a 24-year-old tropical forest on an Oxisol.

Abstract ID: 82

Dissolved CO2 in small catchment streams of Eastern Amazonia.

Poster 525. Disponível também on-line

Utilização de imagens Landsat e CBERS na avaliação da mudança do uso e cobertura da terra e seus reflexos na qualidade da água em microbacia hidrográfica do município de Paragominas, Pará.

As examples of human activities that may provoke changes in the stability and in the dynamic equilibrium of the river basin system, we have deforestation, burned areas, predatory agriculture, urbanization and other ways of soil occupation without any environmental planning. The combination of remote sensing (TM Landsat and CBERS images ) and geoprocessing products and techniques are valuable tools to subsidize studies of the land use. The results in this first stage of the project indicate a relation between the increasing of the conductivity in the water of microbasin with the increasing of the plantation areas of grains and the decreasing of the primary and secondary forest areas (Capoeiras). The results show that the changes in the use of the land are provoking an increase in the concentration of the nutrients and a consequent diminution of the water quality of the Igarapé Cinqüenta e Quatr

Crescimento de cinco espécies nativas em successão natural na Amazônia Oriental.

Na Amazônia Legal brasileira, mandioca (Manihot esculenta) é uma colheita principal para populações rurais cuja produção é feita através de agricultura iniciada com queimada. Sistemas agroflorestais de corte e trituração estão sendo implementados na Amazônia Legal para substituir o fogo em sistemas de produção. Em abril de 2005, um hectare de floresta secundária de sete anos de idade foi derrubado usando um tractor TRITUCAP do Projeto Tipitamba para preparar o terreno para o projeto no campus de pesquisa de UFRA em Igarapé Açu, Pará, Brasil. Um sistema agroflorestal foi implementado em todas as parcelas usando espécies de árvores nativas em plantio misto com M. esculenta. A pesquisa foi analisada utilizando um fatorial duplo com duas parcelas-principais (com ou sem adubo P e K) e dois tratamentos parcelas-secundárias (com ou sem a espécie fixadora de N2, Inga edulis). As árvores, mandioca, competição, capa orgânica e solo foram medidos após 1 e 2 anos. Depois de vinte meses de cultura mista, M. esculenta foi colhida e a parcela se deixou à sucessão natural. Depois de 4 anos de crescimento de vegetação secundaria, ou 6 anos após plantio, as árvores plantadas foram medidas em altura, DAP e DAB. Adubação com P e K diminuiu a sobrevivência de todas as espécies, menos P. multijuga, mas a presença de I. edulis não teve efeito. Adubação com P e K aumentou o crescimento de todas as espécies depois de 6 anos mas a presença de I. edulis nao apresentou efeito significativo no crescimento das árvores.Editores técnicos: Roberto Porro, Milton Kanashiro, Maria do Socorro Gonçalves Ferreira, Leila Sobral Sampaio e Gladys Ferreira de Sousa

Hidrogeoquímica de um córrego amazônico: o caso de um igarapé na flona do Tapajós, Pará, Brasil.

Resumo: Decorrente do seu imenso tamanho e das dificuldades de acesso a áreas remotas é desafiadora a geração de informação sobre a hidrogeoquímica de microbacias na Bacia Amazônica. Um estudo, ao longo de quatro anos, em um igarapé na Flona do Tapajós, apresentou resultados que contribuem para a ampliação do conhecimento sobre os processos hidrogeoquímicos atuantes na região. Estes revelam condições fluviais de baixa carga iônica, característica de solos bastante intemperizados, e uma situação prístina com abundante ciclagem de nitrogênio na microbacia, refletidas em concentrações de amônio e nitrato que superam as de constituintes maiores da hidrogeoquímica fluvial. Abstract: Due to its huge size and the difficulties of accessing remote forest areas it is a challenge to generate data about the hydrogeochemistry of small catchments in the Amazon Basin. A four year study of a stream in the Flona do Tapajós has shown results that contribute to increase the knowledge about the hydrogeochemical processes in the region. These findings reveal stream conditions of low ionic charge, a characteristic of high weathered soils, and a pristine situation with an abundant nitrogen cycling in the catchment, resulting in ammonium and nitrate concentrations that overlap those of the mayor elements of the fluvial hydrogeochemistry. Abstract: Due to its huge size and the diffi culties of accessing remote forest areas it is a challenge to generate data about the hydrogeochemistry of small catchments in the Amazon Basin. A four year study of a stream in the Flona do Tapajós has shown results that contribute to increase the knowledge about the hydrogeochemical processes in the region. These fi ndings reveal stream conditions of low ionic charge, a characteristic of high weathered soils, and a pristine situation with an abundant nitrogen cycling in the catchment, resulting in ammonium and nitrate concentrations that overlap those of the mayor elements of the fl uvial hydrogeochemistry

Five native tree species and manioc under slash-and-mulch agroforestry in the eastern Amazon of Brazil: plant growth and soil responses.

Throughout the Amazon of Brazil, manioc (Manihot esculenta) is a staple crop produced through slash-and-burn agriculture. Nutrient losses during slash-and-burn can be large and nutrient demand by food crops so great that ?elds are often abandoned after two years. In recent decades, farmers have reduced the fallow phase from 20 to *5 years, limiting plant nutrient accumulation to sustain crop yields. Improved fallows through simultaneous planting of trees with food crops may accelerate nutrient re-accumulation. In addition, slash-and-mulch technology may prevent loss of nutrients due to burning and mulch decomposition may serve as a slow-release source of nutrients. This study in Para´, Brazil, in a 7-year-old secondary forest following slashing and mulching of the vegetation, involved two main plot treatments (with and without P and K fertilizers) and two sub-plot treatments (with or without a N2-?xer Inga edulis). A mixed-culture of trees and manioc was planted in all plots. P and K fertilizer increased tree mortality due to weed competition but growth of surviving trees in four of the ?ve tree species tested also increased as did biomass production of manioc. In the N2-?xer treatment trends of greater growth and survival of four of ?ve tree species and manioc biomass were also observed. Fertilization increased the biomass of competing vegetation, but there was a fertilizer by N2 -?xer interaction as I. edulis caused a reduction in competing biomass in the fertilized treatment. After one year, fertilization increased decomposition of the mulch such that Ca, Mg, and N contents within the mulch all decreased. In contrast, P and K contents of mulch increased in all treatments. No in?uence of the N2 -?xer on 0–10 cm soil N contents was observed. Two years after establishment, this agroforestry system succeeded in growing a manioc crop and leaving a well-maintained tree fallow after the crop harvest

The chemistry of two streams draining kaolinitic soils.

Resumo 20.5