Atributos físicos em solos com diferentes usos no IFMG, Campus São João Evangelista

Abstract

Soil use and management directly influence its physical attributes, affecting soil quality and the sustainability of production systems. This study aimed to evaluate and compare soil physical attributes—bulk density, particle density, and total porosity—under different land uses at the experimental farm of IFMG – Campus São João Evangelista, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study was conducted in five areas: irrigated coffee monoculture, eucalyptus monoculture, pasture with Brachiaria grass, a biodiverse syntropic agroforestry system, and a native forest fragment. Undisturbed soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–10 cm using volumetric rings to determine bulk density and estimate total porosity, while particle density was determined using the volumetric flask method. Statistical comparisons were performed using the nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn tests at a 5% significance level. The results showed no significant variation in particle density among land uses; however, bulk density and total porosity were significantly affected. Native forest and agroforestry systems exhibited lower bulk density and higher total porosity values, whereas the irrigated coffee area showed higher bulk density and lower porosity. It is concluded that conservation-oriented land-use systems, associated with greater soil cover and higher organic matter content, contribute to improving soil physical quality.