Arranjo de componentes em sistemas agroflorestais e o potencial de oferta de serviços ecossistêmicos para a caatinga

Abstract

The semi-arid regions of the caatinga are mostly composed of shallow soils, hot climate and irregular rainfall. These characteristics associated with the adoption of conventional agricultural systems, with slash-and-burn practices, logging and overgrazing, cause soil degradation and loss of biodiversity in the biome. In this context, more conservationist and sustainable land use systems, such as agroforestry systems, have proven to be a good alternative for these regions, as they provide improved soil quality, consequent improvement in agricultural productivity, and other various environmental, economic and social benefits. social. When it comes to soil quality analysis, one of the indicators most frequently used by scientists is carbon (C), so this can be considered an index capable of demonstrating the effectiveness of the management systems practiced. In view of this, the objective of this research was to study the arrangements of species and the potential offer of ecosystem services in agroforestry systems practiced in the caatinga, as well as to evaluate the quality of the soil in these areas. The field study was carried out in seven agroforestry systems located in the municipalities of Tianguá and Viçosa do Ceará, both in the semi-arid region. A survey and characterization of the main components and arrangements of the systems were carried out, as well as soil collection and analysis from the agroforestry areas. The AFS were structurally classified into three different types: agrosilvopastoral, silviagricola and silvopastoral. As for the arrangement of species, mixed and zonal, simultaneous in relation to time, predominated. Furthermore, they are all productive and most of them are subsistence economic in nature. Furthermore, a wide diversity of plant species was identified, with different habits, sizes and functions arranged in each area. With this, it was found that the ecosystem services most widely offered by the species implanted in the systems are those of provision and regulation, although, there is also the offer of support and cultural services. Referring to soil analysis, it was noticed that all areas have a high concentration of C in the various soil fractions, a fundamental factor for maintaining the quality of caatinga soils.