EFFECT OF LEGUME TREES ON SOIL MACROFAUNA OF A Brachiaria brizantha cv. MARANDU PASTURE

• Main Author: Dias, Paulo Francisco
• Publication Date: 2007
• Other Authors: Souto, Sebastião Manhães, Correia, Maria Elizabeth Fernandes, Rodrigues, Khalil de Menezes, Franco, Avílio Antonio
• Format: Article
• Language: por
• Source: Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical (Online)
• Download full: https://revistas.ufg.br/pat/article/view/1863
• topic: Soil macrofauna; sivipastoral systems; soil quality; Macrofauna do solo; sistemas silvipastoris

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of four legume tree species in a Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu pasture on soil macrofauna density and diversity, in a low natural fertility soil. The tree leguminous species introduced in the pasture were Pseudosamanea guachapele, Mimosa artemisiana, Mimosa tenuiflora, and Enterolobium contortisiliquum. The macrofauna sampling consisted in collecting six soil monoliths with 25 cm x 25 cm x 30 cm under tree canopies or in a transect in the single Brachiaria pasture. The densities varied from 602 individuals.m-2 under the canopy of E. contortisiliquum to two individuals.m-2 in the single pasture. The largest group richness was found under M. tenuiflora canopy (ten groups), followed by P. guachapele (nine groups), E. contortisiliquum (seven groups) and M. artemisiana (six groups). The leguminous species influence was related to N content and to C:N ratio of leaf material. M. artemisiana and M. tenuiflora favored the occurrence of Oligochaeta and Coleoptera larvae, while under the P. guachapele and E. contortisiliquum canopies Formicidae activity was more intense. KEY-WORDS: Soil macrofauna; sivipastoral systems; soil quality.