Anthropic changes in the chemical properties of Haplustox.

Abstract

The act of consecutively cultivating the earth with economical species alters several properties of the soil, including chemical ones. With the objective of studying these alterations in a Haplustox (Red Latosol), caused by the continuous cultivation of sugar cane and cotton, three adjacent areas were selected in the municipal district of Jaboticabal, São Paulo state, Brazil (native forest, sugar cane and cotton) to accomplish the comparisons. In each area, seven samples composed by five points each were randomly collected. In different depths (0-0, 0-20, 20-30, and 30-40 cm) the pH (CaCl2), organic matter, P (resin), bases (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+), potential acidity (H++Al3+), sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation (V) were appraised. The management adopted in the cultivation of the sugar cane and cotton resulted in degradation of the analyzed soil chemical properties with the exception of phosphorus.Additional keywords: management practices; soil fertility; sugar cane; cotton.