Avaliação da qualidade do solo sob cultivo de pêssego em agrossistemas familiares no Território Zona Sul - RS

Abstract

This study was conducted in five family agroecosystems located in Pelotas, in the South Territory Zone - RS. The objective of this study was to elaborate a diagnosis of soil quality in agricultural ecosystems under peach cultivation using indicators obtained through the academic knowledge integrated to learn locally developed by farmers. The defined indicators were: bulk density, total porosity, micr oporosity, macroporosity, water infiltration rate, mean weight diameter of aggregates and thickness of the horizon, pH, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, macronutrients (K, P, Ca, Na, Mg, Al), micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) ratio of mites and springtails (mesofauna) and worms (macrofauna) which were measured through semi-structured interviews and laboratory analysis. Farmers, subjects of this study, have an integrated view on soil quality, which highlightedfour indicators: spontaneous vegetation, soil color, texture and density. Those indicators are also identified in the academic knowledge as important in assessing soil quality, suggesting that the farmer´s knowledge is not antagonistic but complementary. In the interpretation of the data was possible to evaluate the physical condition of land were, in general, appropriate and close to the conditions found in the areas of native vegetation, also the adequate levels of fertility to the chemical conditions levels. However, the biological conditions were below the adequate level, thus lowering the soil quality studied as a whole.