Capacidade produtiva e qualidade de sítios cultivados com eucalipto em argissolos de tabuleiro no Litoral Norte da Bahia

Abstract

This study aimed to define the most representative soils, assessing the production sustainability of sites cultivated with eucalyptus in the tableland area, on the northern coast of Bahia, as well as the impacts of forest management on the quality of these sites. This was conducted to obtain data that would allow the suggestion new management actions and identify quality indicators possibly used to monitor the cultivated area. This study’s area is owned by Cia Ferro Ligas da Bahia Ferbasa, which occupies approximately 1190 ha of reforestation with eucalyptus and is located in the town of Entre Rios. For this work we selected five sites occupied with eucalypt plantations and three sites covered with primary native vegetation, forest type. The selected sites were under the same climate and physiography conditions and are differentiated primarily by the soil. The soil sampling from each site were taken in layers at depths of 0 to 0.1 m, 0.1-0.2 m and 0.2-0.4 m, to analyze the physic and chemist attributes. The production capacity was represented by the dendrometric variables SI, IMA and Rpr. Forest sites quality evaluation used the methods soil-site and IQS, comparing the results between the cultivated sites and natural sites. Despite the physiographic and climatic homogeneity, differences were found between Ultisols in the study area. As well, there was difference in QS between sites planted with eucalyptus trees 35 years ago and the sites of natural forest in general. MO, SB and CTC indicators were suggested for monitoring soil quality, and Ug_0, 01, Rp_0, and PorosMi to add up to the classification of sites criteria. There are potential opportunities for increased productivity in Utisol sites cultivated in tablelands on the Northern Coast of Bahia, especially by the management of chemical attributes.