Abstract

TORRES, Duilio et al. Changes in some chemical properties of soils under different land uses in El Cebollal zone, Falcon State, Venezuela. Bioagro [online]. 2006, vol.18, n.2, pp.123-128. ISSN 1316-3361.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of the predominant types of land use in El Cebollal area, Falcon State, Venezuela, by the quantification of some chemical attributes to monitor changes in the soil quality and determine the current level degradation. Three kinds of land uses were evaluated: muskmelon under conventional management and chemical fertilization, aloe under minimal tillage and organic management, and a non altered secondary forest, as a reference soil. The effect on the soil was evaluated through chemical properties such as organic matter, cation exchange capacity, macro-nutrient content, salinity and sodicity. It was found that musk-melon under conventional management represented the land use with the most degraded soil, showing a decrease of organic matter and loss of natural fertility. A better status was observed in the land use with organic aloe, which showed less soil degradation, with higher organic matter content than the conventional management, and being comparative to the secondary forest in the other chemical properties. The secondary forest, that simulated the natural conditions of the area, presented in general, the best soils conditions.

Keywords : Land use; chemical degradation; salinity; muskmelon; aloe; semi-arid region.