Influence of the Caiçaras on Soil Properties in the Savanna Region of Roraima, Northern Amazon

The management of caiçaras by indigenous peoples in the “Lavrado” (savannas) region of Roraima is a practice that increases soil fertility. Caiçaras are temporary corrals where farmers keep the cattle at night for a certain period, when the soil is enriched by manure addition. In periods when these...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2021-10, Vol.13 (20), p.11354
Main Authors: Gonçalves, Ludmilla Verona C., Pinho, Rachel C., Ayres, Marta Iria C., Ticona-Benavente, Cesar A., Pereira, Henrique dos Santos, Junior, Afrânio F. Neves, Alfaia, Sonia S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Bulk density
Cattle
Crop production
Farmers
Forests
Indigenous peoples
Livestock
Loam soils
Manures
Micronutrients
Native peoples
Nutrient content
Planting
Porosity
Savannahs
Soil characteristics
Soil chemistry
Soil density
Soil fertility
Soil improvement
Soil management
Soil porosity
Soil properties
Soil sciences
Sustainability
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Summary:The management of caiçaras by indigenous peoples in the “Lavrado” (savannas) region of Roraima is a practice that increases soil fertility. Caiçaras are temporary corrals where farmers keep the cattle at night for a certain period, when the soil is enriched by manure addition. In periods when these areas are not used as corrals, they may be planted with different plants species. In addition, areas adjacent to caiçaras may receive manure runoff and also be used for crop production. The study evaluated the changes in soil physical and chemical characteristics resulting from manure supply and runoff in caiçara and adjacent areas and compared these to soil characteristics of nearby unmanaged areas. Soil samples from the three system components were analyzed. The nutrient content added by manure runoff in the plantation adjacent to the caiçara resulted in significant accumulations of organic Ca, Mg, K, P, C, and micronutrients in the soil, without, however, changing pH. Only the soil surface (0–5 cm) showed improvements in soil bulk density and total porosity. This soil management system proves how efficient indigenous farmers can be in integrating their livestock component with the exploitation of available resources to improve soil fertility in areas of low natural fertility, enhancing agricultural production.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su132011354