Aspects of forest restoration and hydrology: linking passive restoration and soil–water recovery in Brazilian Cerrado

• Published in: Journal of forestry research 2021-12, Vol.32 (6), p.2301-2311
• Main Authors: Pereira, Luara Castilho, Balbinot, Leonardo, Matus, Gregorio Nolazco, Dias, Herly Carlos Teixeira, Tonello, Kelly Cristina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Density; Dynamic structural analysis; Environmental restoration; Forest management; Forestry; Forests; Hydrology; Infiltration; Infiltration (Hydrology); Infiltration rate; Land use; Life Sciences; Moisture content; Moisture resistance; Original Paper; Penetration; Penetration resistance; Physical properties; Protection and preservation; Recovery; Restoration; Soil density; Soil dynamics; Soil investigations; Soil moisture; Soil physical properties; Soil properties; Soil resistance; Soil structure; Soil water; Soils; Water
• ISSN: 1007-662X; 1993-0607
• DOI: 10.1007/s11676-021-01301-3

Although the scientific knowledge about some associations between physical parameters of the soil is consolidated, studies focused on investigating the dynamics of forest restoration processes and the structure of soils remain incipient. The study area is located in Cerrado and is called as Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) Águas Perenes Forest (perennial water forest) and was selected as a “High Conservation Value Forest”, provides scope to investigate the soil physical properties recovery on passive restoration sites, with different ages but with the same land use history. So, the aim was to investigate the soil density, moisture, penetration resistance and infiltration rate with long-term from old (FA, 46 year-old), medium (FB, 11 year-old) and young (FC, 8 year-old) passive restoration sites. It was observed differences in soil density, as well as in soil moisture, resistance to penetration and infiltration rate. Mean densities recorded for FA, FB and FC were 1.38, 1.48 and 1.53 g cm −3 , respectively. FA recorded higher mean soil moisture (14.9%) than FB (11.5%) and FC (10.0%), whereas mean soil resistance to penetration was increased from FA (0.87 MPa) to FB (0.91 MPa) and FC (1.10 MPa). The average infiltration rate was almost similar in FA and FB (FA = 76.43 mm h −1 ; FB = 77.48 mm h −1 ) and approximately 39% higher than FC (55.79 mm h −1 ). Thus, although soil density and moisture were different in each passive restoration site, 11 year-old passive restoration site showed similar resistance to penetration and infiltration rate to the old (46 years) passive restoration site. These features allowed seeing improvements in hydrological maintenance in the soil and revealed that passive restoration in Cerrado is able to improve the physical features on a soil presenting similar texture, climate and management history.