Physical, chemical, and mineralogical attributes of a representative group of soils from the eastern Amazon region in Brazil

• Published in: Soil Vol. 4; no. 3; pp. 195 - 212
• Main Authors: Souza, Edna Santos de, Fernandes, Antonio Rodrigues, De Souza Braz, Anderson Martins, Oliveira, Fábio Júnior de, Alleoni, Luís Reynaldo Ferracciú, Campos, Milton César Costa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Göttingen Copernicus GmbH 07-09-2018; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Acidity; Aluminium; Aluminum; Ammonium; Ammonium compounds; Bicarbonates; Bioavailability; Calcium; Calcium ions; Carbon content; Citric acid; Clay; Clay minerals; Cluster analysis; Dithionite; Fertility; Hydroxides; Iron; Low concentrations; Magnesium; Manganese; Mineralogy; Minerals; Multivariate analysis; Natural resources; Organic carbon; Organic chemistry; Oxalic acid; Oxides; Principal components analysis; Silicon; Sodium; Sodium citrate; Sodium hydroxide; Soil; Sulfuric acid; Sulphuric acid; Sustainable use; Brazil
• ISSN: 2199-398X; 2199-3971; 2199-398X; 2199-3971
• DOI: 10.5194/soil-4-195-2018

Amazonian soils are heterogeneous. However, few studies have been carried out in the Amazon, mainly because of its considerable size, which complicates the collection of data and the ability to plan for the sustainable use of natural resources. In this study, the physical, chemical, and mineralogical attributes of soils in the state of Pará, Brazil, were characterized by examining the particle size, fertility, silicon extracted by sodium hydroxide, iron, and aluminum, and manganese extracted by sulfuric acid, sodium citrate-bicarbonate-dithionite, and ammonium oxalate + oxalic acid. A descriptive analysis, multivariate principal component analysis, and cluster analysis were performed. The soils had low concentrations of bioavailable P, Ca2+, Mg2+, and K and had high concentrations of Al3+, Si, and Al oxide in the Cambisols. Concentrations of Fe and Mn oxides were higher in both the Cambisols and Nitosols, which are rich in oxidic minerals. The multivariate analysis indicated an association between the organic carbon content and pH, P, Ca, Mg, and K concentrations. An additional association was observed between clay, potential acidity, and the Fe and Al oxide concentrations.