Handerson Brandão Melo de Lima, Marcelo Cavalcante, Rafael Dantas dos Santos, Antônio Adolfo Silva Soares, Maurício Roberto Cherubin, Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri, Stoécio Malta Ferreira Maia
Abstract
In Brazil, the semi-arid region has undergone significant degradation due to deforestation for agriculture, livestock and the use of firewood. In this context, nature-based solutions (NbS) that prioritize environmental sustainability in semi-arid regions are crucial. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of the conversion from native vegetation (dense Caatinga) to improved and degraded pastures, and integrated livestock-forestry (ILF) systems under conventional and no-tillage (NT). Soil samples were collected to a depth of 1 m in 5 different land uses: native vegetation (NV), ILFsystem with gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.) + signal grass (Urochloa decumbens (Stapf) R.D. Webster) (ILFug) under NT for 8 years, an ILF system with gliricidia + forage cactus (Opuntia cochenillifera (Linnaeus) Miller) (ILFcg) under conventional tillage for 12 years, improved pasture (ImpP) and degraded pasture (DegP), both having been established for 15 years. SOC stocks, water-stable aggregates (WSA), microbial biomass carbon (MB-C), SOM pools and soil carbon indices were analysed. The ILFug system under NT showed the highest stocks of mineral-associated organic matter, at all soil depths, resulting in increased SOC stocks, thus placing this system with the greatest SOC stock of 112.92 Mg ha−1, which represents a 21.8% increase compared to NV. The DegP presented the lowest soil quality among the studied systems, as evidenced by reduced particulate organic matter, MB-C, WSA and carbon management index. By promoting practices that enhance carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve ecosystem resilience, NbS provides a sustainable approach to mitigating the impacts of climate change, while supporting local communities in the semi-arid.
