Soil quality attributes related to urbanization in Brazilian watershed

Abstract

In this study we investigated the variation of soil attributes according to urban-related land cover categories. The study was carried out in an urbanized watershed located in the Brazilian subtropical region (Sorocaba Municipality, São Paulo). Soil samples were collected considering the land cover category for analysis of physical, chemical and isotopic attributes. The land cover influenced the soils attributes. Soils from wooded and grassed areas presented significant differences, especially for values of C isotopes. Soil bulk density was significantly altered. According to considered land cover mosaic in the study, we estimated 10,241.28 tons of C stored in the thickness 20 cm of the watershed (whole area), and this amount is almost a half of the total potential of C storing in the watershed. We stress that projects of planned land cover should effectively implemented in urbanized regions to effectively contribute in storing more C and improving the soil-related ecosystem services.

Keywords:

• environmental impact assessment
• environmental sustainability
• landscape management

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alexandre Marco da Silva

Alexandre Marco da SILVA. Department of Environmental Engineering – Campus Sorocaba – São Paulo State University, Av. Três de Março, 511. Sorocaba – SP – Brazil. Doctor. Professor at Campus of Sorocaba – Unesp. 64 published papers. Distinguished scholar of the Brazilian Council for Research and Technology (CNPq).

Rodrigo Custodio Urban

Rodrigo Custodio URBAN. Department of Sanitation and Environment – FEC – Campinas State University, Av. Albert Einstein, 951, Campinas – SP – Brazil. Doctor in Civil Engineering. Professor at Pontific Catholic University (Campinas, SP Brazil). He has 10 published papers.

Luiz Augusto Manfré

Luiz Augusto MANFRÉ. Geoprocessing Laboratory – Polytechnic School – University of São Paulo – Avenue Professor Luciano Gualberto, Lane 3, 380, São Paulo, Brazil. Doctor in Civil Engineering. He has 13 published papers.

Michel Brossard

Michel BROSSARD. IRD, UMR 210 Eco&Sols, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier cedex 5, France. Doctor. Researcher IRD Montpelier – France. 53 published papers.

Marcelo Zacharias Moreira

Marcelo Zacharias MOREIRA. Centre for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA – USP) – University of São Paulo, Av. Centenário, 303 – Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. Professor at CENA – USP, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. He has currently 54 published papers.