Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Physical and chemical soil quality and litter stock in agroforestry systems in the Eastern Amazonia

Francisco Elves Duarte de Souza, Jesus de Nazaré dos Santos Oliveira, Cássio Rafael Costa dos Santos, Eric Victor de Oliveira Ferreira, Raimundo Thiago Lima da Silva, Manoel Tavares de Paula, José Darlon Nascimento Alves, José Sebastião Romano de Oliveira, Julia Isabella de Matos Rodrigues, Walmer Bruno Rocha Martins

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · 2025

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Summary

This field-based study evaluated multiple dimensions of soil quality and litter accumulation in agroforestry systems across Eastern Amazonia, a region experiencing significant land-use transition. The research appears to characterise how agroforestry management influences soil physical and chemical health alongside organic matter cycling, as suggested by the journal's focus on agroecosystem interactions. The findings may contribute evidence toward best-practice guidelines for maintaining soil function and carbon storage in forest-to-farm transitions across the Amazon region.

UK applicability

The tropical soil conditions and agroforestry species composition studied are not directly transferable to UK temperate systems. However, the soil quality assessment framework and organic matter cycling principles may inform UK agroforestry design and soil monitoring protocols, particularly for mixed farm systems incorporating tree components.

Key measures

Soil physical properties (structure, porosity, bulk density, water retention); soil chemical properties (pH, nutrient content, organic matter, carbon); litter stock and composition

Outcomes reported

The study measured physical and chemical soil quality indicators alongside litter stock accumulation across agroforestry systems established in Eastern Amazonia. Findings characterise how agroforestry management affects soil health metrics and organic matter cycling in tropical agroecosystem contexts.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Agroforestry & intercropping
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Brazil
System type
Agroforestry
DOI
10.1016/j.agee.2025.109479
Catalogue ID
SNmohxvli8-lxf4wq

Topic tags

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