Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

Soil microbiology in integrated livestock-forest systems under different spacings and forage crops in the semi-arid region of Brazil

Crislâny Canuto dos Santos, A. Rocha, Rodrigo Gregório da Silva, Fernando Dini Andreote, Marcelo Cavalcante, Maurício Roberto Cherubin, Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri, Stoécio Malta Ferreira Maia

Agroforestry Systems · 2026

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Summary

Abstract Improving soil productivity in the Brazilian semi-arid region remains a major challenge. Integrated livestock–forest (ILF) systems represent a promising strategy for agricultural intensification with lower environmental impacts, as they enhance soil microbial functioning and support soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks accumulation. However, studies on how ILF systems affect soil biological properties and SOC dynamics in tropical semi-arid regions, particularly in the Caatinga biome, remain scarce. This study assessed soil microbiological properties in ILF systems established for six years in the Brazil’s semi-arid region. Four ILF systems were evaluated, each cultivated with sorghum (ILFSo), forage cactus (ILFFc), massai grass (ILFMg), and buffel grass (ILFBg), at spacings of 7 m (S7

Subject
Soil carbon & organic matter
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
System type
Other
DOI
10.1007/s10457-026-01480-0
Catalogue ID
SNmozbkq7u-ychutb
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