Spatial variability of physical attributes and soil aggregates in archaeological dark dirt under pasture

Abstract Some areas of archaeological dark dirt in the Amazon have been used with pasture that has generated great concern regarding changes in soil physical attributes and its aggregation state. The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial variability and possible modifications of soil physical and aggregate attributes in archaeological black dirt under pasture. A grid of 80 x 56m with 88 sampling points distributed in 8 x 8m were marked. Soil layers at 0-0.05, 0.05-0.10, and 0.10-0.20m were analyzed for: soil density (SD), total organic carbon (TOC), carbon stock (C stock), meanweight diameter (MWD), macroporosity (Macro), microporosity (Micro), and total porosity (TP). From semivariograms tests it was verified the occurrence of spatial dependence. Even with major pasture cover in the study area it was observed that the values of Ds, Macro, and VTP were above or below the reference values, which may cause restriction for root growth of plants and water infiltration in the soil. The DMP and Ds were COT-dependent because values of both increase or decrease depending on the soil layer. When higher the soil layer there was an increase in carbon stock.