<b>Evaluation of soil compaction in pasture land and forests in Porto Velho-Rondônia</b> - doi: 10.4025/bolgeogr.v28i1.8441

Abstract

The different environmental impacts promoted by human occupation in the Amazon, may be better represented if the observed rates of deforestation in the region. Joels and Câmara (2001) estimated that these rates grew 10 million hectares in the 70s, reaching 60 million hectares by the end of 2000. Among the problems associated with such growth, is promoted by the degradation of soil compaction by cattle trampling in the areas of pasture, where factors such as the density of cattle per area, time of continuous use of pastures and lack of management of land, promote rapid deterioration of these areas. The verification of the strength of soil penetration (RP) with the use of penetrometer impact, allowed the identification of the limits of (RP) for pastures of degraded environments on the areas of forest, showing significant differences in compression for two environments and their land taken, and the use of an impact penetrometer was efficient in identifying the compression in depth, with the identification of critical areas.