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CHARACTERIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF FLOODPLAIN SOILS IN THE PORTO ALEGRE METROPOLITAN REGION, RS, BRAZIL

Caracterização e classificação de solos de várzea na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre, RS

ABSTRACT

In the Porto Alegre metropolitan region (PAMR) there are a significant proportion of floodplain soils, mainly Planosols and Gleysols, in relation to upland soils. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological, chemical and physical characteristics, and to classify floodplain soils in the PAMR. Six soil profiles were evaluated under different sedimentary lithologies and drainage classes, and samples were collected for chemical and physical analyzes. Two orders of mineral soils (Planosols and Gleysols) and one order of organic soil (Organosols) were identified. The soils were moderately deep to deep and stratified. In mineral soils hue ranged between 7.5YR and 2.5Y, with the occurrence of Bg, Btg or Cg gley horizons, while in organic soil the colors were neutral. Sand and silt were the predominant particle sizes according to the origin sedimentary deposits. The organic carbon content was negatively related to soil density and positively related to soil specific surface area and with soil cation exchange capacity. Soil chemical characterization showed expressive variation in bases, aluminum and sodium saturation. Ki index and Fe(CBD)/Fe(H2SO4) ratio indicated a low soil weathering degree. The different sedimentary lithologies and the soil hydromorphism degree were the main factors related to differences in morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of soils in the PAMR.

Index terms:
Hydromorphic soils; quaternary sediments; specific surface area

RESUMO

Na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre (PAMR) é expressiva a proporção de solos de várzea em relação aos solos de terras altas, com predomínio de Planossolos e Gleissolos. Este estudo objetivou caracterizar a morfologia, a física e a química, e classificar taxonomicamente solos em posições de várzea na PAMR. Foram abertas seis trincheiras em relevo plano, sob diferentes litologias sedimentares e classes de drenagem,onde foram realizadas a descrição morfológica dos perfis de solos e a coleta de amostras para as análises físicas e químicas.Foram identificadas duas ordens de solos minerais (Gleissolo e Planossolo) e uma orgânica (Organossolo). Os solos foram moderadamente profundos a profundos e estratificados. Nos solos minerais a matiz variou entre 7,5YR e 2,5Y, com ocorrência de horizontes gleizados Bg, Btg ou Cg, enquanto no Organossolo as cores foram neutras. A granulometria dos solos, com predominância das frações areia e silte, variou conforme os depósitos sedimentares de origem. A expressiva amplitude dos teores de C orgânico mostrou relação negativa coma densidade do solo, e positiva com a área superficial específica e a capacidade de troca de cátions. Os atributos químicos também se mostraram discriminantes entre os solos avaliados, com ocorrência de distrofismo e eutrofismo, variações amplas dos teores de Al3+ trocável e ocorrência de caráter solódico. Nos solos minerais o índice Ki e a relação Fe(CBD)/Fe(H2SO4) indicaram um grau incipiente de desenvolvimento dos solos. O material de origem e o grau de hidromorfismo foram os principais fatores responsáveis pelas diferenças nas características morfológicas, físicas e químicas dos solos na PAMR.

Termos para indexação:
Solos hidromórficos; sedimentos quaternários; área superficial específica

INTRODUCTION

In general, floodplain soils are considered the soils found along the plains of rivers, lakes and lagoons, where they develop in sediments from various sources under various drainage classes often with hydromorphic conditions. In Rio Grande do Sul, the floodplain soils occupy an area of approximately 53,000 km2 (19% of the territory). This proportion changes significantly in the Porto Alegre metropolitan region (PAMR), where the floodplain soils occupy about 60% of the area. In recent decades, the occupation of floodplain soils with agricultural activities has intensified in this region, especially for rice, corn and bean crops, as well as pastures and vegetables (Hasenack et al., 2008HASENACK, H. et al. Vegetação e ocupação. In: HASENACK, H. et al. (Coord.). Diagnóstico Ambiental de Porto Alegre: Geologia, Solos, Drenagem, Vegetação/ Ocupação e Paisagem. Porto Alegre: Secretaria Municipal do Meio Ambiente, 2008. p.56-71.). On the other hand, urbanization pressure has increased recently, which can result in important changes in local environment.

Geographically, these soils are part of intermediate ecosystems between the highlands and aquatic ecosystems, with environmental importance for the conservation of water resources and the maintenance of fauna and flora. In this sense, it is important that the use of floodplain soils take into account their pedogenetic peculiarities, ensuring the sustainability of agricultural activities and the conservation of natural resources.

In the PAMR there are two distinct geological features: the crystalline base and quaternary sediments (sands, silts and clays). The first consists of a set of granitic bodies with local names amid an intricate granite-gneiss complex (Schneider et al., 1974SCHNEIDER, A. W.; LOSS, E. L.; PINTO J. F. Mapa geológico da Folha de Porto Alegre - RS. Porto Alegre: Instituto de Geociências - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. 1974. Mapa.). The quaternary sedimentary deposits, of colluvial-alluvial and aeolian origin, involve Pleistocene (paleodunes, fluvial deposits and colluvial paleosols) and Holocene formations (recent alluvial sediments) (CPRM, 2006CPRM. Mapa geológico do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Escala 1:750.000. Projeto Geologia do Brasil ao Milionésimo. CD-ROM. 2006.). According to Rio Grande do Sul soil reconnaissance surveys (Brazil, 1973BRASIL. Ministério da Agricultura. Divisão de Pesquisa Pedológica. Levantamento de reconhecimento dos solos do Rio Grande do Sul. (Boletim Técnico, 30). Recife: DNPEA-MA, 1973. 431p.; Radambrasil, 1986RADAMBRASIL. Levantamento de recursos Naturais. Folha SH 22 - Porto Alegre e parte das Folhas SH 21 - Uruguaiana e SI 22 - Lagoa Mirim. Rio de Janeiro: Fundação Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia Estatística. 1986. 796p.) and of the city of Porto Alegre (Schneider et al., 2008SCHNEIDER, P. et al. Solos de Porto Alegre. In: HASENACK; H. et al. (Coord.).. Diagnóstico Ambiental de Porto Alegre: Geologia, Solos, Drenagem, Vegetação/ Ocupação e Paisagem, Porto Alegre: Secretaria Municipal do Meio Ambiente 2008. p.28-43.), the main soil orders occurring in the floodplain areas of the PAMR are Haplic Planosols, Haplic Gleysols and Melanic Gleysols with Fluvic Neosols and Haplic Organosols occurring in lesser proportions (Streck et al., 2008STRECK, E. V. et al. Solos do Rio Grande do Sul. 2.ed. Porto Alegre: Emater/RS-ASCAR, 2008. 222p.).

The significant heterogeneity of soils in floodplain areas is inherent to hydromorphic environments (Corrêa et al., 2003CORRÊA, M. M. et al. Atributos físicos, químicos e mineralógicos de solos da região das Várzeas de Sousa (PB). Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo. 27(2):311-324, 2003.; Souza Júnior et al., 2007SOUZA JUNIOR, V.S. et al. Evolução quaternária, distribuição de partículas nos solos e ambientes de sedimentação em manguezais do estado de São Paulo.. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 31(4):753-769, 2007.; Coringa et al., 2012CORINGA, E.A.O. et al. Atributos de solos hidromórficos no Pantanal Norte Matogrossense. Acta Amazonica. 42(1):19-28, 2012.; Guimarães et al., 2013GUIMARÃES, S. T. et al. Caracterização e classificação de gleissolos da várzea do Rio Solimões (Manacapuru e Iranduba), Amazonas, Brasil.. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 37(2):317-326, 2013.), in which the topographic location and drainage capacity, water quality, sediment type and seasonal flooding influence pedogenetic features. The objective of this study was to characterize the morphology, physical and chemical, as well as taxonomically classify floodplain soils developed in different parts of the PAMR.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Environmental characteristics

The study areas are located in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, between the coordinates 29º45' and 30º15' S (latitude) and 50º30' and 51º30' W (longitude), in the cities of Porto Alegre, Cachoeirinha, Eldorado do Sul and Viamão (Figure 1). The climate is humid subtropical, with an average annual temperature of 19.5 °C, the coldest month being 14 ºC, and an average rainfall of 1309 mm yr-1, with a summer dry period (Maluf, 2000MALUF, J.R.T. Nova classificação climática do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Revista Brasileira de Agrometeorologia. 8(1):141-150, 2000.).

Figure 1:
Location of the soil profiles studied: P1 (cambisolic Eutrophic Ta Haplic Gleysol), P2 (cambisolic Dystrophic Ta Haplic Gleysol), P3 (neofluvisolic Eutrophic Ta Haplic Gleysol), P4 (solodic Haplic Eutrophic Planosol), P5 (plinthosolic Dystrophic Haplic Planosol) and P6 (typic Sapric Haplic Organosol).

The geology consists of Quaternary sedimentary deposits from the Pleistocene and Holocene, consisting predominantly of weakly consolidated sandstone, silty-clay sediments and tuffaceous deposits (Radambrasil, 1986RADAMBRASIL. Levantamento de recursos Naturais. Folha SH 22 - Porto Alegre e parte das Folhas SH 21 - Uruguaiana e SI 22 - Lagoa Mirim. Rio de Janeiro: Fundação Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia Estatística. 1986. 796p.; CPRM, 2006CPRM. Mapa geológico do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Escala 1:750.000. Projeto Geologia do Brasil ao Milionésimo. CD-ROM. 2006.). The vegetation has the influence of alluvial forests and floodplain forests (semideciduous forest phytoecological region); and of wetland areas, with lagoon and alluvial influence (Pioneer Formations phytoecological region).

Description of soil profiles, collection and sample preparation

For the study, six trenches were dug at different points of the PAMR (Figure 1, Table 1) on flat relief positions (0-2% slope), with soil drainage classes ranging from moderate to imperfectly drained and poorly drained. In the trenches, morphological descriptions of soil profiles and the collection of disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were conducted according to Santos et al. (2005SANTOS, R. D. et al. Manual de descrição e coleta de solo no campo. 5.ed. Viçosa: SBCS/SNLCS, 2005. 100p.). The disturbed soil samples were air dried, and passed through 2 mm mesh sieve to obtain fine air-dried soil fraction (FADS). The total clay (Ø < 0.002 mm) was collected after sedimentation of the soil dispersion with 1 mol L-1 NaOH flocculated with a 0.1 mol L-1 HCl washed with a ethanol/water solution at a 1:1 ratio, oven-dried at 60 °C and ground.

Table 1:
Identification and land use of the profiles studied.

Physical analyses

Physical testing included granulometric composition of the soil by the pipette method using NaOH 1 mol L-1 as the chemical dispersant; natural clay, the bulk density (BD) by the volumetric ring method, the particle density (PD) in a volumetric flask (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária - Embrapa, 1997EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA - EMBRAPA. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de solos. Manual de métodos de análise de solo. 2.ed. Rio de Janeiro: EMBRAPA/CNPS-RJ, 1997. 212p.), calculating the degree of flocculation (FD). The specific surface area (SSA) of the clay fraction was estimated by the water adsorption method at 20% relative moisture (Quirk, 1955QUIRCK, J. P. Significance of surface areas calculated from water vapour sorption isotherms by use of B.E.T. equation. Soil Science. 80:423-430, 1955.).

Chemical analysis

The chemical analyzes included pH in water and KCl; Ca2+, Mg2+ and Al3+ content extracted by 1 mol L-1 KCl and determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy; the contents Na+, K+ and available P extracted by Mehlich-1, with the quantification of Na+ and K+conducted in a flame spectrophotometer, and that of P in a colorimeter; acidity at pH 7 (H+Al), extracted with calcium acetate at pH 7 and determined by titration; and electrical conductivity of the saturated paste (Embrapa, 1997EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA - EMBRAPA. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de solos. Manual de métodos de análise de solo. 2.ed. Rio de Janeiro: EMBRAPA/CNPS-RJ, 1997. 212p.). From these results the following were calculated: cation exchange capacity (CEC), clay fraction activity (CFA), the sum of bases (SB), base saturation (V), the aluminum saturation (m) and the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). The determination of total organic carbon (TOC) was performed by dry combustion in a SHIMADZU VCSH carbon analyzer.

The SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, K2O, P2O5 and MnO contents were determined after acid digestion (extracted by the sulfuric acid method) (Embrapa, 1997EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA - EMBRAPA. Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de solos. Manual de métodos de análise de solo. 2.ed. Rio de Janeiro: EMBRAPA/CNPS-RJ, 1997. 212p.). From these levels the Ki index ((SiO2*1.70)/Al2O3) was calculated. Fe relative to total pedogenic iron oxide (Fed) was extracted with dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate at 80 °C in two successive extractions (Mehra; Jackson, 1960MEHRA, O. P.; JACKSON M. L. Iron oxide removal from soils and clays by a dithionite-citrate system buffered with sodium bicarbonate. Clays and Clay Minerals. 7:317-327, 1960.; Inda Junior; Kämpf 2003INDA JUNIOR, A. V.; KÄMPF, N. Avaliação de procedimentos de extração dos óxidos de ferro pedogênicos com ditionito-citrato-bicarbonato de sódio., Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 27(6):1139-1147, 2003.). Fe related to low crystalline iron oxide (Feo) was extracted with 0.2 mol L-1 ammonium oxalate at pH 3 in the dark (Schwertmann, 1964SCHWERTMANN, U. Differenzierung der eisenoxide des bodens durch extraktion mitammoniumoxalat-lösung. Zeitschrift Fur Pflanzenernährung Und Bodenkunde. 105:194-202, 1964.). The Fe contents in the extracts were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Morphological and physical characterization

The soil profiles were considered moderately deep (> 50 cm e ≤ 100 cm) to deep (> 100 cm e ≤ 200 cm) (Embrapa, 2013EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA - EMBRAPA. Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos. 3.ed. Brasília: Embrapa, 2013. 353p.), with horizon sequences A-B, A-E-B and A-B-C (Table 2), although the C horizon had occurred shallow depths in some profiles, like at 18 cm depth in the P3 profile. All soils were quite stratified, presenting a sequence of various thin horizons, as is characteristic of soils formed under conditions where material deposition predominates (Souza Júnior et al., 2001SOUZA JUNIOR, V. S.; RIBEIRO, M. R.; OLIVEIRA, L. B. Propriedades químicas e manejo de solos tiomórficos da várzea do Rio Coruripe, Estado de Alagoas.. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 25(4):811-822, 2001.; Corrêa et al. 2003CORRÊA, M. M. et al. Atributos físicos, químicos e mineralógicos de solos da região das Várzeas de Sousa (PB). Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo. 27(2):311-324, 2003.; Guimarães et al., 2013GUIMARÃES, S. T. et al. Caracterização e classificação de gleissolos da várzea do Rio Solimões (Manacapuru e Iranduba), Amazonas, Brasil.. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 37(2):317-326, 2013.). Despite the hydromorphism action in all soils, in the P3 and P6 profiles were observed A-C horizons sequences and H1-H2-H3, respectively. In these profiles, the greater influence of the water table due to the proximity of water bodies limited the differentiation of characteristics, such as structure, as well as the development of other pedogenic processes besides hydromorphism and paludization.

Table 2:
Main morphological attributes of lowland soils in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, RS.

In mineral soils yellowish colors predominated, with hues between 7.5 YR and 2.5 Y, while in the P6 profile the colors were neutral. All the mineral soils had gleyed Bg, Btg or Cg horizons. The colors of the matrix had low chromas, and mottling occurred with higher values and chromas in profiles P2, P3, P4 and P5. In horizon 2Cg2 of Profile P3 variegated colors occurred.

The P1, P2 and P3 profiles had no significant changes in the textural classes of the horizons, clay (P1) and clayey loam (P2 and P3) textures predominating. The greater clay content in Btg horizons, associated with color and structure soil characteristics, was sufficient to characterize a planic B horizon (Embrapa, 2013EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA - EMBRAPA. Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos. 3.ed. Brasília: Embrapa, 2013. 353p.) in the P4 and P5 profiles, where the texture changed from sandy loam (P4) or clayey loam (P5) to clay. The E horizon in the P5 was loamy below the A horizon. A structure in medium to large sized angular and subangular blocks was dominant in most horizons, while in the deeper horizons of profiles P1, P3 and P6 there occurred massive structure. The dominant moist consistency ranged between friable and firm in all profiles. The wet consistency ranged from aplastic and non-sticky to plastic and very sticky, following the tendency to major plasticity and stickiness in clayey horizons.

The predominant particle size fractions in the soils were silt and sand (Table 3). In P1 and P4 profiles, silt and sand contents were similar, confirming development from the same sedimentary deposits (Table 1). Profiles P2 and P5 also presented a similar particle size distribution, with a predominance of silt (> 359 g kg-1), although the geology indicated that these profiles have developed from different sedimentary materials (Table 1). Profile P3, showed significant sand contents (> 582 g kg-1), which is in agreement with formation from sandy near beach deposits, showing higher energy flows in the transport of coarser material, as also observed by Souza Junior et al. (2007)SOUZA JUNIOR, V.S. et al. Evolução quaternária, distribuição de partículas nos solos e ambientes de sedimentação em manguezais do estado de São Paulo.. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 31(4):753-769, 2007. in sedimentary areas of the coast of São Paulo state. Except in the P4 and P6 profiles, the fine sand fraction having greater expression than coarse sand.

Table 3:
Main physical attributes of lowland soils in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, RS.

Considering the fine sand/coarse sand (FS/CS) ratio, it is expected that the homogeneous material relationship is maintained uniform along the horizon at depth and, where there are discontinuities, as in the case of the sedimentary packages, the relationship also changes (Novais Filho et al., 2012NOVAES FILHO, J. P. et al. Indicativos de descontinuidade litológica de regolitos derivados de granitos em uma microbacia sob floresta Amazônica, em Juruena - MT.. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 36(2), 317-324, 2012.). As expected, sediments of different origins were found among the soil profiles, with the lowest FS/CS ratios being found in P4 and the greatest in P3. In addition, significant changes in the FS/CS ratio in P2 and P3 profiles indicated discontinuities in the sedimentary packages existing in these soils.

A high proportion of silt in relation to clay (silt/clay ratio) suggests an intermediate degree of weathering in the studied soils (Embrapa, 2013EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA - EMBRAPA. Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos. 3.ed. Brasília: Embrapa, 2013. 353p.). This is consistent with the relatively recent sediments from which the soils were formed and the low soils landscape positions, that may have inhibited a high weathering degree. The levels of clay dispersed in water showed a positive relationship with the sum of bases, mainly with the amounts of soil magnesium and sodium (Table 4), expressed through the lower of flocculation degrees the clays, as found in floodplains soils in Paraíba state by Correa et al. (2003CORRÊA, M. M. et al. Atributos físicos, químicos e mineralógicos de solos da região das Várzeas de Sousa (PB). Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo. 27(2):311-324, 2003.).

Table 4:
Correlation among physical and chemical properties determined for the lowland soils studied.

The particle density (PD) varied between 2.38 and 2.59 g cm-3. The bulk density (BD) showed a positive relationship with silt and inverse with the sand and organic carbon content (Table 4). In Profile P2, the relatively high uniform BD values along the profile (1.62 to 1.77 g cm-3) may be due to the large solid, prismatic soil structures (Oliveira et al., 2003OLIVEIRA, L. B. et al. Classificação de solos planossólicos do Sertão do Araripe (PE).. Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 27(4):685-693, 2003.), associated with the high silt of that soil. In the other mineral profiles, BD ranged between 0.94 and 1.51g cm-3. In profile P6, the low BD (< 0.30 g cm-3) reflected its predominantly organic make up. The specific surface area (SSA) has an expressive range, varying from 3.9 to 90.6 m2 g-1 in the mineral soils and reaching values close to 140 m2g-1 in the Organosol (Table 3). This variation in SSA values, estimated by water adsorption, was positively related to the organic carbon content, as found in other studies (Tomasi et al., 2012TOMASI, C. A. et al. Atributos químicos e área superficial específica em Latossolo subtropical de altitude sob usos e manejos distintos. Ciência Rural. 42(12):2172-2179, 2012.; Fink et al., 2014FINK, J. R. et al. Mineralogy and phosphorus adsorption in soils of south and central-west Brazil under conventional and no-tillage systems. Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy. 36(3):379-387, 2014.), and inverse with the silt content (Table 4). When considering the profiles individually, it was observed that the profiles P1, P4 and P5, greater SSA values occurred in horizons with higher contents of clay and pedogenic iron oxide (Fed).

Chemical characterization

The high total organic carbon (TOC) in the profile P6 horizons (between 410 and 453 g kg-1) (Table 5) indicates an intense paludization process in this locale, confirming the description of the material as of turfy origin (Table 1), and the classification of these horizons as organic material diagnostic attribute (TOC ≥ 80 g kg-1)according to the Brazilian System of Soil Classification (SiBCS) (Embrapa, 2013EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA - EMBRAPA. Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos. 3.ed. Brasília: Embrapa, 2013. 353p.). In the other soils, classified as mineral material soils, the TOC content was high in the surface and decreased at depth. In Profile P3, this decrease was followed by an increase in the 3Cg3 horizon, corroborating the occurrence of a lithological discontinuity also expressed by the grain size of that horizon (Table 3).

Table 5:
Chemical properties including C and P for the lowland soils studied in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, RS.

The pH values in water were low, most under 5.5, except for the Cg1 horizon of profile P3 and horizons A and E of the P5 profile, the latter probably was influenced by its recent use under irrigated rice. In the P6 profile, the soil reaction was strongly acidic (4.1 to 4.3), as a result of the organic character of this soil. The higher pH values in water compared to the pH values in KCl indicate the predominance of a net negative charge in all soils. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) ranged from 5.7 to 33.3 cmolc kg-1 in the mineral soils. According to the CQFS-RS / BS (2004)COMISSÃO DE QUÍMICA E FERTILIDADE DO SOLO - CQFS RS/SC. Recomendações de adubação e calagem para os Estados do Rio Grande do Sul e de Santa Catarina. 10.ed. Porto Alegre: Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência do Solo - Núcleo Regional Sul , 2004. 400p., the CEC values in the profiles P2 and P5 were classified as medium (5.7 to 11.9 cmolc kg-1), followed by the profiles P1 and P4 with values classified as medium to high (9.1 to 22.4 cmolckg-1), and profile P3 with values classified as high ( 26.9 to 33.3 cmolc kg-1). In these mineral soils, the content of silt and Fe relative to the poorly crystallized iron oxides (Feo) (e.g. ferrihydrite and lepidocrocite) was positively related to CEC (Table 4), possibly because the poor drainage inhibits weathering while favors the formation of poorly crystallized iron oxides. The high CEC values determined in the P6 profile (64.4 and 73.4 cmolc kg-1) occurred due to the organic character of the soil (Souza Júnior et al., 2001), as was expressed by the positive relationship with TOC (Table 4). A relation between CEC and clay fraction activity (CFA) in subsurface horizons B or C of most of the mineral soils was found. The CFA values were above 27 cmolc kg-1 of clay, characterizing high clay-activity in the soils (Embrapa, 2013).

The composition of sorption-complex of soils showed strong relationship with SSA values and clay content (Table 4). Profiles P2 and P5, under less intense hydromorphic conditions, showed the lowest levels of basic cations (S≤5 cmolckg-1) and exchangeable Al3+ contents ranging from 0.5 kg cmolc -1 in the surface to 2.9 cmolc kg-1 at depth. In these profiles, the V values decreased and m increased at depth. In the P1 and P4 profiles, cation contents were intermediate (between 3 and 11 cmolc kg-1) associated with high exchangeable Al3+ levels, resulting in intermediate V and m values. In this profile the Na+ saturation (ESP) in the Btg horizon stands out, characterizing the solodic nature of this soil (Embrapa, 2013). In Profile P3 there were very high levels of basic cations (> 20 cmolc kg-1) and a virtual lack of exchangeable Al3+, resulting in very high V values (≥ 80%) and low m (≤ 2%). In Profile P6, with an organic material character, the cations and Al3+ contents were high, with low V and m values due to high organic contribution of H+ in the exchange complex. The P contents ranged from low to very low in the P1 profile and in the subsurface in profiles P2, P4 and P5, to high and very high in the surface horizons of profiles P2, P3, P4 and P5. In Profile 6 the P content was considered average.

The total contents of the elements extracted by sulfuric acid attack in mineral soils are presented in Table 6. The P2O5content and MnO were below 1 g kg-1. The low amounts of Fe2O3 and MnO are possibly related to reduction processes and removal of manganese and iron occurring in wetland soils (Corrêa et al., 2003CORRÊA, M. M. et al. Atributos físicos, químicos e mineralógicos de solos da região das Várzeas de Sousa (PB). Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo. 27(2):311-324, 2003.; Coringa et al., 2012CORINGA, E.A.O. et al. Atributos de solos hidromórficos no Pantanal Norte Matogrossense. Acta Amazonica. 42(1):19-28, 2012.). The SiO2 contents were greater than the Al2O3 contents in all soils, contributing to the high Ki index values in most of the horizons (Table 6), which indicated the 2:1 occurrence of clay minerals. The iron concentrations related to the total pedogenic iron oxides (Fed) had a distribution similar to the Fe2O3content between horizons and profiles analyzed. However, the Fed concentrations were lower than those of the total Fe (extracted by sulfuric acid attack) as indicated by Fed/Fet relationship (between 0.13 and 0.65), confirming the incipient stage of development and the conditions for preservation and/or neoformation of silicate minerals in the clay fraction (Moniz; Buol, 1982MONIZ, A.C.; BUOL, S.W. Formation of an Oxisol-Ultisol transition in São Paulo, Brazil. I. Double layer water flow model of soil development. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 46:1228-1233, 1982.; Kämpf; Curi, 2000KÄMPF, N.; CURI, N. Óxidos de ferro: Indicadores de ambientes pedogênicos. In: NOVAIS, R. F.; ALVAREZ, V. H.; SCHAEFER, C.E.G.R., (Eds.) Tópicos em Ciência do Solo. Viçosa: Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência do Solo, 2000. v.1, p.107-138.), indicated by the Ki ratio. The low Feo/Fed values of the subsurface layers, indicating the predominance of crystalline iron oxides, contrasted with the increase of the surface horizons determined by inhibition by organic matter in the development of the iron oxide crystallinity (Schwertmann, 1966SCHWERTMANN, U. Inhibitory effect of soil organic matter on the crystallization of amorphous ferric hydroxide. Nature. 212:645-646, 1966.; Biber; Santos; Stumm, 1994BIBER, M. V.; DOS SANTOS, M.; STUMM, W. The coordination chemistry of weathering: IV: Inhibition of the dissolution of oxide minerals. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 58:1999-2010, 1994.).

Table 6:
Total content of oxides from sulfuric acid digestion, Ki index and Fe from selective extractions for the lowland soils studied in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, RS.

Soil classification

Considering the morphological descriptions and analytical results, soil profiles were classified to the fourth category level of the Brazilian System of Soil Classification (Embrapa, 2013EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE PESQUISA AGROPECUÁRIA - EMBRAPA. Sistema Brasileiro de Classificação de Solos. 3.ed. Brasília: Embrapa, 2013. 353p.). The P1 and P3 profiles were classified in the same class until the great group level, being differentiated in the subgroup as follows: Profile P1 was classified as cambisolic Eutrophic Ta Haplic Gleysol (GXve-1) and Profile P3 as neofluvisolic Eutrophic Ta Haplic Gleysol (GXve-3). The classification of the P1 profile as eutrophic does not consider the high levels of exchangeable Al3+ throughout profile, including the occurrence of an alitic character found in the Bg diagnostic horizon. The P2 profile was classed in the same suborder as the previous profiles, differing in the great group level as follows: cambisolic Dystrophic Ta Haplic Gleysol (GXvd). The P4 and P5 profiles also composed the same suborder, differing at the great group level as follows: the P4 profile was classified as solodic Eutrophic Haplic Planosol (SXe) and the P5 profile as plinthosolic Dystrophic Haplic Planosol (SXd). The P6 profile was classified as typic Sapric Haplic Organosol (OXs).

CONCLUSIONS

The floodplain soils of the Porto Alegre metropolitan region show differences in morphological, physical and chemical characteristics, the main factors responsible are the source material and the degree of hydromorphism. The high silt/clay relationship, the occurrence of high clay activity, the high Ki index values and the low Fed/Fet relationship indicate that the soils show some degree of incipient weathering. The degree of hydromorphism, evaluated by attributes such as soil color and the organic carbon content, indicate a stronger hydromorphism in the profiles of neofluvisolic Eutrophic Ta Haplic Gleysol (Profile P3) and in the typic Sapric Haplic Organosol (P6 profile). The soil particle size varies depending on the origin of the sedimentary material, with a predominance of classes between sandy loam and clay textural classes. Wide variations of exchangeable aluminum content and aluminum saturation occur, as well as variation in the basic cation contents expressed by the eutrophic and dystrophic attributes. The influence of soil organic matter on chemical properties such as specific surface area and cation exchange capacity, and physical attributes such as bulk density reinforces its importance for the sustainability of the environment.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for the financial support (Edital Universal). To the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG).

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Sep-Oct 2015

History

  • Received
    20 May 2015
  • Accepted
    06 July 2015
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