Abstract

Soil attributes are an important tool to identify appropriate practices for crop management. This study aimed at evaluating physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of soil in agricultural uses, regarding its potential and/or restrictions in the municipality de Governador Dix-Sept Rosado (RN). Soil samples with deformed structure were collected with the aid of an auger Dutch-type zigzag layers in the 0.00-0.10; 0.10-0.20 and 0.20-0.30 m layers. Four composite soil samples, derived from 15 subsamples, were collected in: native forest (AMN), orchard cajaraneiras (AP), a traditional cropping area (AC), and an area of colluvium (ACOL). Samples were placed in plastic, bags identified and referred to the Laboratory Analysis of Soil and Plant Water LASAP/UFERSA. Subsequently, samples were air dried, broken into smaller pieces, and sieved through 2.0 mm mesh to obtain the dried soil air (TFSA) for physical, chemical and mineralogical analyzes. Results were submitted to Principal Component Analysis (Multivariate Statistics) to distinguish attributes in different agricultural uses. The first factor generated for soil properties in the areas surveyed explained 48.33% of the total variation in the studied area, and the highest correlation coefficients (≥ |70|) identified were the variables: sand, silt, pH, Ca²⁺, H+Al, SB, T, T, V in the layer 0.00-0.10 m. These variables are probably influenced by the source material, and consequently the management practices adopted in farming areas. Primary minerals type 2:1 such as illite and mica in the horizon A and the horizon Bi predominated in diffraction peaks of X-ray, which can be justified by the presence of clay minerals in the clay fraction, young soil characteristics and limited weathering. Properties differed between areas, and presented physical limitations on the soil resistance to penetration, and have excellent chemical characteristics such as high levels of exchangeable calcium and total organic carbon.

Key words: Mineralogical analysis, diffraction, environment, different management.