Avaliação dos serviços ecossistêmicos do solo em áreas de floresta e campos naturais no Parque Nacional do Mapinguari no Sul do Amazonas

Abstract

Soil is an essential component of terrestrial ecosystems, serving as the foundation of life by supporting vegetation, regulating water and nutrient cycles, storing carbon, and contributing to global climate balance. These natural processes are directly linked to ecosystem services, which represent the benefits that soil provides to society, such as climate regulation, nutrient cycling, food production, biodiversity maintenance, and water purification. Given this relevance, the present study aimed to evaluate the physical and chemical attributes of soils and their relationship with ecosystem services in different environments of the Mapinguari National Park, southern Amazonas, seeking to understand how edaphic and physiographic conditions influence the provision of these services. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0–15 cm and 40–60 cm in areas under dense forest, floodplain forest, natural grassland, and transition zones, analyzing texture, density, porosity, penetration resistance, aggregation, moisture, pH, calcium, magnesium, potassium, aluminum, phosphorus, potential acidity, and organic carbon. Descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses (PCA) were used to identify the most relevant attributes in differentiating the environments and in the provision of soil ecosystem services. The results showed that forest soils presented better physical and chemical conditions, with greater structural stability, water retention capacity, and higher organic carbon content, emphasizing their importance in climate regulation and carbon sequestration. In contrast, natural grassland and transition soils, although less fertile, play a crucial role in groundwater recharge and biodiversity maintenance. It is concluded that the soils of the Mapinguari National Park are key elements in the provision of ecosystem services, reinforcing the importance of their conservation as an essential strategy for environmental sustainability and the ecological balance of the Amazon.