Aspects of forest restoration and hydrology: linking passive restoration and soil–water recovery in Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

Although the scientific knowledge about some associations between physical parameters of the soil is consolidated, studies focused on investigating the dynamics of forest restoration processes and the structure of soils remain incipient. The study area is located in Cerrado and is called as Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) Águas Perenes Forest (perennial water forest) and was selected as a “High Conservation Value Forest”, provides scope to investigate the soil physical properties recovery on passive restoration sites, with different ages but with the same land use history. So, the aim was to investigate the soil density, moisture, penetration resistance and infiltration rate with long-term from old (FA, 46 year-old), medium (FB, 11 year-old) and young (FC, 8 year-old) passive restoration sites. It was observed differences in soil density, as well as in soil moisture, resistance to penetration and infiltration rate. Mean densities recorded for FA, FB and FC were 1.38, 1.48 and 1.53 g cm⁻³, respectively. FA recorded higher mean soil moisture (14.9%) than FB (11.5%) and FC (10.0%), whereas mean soil resistance to penetration was increased from FA (0.87 MPa) to FB (0.91 MPa) and FC (1.10 MPa). The average infiltration rate was almost similar in FA and FB (FA = 76.43 mm h⁻¹; FB = 77.48 mm h⁻¹) and approximately 39% higher than FC (55.79 mm h⁻¹). Thus, although soil density and moisture were different in each passive restoration site, 11 year-old passive restoration site showed similar resistance to penetration and infiltration rate to the old (46 years) passive restoration site. These features allowed seeing improvements in hydrological maintenance in the soil and revealed that passive restoration in Cerrado is able to improve the physical features on a soil presenting similar texture, climate and management history.

Keywords

Ecological restoration / Ecosystems service / Forest management / Forest restoration / Soil conservation / Tropical forest