Granulometric characterization of the sediment of tropical springs in eucalypt plantation areas

Abstract

Springs are discharges from groundwater that form water flows which are important in the provision of ecosystem services, such as irrigation of forests, supply of water for human consumption and the habitat for the aquatic biota. In Brazil, areas of Atlantic Forest are gradually being replaced by eucalypt crops, commonly changing the composition of the springs substrate. The objective of this study was to verify if the granulometric composition of the spring sediment in forest areas differs from that of springs in areas planted with eucalyptus. The tested hypothesis was that springs in eucalypts areas have differences in particle size and a lower percentage of organic matter when compared to springs in forest areas. To do so, the sediment from 20 springs was collected, all belonging to the Paraíba do Sul river basin, located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It was possible to observe that springs in forest areas were associated with very coarse sand, while those in eucalyptus areas were associated with finer granulometry particles. Regarding the organic matter, no significant difference was observed between the two areas. The study emphasizes the importance of riparian vegetation to mitigate potential impacts of eucalyptus silviculture on the sediment of springs.

Keywords:
Atlantic Forest; Silviculture; Riparian vegetation