Soil quality indicators in organic and conventional cultivation systems in the semi arid areas of Ceara - Brazil

Soil quality can change along the time due to natural events or anthropic activities. The use of organic management practices reduces soil tillage and favors the recovery of soil physical and chemical properties. The objective of this study was to compare the physical, chemical and biological properties of cultivated soils under organic system or conventional tillage system. Six organic and three conventional cultivated areas were selected and soil samples collected in the layers 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. Physical, chemical and biological (macro and mesofauna) soil properties were evaluated and analyzed by univariate and multivariate statistical techniques. Individually, the physical and chemical parameters were not sensitive enough to differentiate organic from conventional production systems. The multivariate analyses (Principal components and Anderson discriminant) obtained satisfactory results, distinguishing organic from conventional management areas and from those in transition. Areas cultivated under organic systems were distinguished satisfactorily and most precisely from areas under conventional systems based on difference in soil fauna

smallholder farming; agroecology; soil macrofauna; soil mesofauna