Soil Macrofauna as Indicators in Tree Legume Revegetation

Abstract

The study was conducted in an area of abandoned pasture located in the city of Valença (RJ) revegetated with tree legumes. Different proportions of nitrogen-fixing leguminous trees were used: 0% (0L), 25% (25L), 50% (50L) and 75% (75L). For evaluation of soil biota, samplings were made in the end of the dry season and in the rainy season. Samples were collected in the abandoned pasture, in a secondary forest, and in two grassland areas (PA and PB). The process of reforestation has increased the overall diversity of soil fauna. Formicidae was the group that stood out, being abundant in all treatments and in the two periods of collection. During the rainy season, a considerable increase in the amount of invertebrates in the litter layer was observed in the treatments 0L, 25L, 50L, 75L and in the secondary forest, while during the dry season, such increase occurred in the 0-10 cm layer.