Author(s)

R. M. Longo, A. L. Mulato, T. A. M. Misono, M. F. Silva, A. C. Demamboro, S. C. Betine, A. I. Ribeiro

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate some of the characteristics of the soil in areas edging forests located in an urban area in Campinas/SP, Brazil, in order to check whether or not there was any negative interference arising from the use and occupation of soil in its vicinity, called ‘edge effects’. For both samples of soil in the field, laboratorial analysis was performed. By studying all the factors, it was observed that the soil in all the remaining edges was found to be physically unstructured. Statistical analysis showed that it is not possible to indicate which use or occupation is presented as more degrading, since the analyzed data had high coefficients of variation around its perimeter. However, from the literature review relating to the results, it can be seen that the loss of soil structure is an indicator of degradation as well as high levels of low density and compaction in seeds found. With regard to the compaction of the soil, it was found that this parameter can be used as an indicator of the quality of the soil, whereas, to this end, the local peculiarities were always observed, while performing an analysis in the most comprehensive and complete way as possible.

Keywords

remaining urban forest, soil degradation, environmental impact