Título:	The threshold of soil organic carbon and topography reveal degradation patterns in Brazilian pastures: evidence from Rio de Janeiro State.
Autor:	BILA JÚNIOR, F. A. PACHECO, F. A. L. VALERA, C. A. COSTA, A. M. da MENDONÇA-SANTOS, M. de L. FERNANDES, L. F. S. MOURA, J. P.
Afiliación:	FERNANDO ARÃO BILA JÚNIOR, UNIVERSIDADE DE TRÁS-OS-MONTES E ALTO DOURO; FERNANDO ANTÓNIO LEAL PACHECO, UNIVERSIDADE DE TRÁS-OS-MONTES E ALTO DOURO; CARLOS ALBERTO VALERA, MINISTÉRIO PÚBLICO DE MINAS GERAIS; ADRIANA MONTEIRO DA COSTA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MINAS GERAIS; MARIA DE LOURDES MENDONCA SANTOS BREFIN, CNPS; LUÍS FILIPE SANCHES FERNANDES, UNIVERSIDADE DE TRÁS-OS-MONTES E ALTO DOURO; JOÃO PAULO MOURA, UNIVERSIDADE DE TRÁS-OS-MONTES E ALTO DOURO.
Año:	2025
Referencia:	Sustainability, v. 17, n. 23, 10764, 2025.
Descripción:	Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key indicator for assessing pasture degradation. This study presents an integrated, field-based approach to analyzing SOC dynamics in pastures of Rio de Janeiro state (Brazil). Unlike methods based exclusively on remote sensing or modeling, our analysis is based on 350 georeferenced soil samples collected by Embrapa Solos and complemented by historical land use data, providing robust and reliable empirical evidence. Statistical methods (ANOVA, Tukey test), geostatistical interpolation (kriging), and unsupervised clustering (k-means) were used to characterize the spatiotemporal distribution of SOC. The results revealed patterns linked to both topographic and anthropogenic drivers, enabling the objective delineation of degraded versus non-degraded pastures. SOC levels below 40 g/kg in areas under 300 m elevation were strongly associated with degradation due to intensive use. In contrast, degradation at higher altitudes was primarily linked to sloping terrain more prone to water erosion. This methodological approach demonstrates the potential of combining field data with data mining tools to detect degradation patterns and inform targeted land management. The findings reaffirm SOC as a vital indicator of soil quality and highlight the importance of sustainable pasture practices in conserving carbon stocks and mitigating climate change. The proposed threshold-based method offers a practical foundation for diagnosing degraded pastures and identifying priority areas for restoration.
Thesagro:	Carbono Solo Pastagem Método Estatístico
NAL Thesaurus:	Soil organic carbon Carbon sequestration
Palabras clave:	Pasture degradation K-means clustering Geostatistical modeling Carbono orgânico do solo Degradação de pastagens Sequestro de carbono
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310764
Tipo de Material:	Artigo de periódico
Acceso:	openAccess
Aparece en las colecciones:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPS)