Título:	Conversion of degraded pasture to cocoa agroforestry in the Brazilian Amazon: Improvements in soil physical and biological properties.
Autoria:	BRASIL, N. M. de Q. X. NORONHA, N. C. FARIAS, V. D. da S. BRASIL NETO, A. B. CARVALHO, E. J. M. SILVEIRA, J. M. de Q. X. SILVA, S. A. S. da
Afiliação:	NILZA MARTINS DE QUEIROZ XAVIER BRASIL, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL RURAL DA AMAZÔNIA; NORBERTO CORNEJO NORONHA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL RURAL DA AMAZÔNIA; VIVIAN DIELLY DA SILVA FARIAS, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO PARÁ; ALBERTO BENTES BRASIL NETO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL RURAL DA AMAZÔNIA; EDUARDO JORGE MAKLOUF CARVALHO, CPATU; JOSIANE MARTINS DE QUEIROZ XAVIER SILVEIRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO PARÁ; SANDRA ANDREA SANTOS DA SILVA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL RURAL DA AMAZÔNIA.
Ano de publicação:	2026
Referência:	Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, v. 400, 110268, 2026.
Conteúdo:	The conversion of degraded pastures into sustainable production systems in the Brazilian Amazon has been recognized as a relevant strategy to address climate challenges, restore ecosystem functions, and support lowemission agricultural models. In this study, we evaluated the effects of converting a degraded extensive pasture into commercial cocoa-based agroforestry systems (AFSs) established for 12 and 25 years on soil physical and biological properties, using a remaining pasture and a native forest fragment as reference land-use systems. The following variables were determined: soil organic matter, carbon stock, bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, and penetration resistance (0–0.1, 0.1–0.2, and 0.2–0.4 m depth), Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS) (0–0.25 m depth), and soil macrofauna (0–0.1 m depth). The AFSs showed higher soil organic matter, greater carbon stock, and higher porosity, along with reduced soil bulk density and lower penetration resistance compared with the pasture, with more pronounced improvements in the surface layers. The 25-year AFS exhibited greater macrofauna abundance and higher taxonomic richness, with a notable contribution of ecosystem engineers, indicating advances in soil structural and functional reorganization. Multivariate analysis revealed a clear degradation–restoration gradient, positioning the AFSs along a progressive trajectory toward native-forest conditions. These results demonstrate that cocoa-based AFSs represent an effective proposal to restore degraded soils in the Amazon, reinforce ecosystem processes, and enhance the sustainability of productive landscapes.
Thesagro:	Solo Recuperação do Solo Carbono
Palavras-chave:	Pastagem degradada Sistema agroflorestal
ISSN:	0167-8809.
Digital Object Identifier:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2026.110268
Tipo do material:	Artigo de periódico
Acesso:	openAccess
Aparece nas coleções:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CPATU)