Soils of northern Pantanal: distribution, characterization, genesis, and current functioning

Abstract

Pedogenetic processes play an important role in hydrological and biogeochemical cycles of Pantanal Mato-Grossense. However, just a few detailed studies of Pantanal soils are available and very little is known about its past and current dynamics. We propose to conduct a detailed research of soils of northern Pantanal, in a pilot-area under influence of Cuiabá and São Lourenço Rivers (RPPN Sesc Pantanal), focusing the following objectives: (i) To study soil-landform-stratigraphy relationships at medium scale (1:50.000), in order to understand the spatial variability of soils across the landscape; (ii) To study genesis and present-day processes of sodic soils, which occur not in depressed areas, as commonly reported in the literature, but in the highest zones of the landscape; and (iii) To study genesis, dates of formation, and current pedological processes of local redoximorphic features (mainly in Plinthosols), in order to comprehend its role in the hydrological cycle and to contribute to the elucidation of local Quaternary paleoclimatic events in the region. Pedological, geomorphological, and geological maps will be developed, at scale 1:150000, as well as a compartimentation map, representing a synthesis of all spatial data. Detailed survey and sampling of soils and sediments will be conducted along toposequences involving representative sodic soils and redoximorphic soils and submitted to physical, chemical, micromorphological, mineralogical, and biostratigraphical analyses. Water will be sampled along the studied topossequences and submitted to chemical analyses, in order to identify genetic relationships with sodic and redoximorphic soils. (AU)