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Avaliação do impacto das culturas de cobertura na qualidade biológica do solo em sistemas hortícolas
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Orientador(es)
Resumo(s)
O solo é um recurso vital para os ecossistemas e para a agricultura, mas enfrenta sérios problemas de
degradação, amplificados por práticas agrícolas intensivas. Entre as soluções para mitigar esses
impactos destaca-se o uso de culturas de cobertura, que protegem o solo, melhoram a biodiversidade
e potenciam funções ecológicas.
A Diretiva (UE) 2025/2360, relativa à monitorização e resiliência do solo, evidencia a preocupação
crescente com a melhoria da saúde dos solos e o método QBS-ar é apresentado nesta proposta como
um indicador da sua qualidade. Assim, é importante procurar metodologias de monitorização da
qualidade do solo.
O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto da implementação de culturas de cobertura na qualidade
biológica do solo em sistemas hortícolas, recorrendo ao índice biológico QBS-ar, que utiliza
microartrópodes como bioindicadores, tendo sido realizado no âmbito do projeto Soilife 1st (PRR-C05-
i03-I-000006): Adaptação de sistemas produtivos em contexto de alterações climáticas - Conservação
e fertilidade do solo.
Os ensaios decorreram em dois campos experimentais um em Torres Vedras (Emergosol) e outro no
Brejão (Campotec), tendo sido comparadas duas modalidades em cada local: i) mistura biodiversa de
gramíneas e leguminosas; ii) testemunha, onde foram seguidas as práticas habituais do agricultor.
Utilizaram-se dois métodos de amostragem de solo, com pá e com sonda. As amostras foram recolhidas
em diferentes momentos do ciclo cultural e transportadas para laboratório. Os microartrópodes foram
extraídos através do método de Berlese-Tüllgren e classificados com base em índices eco-morfológicos
(EMI) segundo o seu nível de adaptação ao solo. O índice QBS-ar foi posteriormente calculado e os
resultados comparados estatisticamente.
De forma geral, evidenciaram-se valores mais elevados de QBS-ar nas modalidades com culturas de
cobertura face às testemunhas, confirmando o efeito positivo desta prática na promoção da atividade
biológica do solo, em concordância com estudos prévios.
Na Emergosol, a tendência de índices superiores na consociação foi mais evidente nas amostragens
com sonda, embora sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas, possivelmente devido ao reduzido
número de repetições.
Na Campotec, verificou-se um padrão semelhante, com diferenças mais acentuadas após a instalação
da cultura principal, sugerindo sensibilidade dos microartrópodes a outras práticas agrícolas, como a
aplicação de herbicidas. Quanto aos métodos de amostragem, na colheita com pá obtiveram-se, em
média, valores mais elevados, mas sem evidência suficiente para recomendar um método definitivo.
Conclui-se que o QBS-ar é uma ferramenta útil para monitorizar a qualidade biológica do solo e sensível
a variações nas práticas culturais
Soil is a vital resource for ecosystems and agriculture, but it faces serious degradation, worsened by intensive farming practices. Among the solutions to mitigate these impacts, the use of cover crops stands out, as they protect the soil, improve biodiversity, and enhance ecological functions. Directive (EU) 2025/2360 on soil monitoring and resilience highlights the growing concern with improving soil health, and the QBS-ar method is presented in this proposal as one of the indicators of soil quality. Therefore, it is important to identify and apply methodologies for monitoring soil quality. This study aimed to analyse the impact of cover crops on the biological quality of soil in horticultural systems, using the QBS-ar biological index, which employs soil microarthropods as bioindicators, having been carried out under the Soilife 1st project (PRR-C05-i03-I-000006): Adaptation of production systems in the context of climate change – Soil conservation and fertility. The trials were conducted in two experimental fields: one in Torres Vedras (Emergosol) and another in Brejão (Campotec). At each site, two plots were compared: (i) a diverse mixture of grasses and legumes; and (ii) a control plot, where the farmer’s usual management practices were followed. Two soil sampling methods were used, shovel sampling and soil coring. Samples were collected at different stages of the cropping cycle and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Microarthropods were extracted using the Berlese–Tüllgren method and classified based on eco-morphological indices (EMI), according to their level of adaptation to the soil. The QBS-ar index was then calculated, and the results statistically compared. Overall, higher QBS-ar values were observed in plots with cover crops compared to controls, confirming the positive effect of this practice on soil biological activity, in line with previous studies. At Emergosol, the trend towards higher indices in the cover crop plots was more evident in samples collected with the soil corer, although no statistically significant differences were detected, possibly due to the limited number of replicates. At Campotec, a similar pattern was observed, with more pronounced differences after the establishment of the main crop, also suggesting the sensitivity of the index to the impact of other degrading practices, such as herbicide application. Regarding sampling methods, shovel sampling yielded, on average, higher values, but there was insufficient evidence to recommend a definitive method. It is concluded that QBS-ar is a useful tool for monitoring the biological quality of soil and is sensitive to variations in cropping practices.
Soil is a vital resource for ecosystems and agriculture, but it faces serious degradation, worsened by intensive farming practices. Among the solutions to mitigate these impacts, the use of cover crops stands out, as they protect the soil, improve biodiversity, and enhance ecological functions. Directive (EU) 2025/2360 on soil monitoring and resilience highlights the growing concern with improving soil health, and the QBS-ar method is presented in this proposal as one of the indicators of soil quality. Therefore, it is important to identify and apply methodologies for monitoring soil quality. This study aimed to analyse the impact of cover crops on the biological quality of soil in horticultural systems, using the QBS-ar biological index, which employs soil microarthropods as bioindicators, having been carried out under the Soilife 1st project (PRR-C05-i03-I-000006): Adaptation of production systems in the context of climate change – Soil conservation and fertility. The trials were conducted in two experimental fields: one in Torres Vedras (Emergosol) and another in Brejão (Campotec). At each site, two plots were compared: (i) a diverse mixture of grasses and legumes; and (ii) a control plot, where the farmer’s usual management practices were followed. Two soil sampling methods were used, shovel sampling and soil coring. Samples were collected at different stages of the cropping cycle and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Microarthropods were extracted using the Berlese–Tüllgren method and classified based on eco-morphological indices (EMI), according to their level of adaptation to the soil. The QBS-ar index was then calculated, and the results statistically compared. Overall, higher QBS-ar values were observed in plots with cover crops compared to controls, confirming the positive effect of this practice on soil biological activity, in line with previous studies. At Emergosol, the trend towards higher indices in the cover crop plots was more evident in samples collected with the soil corer, although no statistically significant differences were detected, possibly due to the limited number of replicates. At Campotec, a similar pattern was observed, with more pronounced differences after the establishment of the main crop, also suggesting the sensitivity of the index to the impact of other degrading practices, such as herbicide application. Regarding sampling methods, shovel sampling yielded, on average, higher values, but there was insufficient evidence to recommend a definitive method. It is concluded that QBS-ar is a useful tool for monitoring the biological quality of soil and is sensitive to variations in cropping practices.
Descrição
Dissertação apresentada para a obtenção do grau de Mestre na área de Engenharia Agronómica, na Escola Superior Agrária de Santarém, Instituto Politécnico de Santarém
Palavras-chave
bioindicador QBS-ar organismo do solo Arthropoda biodiversidade bioindicator soil organism biodiversity
Contexto Educativo
Citação
Patinho, Débora Mateus (2026). Avaliação do impacto das culturas de cobertura na qualidade biológica do solo em sistemas hortícolas. Dissertação de Mestrado na área da Engenharia Agronómica, apresentada na Escola Superior Agrária de Santarém. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.15/6128