Evaluation of soil quality indicators by a participatory method in rural settlements in southern Bahia, Brazil. In: Agrotrópica v. 27 p. 219-232, 2015.

Abstract

This study aimed to validate the methodology of empirical evaluation of soil quality indicators in field with farmers in comparison to laboratory analysis. Soil indicators, selected by farmers in two rural settlements of southern Bahia, Brazil, in areas of cocoa crops compared to cassava, coffee and pasture were studied. By the Wilcoxon test, the soil quality indicators of organic matter and mulching showed nearby notes between the empirical and the technical evaluations. Although the notes of empirical evaluations for the indicators erosion, moisture, compaction, microbial activity, and structure have been differentiated of the technical evaluation, the subjective methods proved viable to establish dialogue between technicians and farmers, raising attention to aspects of soil management and conservation, that had been not seen before.