The sustainable use of pasture systems depends mainly on a management that promotes soil quality. This study aimed to evaluate changes in the physical and chemical soil properties of four areas under pasture growing the species Andropogon gayanus, Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria brizantha, cv. marandu, with different usage histories, in comparison to the reference of the natural Cerrado. The soil was evaluated based on the following properties: cation exchange capacity, soil organic matter, bulk density, porosity and soil mechanical penetration resistance. The cation exchange capacity and soil organic matter content were little affected by the management and by usage time. Bulk density, total porosity and soil mechanical penetration resistance were highly affected, with a strong influence on soil quality reduction. The factors high animal load, use of agricultural machines and implements, and deficient groundcover caused by inefficient management were mainly responsible for the soil alterations. The soil quality index showed a decreasing sequence (0.83, 0.62, 0.51 and 0.23, respectively) for the areas under Andropogon gayanus (AN), Andropogon gayanus (AV), Brachiaria brizantha (BN) and Brachiaria decumbens (BV).
soil degradation; soil mechanical resistance to penetration; bulk density; soil organic matter
