Soil quality and crop health indicators in agroecosystems of the agricultural center HortCanaã, Paço do Lumiar, MA, Brazil

Abstract

Sustainable production of agroecosystems can be monitored through indicators. The objective
was to evaluate agroecological production systems at the HortCanaã agricultural center,
Paço do Lumiar, MA, through indicators of soil quality and crop health. Areas of polyculture
and monoculture were evaluated through the system of rapid method to estimate soil quality
and crop health. The indicators presence of animals, soil conservation and state of residues
presented high values of sustainability, which is related to the practice of local farmers to add
organic residues in the cassava crop. There was low diversity of natural and surrounding vegetation
and deficiencies in the structure of soils. Ecological practices such as green manuring
and restoration of the surrounding native vegetation are suggested to provide environmental
sustainability for the agroecosystems and to concretize the agroecological transition in the
agricultural center of Maranhão.