The Brazilian Cerrado: assessment of water and soil degradation in catchments under intensive agricultural use

Intensive agricultural use in the Brazilian Cerrado, one of the world's most threatened biomes, has significantly degraded soil and water quality. A comprehensive review of 80 soil and 18 water studies revealed that land conversion to cash crops led to marked changes in soil pH, bulk density, and nutrient availability, particularly phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), while nitrogen (N) levels remained stable due to the prevalence of nitrogen-fixing soybeans. Water quality studies highlighted nitrogen enrichment in agricultural catchments, indicating potential eutrophication risks. Phosphorus was consistently absent from soils due to high weathering rates, but pesticides were detected throughout aquatic systems, often exceeding Brazilian and EU water quality limits, posing serious health implications. The study warns that ongoing land use intensification, exacerbated by projected droughts, will further degrade soil and water resources, threatening both agricultural productivity and ecosystem stability in the Cerrado.

Hunke, P., Mueller, E. N., Schröder, B., & Zeilhofer, P. (2014). The Brazilian Cerrado: assessment of water and soil degradation in catchments under intensive agricultural use. Ecohydrology, 8(6), 1154–1180. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1573