Impacts of anthropization on soil chemical and physical properties in vereda (palm swamp) ecosystems of southeastern Brazil

Abstract Palm swamps are key humid ecosystems of the Brazilian Cerrado, providing essential ecosystem services such as water regulation and biodiversity maintenance. Despite legal protection, these areas have increasingly been converted to agricultural use, particularly in regions with springs and streams, leading to soil degradation and loss of ecological functions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical attributes and carbon content in soil in two veredas environments, preserved and anthropized, to identify changes caused by agricultural use. The study was conducted in the municipality of Bonito de Minas, MG, Brazil. Two transects were defined in each area, and samples of disturbed and undisturbed soil were collected at depths of 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm. Analyses included pH, Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + , Na + , H + Al, Al 3+ , phosphorus (P), total organic carbon (TOC), bulk density (BD), and carbon stock (CS), as well as calculated sum of bases (SB), cation exchange capacity (T), and base saturation (V). The results show that anthropization significantly altered soil properties in the studied areas. Anthropized areas showed lower pH, higher Al 3+ , reduced basic cations, and decreases in SB, T, and V, indicating reduced soil fertility. TOC and CS were also lower, while BD increased, reflecting structural degradation and reduced carbon storage. Principal Component Analysis and correlation analyses clearly distinguished preserved from anthropized environments. These results highlight the negative impact of agricultural use and reinforce the need for conservation and sustainable management of veredas.