Relationship Between Edaphic Factors and Vegetation in Savannas of the Brazilian Midwest Region

The Brazilian savanna is a mosaic of phytophysiognomies influenced by edaphic and topographic factors that range from the occurrence of fires to anthropic disturbance. The goal of this study was a comparative analysis between two cerrado areas in southeastern Goiás, relating the floristic composition and structure of the vegetation to soil properties to better understand the physiognomic characteristics of the region. Twenty-five 20 × 20 m plots were used. All plants with circumference at breast height of more than 15 cm were measured. Soil samples collected at a depth of 0-20 cm were subjected to physical and chemical analyses. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used to detect possible correlations between the soil properties and species abundance and distribution. The density and total basal area were 1,647 ind/ha and 15.57 m2/ha, respectively, in Ouroana. At this site, 107 species were sampled. In Montes Claros de Goiás, the density and total basal area were 781 ind/ha and 17.62 m2/ha, and 120 species were sampled. The soil texture of Ouroana was sandy and significantly different from the medium to clayey texture of Montes Claros. The soils of both areas are dystrophic, however, more fertile in Montes Claros and aluminum-toxic in Ouroana. The species of vegetation were distributed according to soil fertility levels. The CCAs grouped species according to soil properties that defined location and abundance as well as the phytophysiognomies of the studied areas. A savana brasileira forma um mosaico de fitofisionomias que está relacionado a fatores edáficos e topográficos, ocorrência de fogo e perturbações antrópicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi fazer uma análise comparativa entre duas áreas de cerrado localizadas no sudoeste goiano (Ouroana e Montes Claros de Goiás), relacionando a estrutura e composição florística da vegetação às características edáficas. Foram utilizadas 25 parcelas de 20 × 20 m. Todos os indivíduos com CAP ≥15 cm foram mensurados. Para o estudo do solo, foram realizadas análises físicas e químicas com amostras coletadas de 0-20 cm de profundidade. Para verificar as possíveis correlações entre as características edáficas e a abundância e distribuição das espécies, foi utilizada a Análise de Correspondência Canônica (CCA). Ouroana apresentou densidade de 1.647 ind/ha e área basal total de 15,57 m2/ha. Nesse ambiente, foram amostradas 107 espécies. Montes Claros de Goiás apresentou densidade de 781 ind/ha e área basal total de 1