Soil organic matter and vegetation indices in a semi-arid preserved area of Brazil

Abstract

Abstract: Preserved areas play a critical role in sustaining ecosystem resilience and carbon dynamics, particularly in semi-arid regions. Here, we quantified soil organic matter (SOM) at different depths, examined its relationship with soil pH, and assessed vegetation cover using NDVI and CO₂Flux indices in a preserved area of Princesa Isabel, Paraíba, Brazil. Soil samples were collected at 0–10 and 10–20 cm and analyzed for SOM and pH, while Sentinel-2 imagery was processed on the Google Earth Engine platform. Higher SOM concentrations were observed in the surface layer, reflecting litter input and biological activity. A significant positive correlation with pH (r = 0.87) indicated enhanced nutrient availability. Vegetation indices revealed dense canopy cover (NDVI up to 0.78) and substantial carbon sequestration potential (CO₂Flux down to –0.31). These findings demonstrate that combining laboratory analyses with remote sensing provides a robust approach for monitoring soil–vegetation interactions, highlighting the strategic role of preserved areas in enhancing ecological resilience and contributing to climate change mitigation.

Keywords: Chemical attributes; Vegetation cover; Remote sensing.