Silvopastoral Systems Enhance Soil Health and Carbon Stocks in the Brazilian Semiarid Region

Aiming to expand the database of research on integrated production systems in Brazilian drylands, this study evaluated the soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and the soil chemical, physical, and biological attributes following the conversion of low‐productivity pastures (LPPs) into silvopastoral systems in the semiarid region of Bahia State, Brazil. The following land uses were assessed: native vegetation (NV), LPP, and two silvopastoral systems arranged with single row (SSP1) and quadruple row (SSP4) of Eucalyptus urograndis integrated with Urochloa decumbens . Soil bulk density (BD) and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents and stocks were determined 7 years after the implementation of the integrated systems. Additionally, microbial biomass carbon (C‐mic), microbial quotient (qMIC), the activity of β‐glucosidase (βG) and arylsulfatase (ARS) enzymes, and soil fertility parameters were evaluated during the dry and rainy seasons. Furthermore, the Soil Health Index (SHI) was calculated using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) tool. Both the SSP1 and SSP4 systems restored soil carbon contents and stocks to values similar to those observed under NV to a depth of 100 cm. Seasonality and soil management influenced microbial activity. Higher values of βG, MBC, and qMIC were observed in SSP1 and SSP4 during the dry season. Both SSP1 and SSP4 restored the SHI. These results indicate that converting LPPs into integrated crop–livestock systems boosts soil carbon stocks and enhances soil health in the edaphoclimatic conditions evaluated, demonstrating that such systems represent a viable and effective strategy for restoring degraded soils in Brazilian drylands.