Low lands in Brazil have a great potential for agriculture, however, they have some limitations due to the presence of high water table and severe risk of flooding. When located near by the sea cost, these floodplains can have influence of the sea water, resulting in the presence of sulfide soils, which, if drained, can develop sulfuric horizons. The sulfuric horizons are mainly characterized by high levels of acidity and exchangeable aluminum, which can result in serious environmental impact to the ecosystem. The agriculture use of these soils requires a deep knowledge of soil physical, chemical and mineralogical properties, in order to support the development of sustainable management practices. The objective of this work was to study chemical and mineralogical properties of acid sulfate soils formed in the floodplain of Camocim river, Caaporã municipality, state of Paraíba. The main aim was to support decisions on the viability of sugarcane cropping in these areas. Soils were characterized morphologically and samples were collected along a transect from the high land towards the river channel. Besides the routine physical, chemical and mineralogical analysis, other determinations were carried out involving total sulfur, incubation pH, soluble anions, electrical conductivity of the saturation extract and sequential iron extraction. The soils were classified as: Argisolic, Dystric Tb Haplic Gleysol (P1) Typic Sapric Sulfide Organosol (P2), Organosolic Orthic Sulfide Gleysol (P3 and P4). Soil distribution in the landscape of the Camocim river floodplain is mainly related to the relief, which determines drainage, water table and, consequently, the soil forming processes related to water excess. The presence of sulfuric horizons occur at the surface, in the very poorly drained soil profiles, and at 43 cm depth in the poorly drained soils close to the river channel. The studied acid sulfate soils do not have salinity at present time, and the high electrical conductivity is determined by the formation sulfuric acid (H+ + SO42-) from pyrite oxidation. Sugarcane crop decay in the floodplain of Camocim River, after one year of cultivation was a consequente of the sulfuric horizon formation after the implementation of the drainage system in soils with sulfide materials. The main soil minerals, indentified by X-ray diffraction, in the clay fraction were jarosite quartz, feldspars, kaolinite, smectite (essentially montmorillonite), illite and gibbsite. Quartz and feldspars were the minerals identified in sand and silt fractions. The results of the iron sequential extraction showed predominance of non crystalline iron oxides and very low amounts or absence of iron associated with pyrite, reflecting the advanced oxidation stage determined by the drainage system.
