Aboveground Biomass, Carbon Sequestration, and Yield of Pyrus pyrifolia under the Management of Organic Residues in the Subtropical Ecosystem of Southern Brazil

Lucas Jónatan Rodrigues da Silva,Edjane Oliveira de Lucena,Helena Freitas,Tancredo Souza,Gislaine dos Santos Nascimento,Lídia Klestadt Laurindo

doi:10.3390/agronomy12020231

Abstract

Organic residues management (ORM) alter plant traits and soil properties by changing nutrient and carbon cycling. It is unclear how ORM (mulching, compost, and their combination) applied for 18 months creates a mechanism to promote changes in a P. pyrifolia field. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of ORM on P. pyrifolia nutritional status, plant traits, yield, and carbon sequestration in a 16-year subtropical P. pyrifolia field. For this purpose, we performed an experiment in a randomized block design, using a factorial scheme 2 × 2, with the use of Compost and Mulching (e.g., presence and absence). The highest values of leaves N content, plant height, stem biomass, root biomass, total biomass, yield, and above- and belowground carbon (C) density were found on plots that received compost as the ORM. For soil organic C stock, the highest values were found on plots where mulching was applied. Finally, the highest values of total C density were found on plots that received the combination of Mulching and Compost. Our findings suggest that: (i) the use of Compost is the best alternative to promote leaves N content, plant height, stem dry biomass, root dry biomass, and total dry biomass, plant yield, and above- and belowground C density into a 16-year P. pyrifolia field into subtropical conditions; and (ii) the soil organic C stocks were improved using just the mulching treatment. The results highlight the importance of considering just one organic residue practice based on a sustainable way to improve both plant production and carbon sequestration, no differences were found between the use of compost and the combination of compost and mulching.

Highlights

The transition process from conventional to organic farming systems in Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.f.) Nakai plantations in the Brazilian subtropical region has increased in the last decade (2012–2021)
Our study addressed the following goals: (a) the management of organic residues may enhance the P. pyrifolia nutritional status, growth, yield, and dry biomass production; (b) the use of compost and mulching could contribute with the increase in both above- and belowground C density; and (c) the soil organic carbon stocks could be influenced by the management of organic residues
There is a significant difference in P. pyrifolia yield when comparing the use of compost, mulching, and their interaction

Summary

Introduction

The transition process from conventional to organic farming systems in Pyrus pyrifolia (Burm.f.) Nakai plantations in the Brazilian subtropical region has increased in the last decade (2012–2021) This process promotes soil ecosystem, plant growth, plant nutritional status, biomass production, and carbon sequestration [1,2]. The continuous use of mineral fertilizers in fruticulture is becoming less efficient over time through soil organic carbon loss, soil food web disruption, soil contamination, and soil erosion [3] In this context, the use of organic residues can be an important alternative to reduce related costs and to improve soil quality, soil carbon pools, plant growth, carbon sequestration, and biomass production by increasing soil fertility and nutrient cycling [4,5]. It generates 5 million direct and indirect jobs, and the organic P. pyrifoli a fields are considered a fruticulture system with high C income and high capacity to C sequestration [9,10]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion