Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) crops in recovering soil aggregation, and quantify the nutrient contents in aggregates considering their formation pathways (biogenic and physicogenic) in crop areas in a mountains environment in the municipality of Nova Friburgo, RJ, Brazil. The landscape was stratified into two sections for the study: upper, two areas with black oat crops, one fertilized and one not fertilized one not fertilized, and one adjacent forest area representing the original soil conditions; and lower: one fertilized area with black oat, and one fertilized area with black oat intercrops with oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.), and one adjacent forest area representing the original soil conditions. The aggregates were separated according to their formation pathways, quantifying the weight percentage of each formation pathway. The aggregate stability and nutrient and organic carbon contents were evaluated. The fertilized area in the upper section had the highest biogenic aggregate percentage, which was associated with the highest total organic carbon contents, and soil fertility. This area also had the highest weighted mean diameter (WMD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) of aggregates. The intercrop area in the lower section had the highest biogenic aggregate percentage and the lowest P, Ca+2, Mg+2, and K+ contents in the aggregates. The management systems affected the aggregate formation pathways. Morphological classification is an important tool for the monitoring of soil management. The black oat crops increased the biogenic aggregate formation, which become reservoir of nutrients.
Highlights
The impacts of an environmental disaster occurred in January 2011 in the municipality of Nova Friburgo, mountain range region of the state of Rio of Janeiro, Brazil, resulted in decreases in agricultural areas, affecting more of 60 % of areas grown with olericulture (SEAPEC-RJ, 2011)
One of the beneficial effects of using soil cover plants is the increase in soil organic matter content, which favors soil aggregation and biological activity (CUNHA et al, 2011; BARROS; GOMIDE; CARVALHO, 2013)
Dense root systems combined with constant renewal of the root system of grasses increase the addition of organic matter to the soil and biogenic aggregate formation (PULLEMAN et al, 2005)
Summary
The impacts of an environmental disaster occurred in January 2011 in the municipality of Nova Friburgo, mountain range region of the state of Rio of Janeiro, Brazil, resulted in decreases in agricultural areas, affecting more of 60 % of areas grown with olericulture (SEAPEC-RJ, 2011). The use of soil cover plants started in the region considering this situation and the need for recovering crop yields of the affected areas. This practice results in improvements to soil conservation by decreasing erosive processes, due to its positive effects on soil physical, chemical, and biological attributes (BARRADAS et al, 2001; BARROS; GOMIDE; CARVALHO, 2013). One of the beneficial effects of using soil cover plants is the increase in soil organic matter content, which favors soil aggregation and biological activity (CUNHA et al, 2011; BARROS; GOMIDE; CARVALHO, 2013). Black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) begun to be adopted by farmers in the study region and included in crop systems to increase soil cover (BARRADAS et al, 2001; MELO et al, 2011), mainly between crop seasons
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