Abstract
The use of no-till conservationist agricultural systems as well as intercropping in the Cerrado biome are practices that increase soil organic matter (SOM) due to the deposition of straw. This study aimed to quantify the carbon stock and organic fractions of a latosol under off-season monoculture (Sorghum bicolor and Urochloa ruziziensis) and intercropping (S. bicolor-U. ruziziensis) systems, in Rio Verde, state of Goiás, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from different layers: 0-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm. The following variables were determined: organic carbon content, carbon stock, dry matter and fractions of organic matter (labile and mineral). The results showed that the organic fractions of the soil are modified according to the adopted management. Intercropping of S. bicolor and U. ruziziensis increased the carbon stock, with the presence of more labile organic fractions on the soil surface, while the use of U. ruziziensis enhances the production of recalcitrant organic fractions, promoting greater preservation of the soil organic matter.
Highlights
Soils present stabilized organic carbon contents in natural ecosystems, which reflects the environmental conditions determined by climate, vegetation, topography, and the soil characteristics
The production of dry matter in the area with U. ruziziensis monoculture was higher (p < 0.05) than the area with S. bicolor–U. ruziziensis intercropping and S. bicolor monoculture, with values of 14.72, 10.48 and 6.37 Mg·ha-1, respectively (Fig. 2). These values were higher than those found by Rossi et al (2012), in a dystrophic red latosol in Montividiu, state of Goiás, Brazil, with values of 6.10 and 3.85 M·ha-1, respectively, for areas planted with U. ruziziensis and S. bicolor under monoculture systems
U. ruziziensis straw presents a higher C/N ratio when compared with S. bicolor
Summary
Soils present stabilized organic carbon contents in natural ecosystems, which reflects the environmental conditions determined by climate, vegetation, topography, and the soil characteristics. This state might be changed when the soil is used for agricultural purposes (Braida and Reichert 2014). Soil use and management are responsible for the balance of carbon into the soil-atmosphere system. Carbon entry is influenced by soil preparation, type of crop, crop rotations and fertilization and management of crop residues (Coser et al 2016; Campos et al 2011). The accumulation of carbon in the soil is strongly related to factors such as climate and soil types (Assad et al 2013)
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