Distribution and Quality of the Organic Matter in Light and Heavy Fractions of a Red Latosol under Different Uses and Management Practices

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in distribution and quality of organic matter in light and heavy fractions of a medium-texture Red Latosol under different uses and management practices in Capinópolis, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from different layers in the profile (0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm). The following treatments were evaluated: NTs, no till (no tillage) for 4 years with maize (silage) / soybean in succession; NTg, no till for 4 years with maize/maize/maize/soybean in succession; NTtf, no till for 3 years with tifton (hay) and soybeans in the last year; CS, about 30 years with conventional cultivation system (maize/soybean) with only soybean in the past 4 years; and NF, native forest. The heavy fraction contributed 75–98% of total carbon and 94–99% of total nitrogen, indicating that most carbon and nitrogen in the soil are associated with the mineral fraction, which is fundamental for the maintenance of their stocks. Tifton grass in no tillage was efficient in increasing the amounts of light fraction (free and occluded). Increases of occluded light fraction in no-till systems were greater than in conventional cultivation system. The light fraction was shown to be sensitive to soil cultivation and can be considered indicative of soil degradation. Light-fraction analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) allowed the study of changes in the chemical structure of these fractions under different uses and management practices. Occluded light fraction was shown to be more recalcitrant and condensed than the free light fraction. The surface layer in the conventional cultivation system has a more aromatic and condensed free light fraction than in no-tillage system. In general, the upper layers were less aromatic than the deepest ones.