Dynamics of soil microbiological attributes under integrated production systems, continuous pasture, and native cerrado

Willian Roberson Duarte De Oliveira,Antônio Marcos Miranda Silva,Arminda Moreira De Carvalho,Thais Rodrigues Coser,Karina Pulrolnik,Lourival Vilela,Manuel Messias Lacerda,Kleberson Worslley Souza,Maria Lucrecia Gerosa Ramos,Robélio Leandro Marchão

doi:10.1590/s0100-204x2016000900049

Willian Roberson Duarte De Oliveira, Antônio Marcos Miranda Silva + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0100-204x2016000900049

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Abstract

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the dynamics of soil microbiological attributes under integrated production systems, continuous pasture, and native cerrado. The study was conducted in a transition area from crop to livestock. Four areas with different land uses were evaluated: an integrated crop-livestock-forestry system (ICLFS), cultivated with Eucalyptus urograndis alley cropping, spaced 2x2 m between plants and 22 m between alleys; an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS); besides two adjacent areas of native cerrado and continuous pasture, used as a reference. For the assessment of microbiological attributes, soil samples were taken in the 0.00-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0.20-0.30-m layers, in February 2012 and February 2014 (rainy season), and in July 2012 and September 2013 (dry season). In general, soil under native cerrado had the highest microbial biomass carbon (MBC) levels, while under the ICLFS it had the lowest ones. The ICLS increased MBC and microbial coefficient in the deeper soil layers, after two years of establishment. Basal respiration, microbial biomass nitrogen, and MBC are the soil microbiological attributes better able to differentiate the evaluated systems.

Highlights

The integrated crop-livestock-forestry system (ICLFS) is an innovative strategy for the intensification of sustainable crop production systems, which integrates livestock, agricultural, and forestry practices simultaneously or disjointedly in rotation, succession, or consortium (Moraes et al, 2014)
Soil microbial biomass (SMB) is a dynamic labile fraction of soil organic matter that is very sensitive to changes in soil management (Jackson et al, 2003)
A reduction of 25 to 57% was observed in microbial biomass carbon (MBC) with cultivation

Summary

Introduction

The integrated crop-livestock-forestry system (ICLFS) is an innovative strategy for the intensification of sustainable crop production systems, which integrates livestock, agricultural, and forestry practices simultaneously or disjointedly in rotation, succession, or consortium (Moraes et al, 2014). As for the integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS), ICLFS has been adopted and arranged in various ways in Brazil and, in general, it is beneficial in terms of soil resilience, fertility, and biology, mostly due to increased soil organic matter and soil fertility. It has an important role in reducing pasture degradation and the emissions of greenhouse gases, besides increasing livestock performance (Salton et al, 2014). Productive Brazilian Oxisols often have high levels of microbial biomass, associated with higher levels of soil organic matter, resulting in higher soil quality (Lopes et al, 2013)

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