Abstract
The objective of this work was to evaluate the carbon content of the physical, chemical and oxidizable fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) and to calculate the carbon management index (CMI) in an area managed under an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) in the western region of Paraná - Brazil. The experiment was carried out at the experimental farm, belonging to the Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná. Seventeen areas, which are managed in different ways, fifteen in ICLS and two areas of controls (Forest and Haymaking), using the design divided with two nested controls, with three replications were evaluated. Deformed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from all the areas to determine the total organic carbon (TOC), carbon stock, the physical, chemical and oxidizable fractions of SOM and the CMI in the layers of 0-0.05, 0.05-0.1 and 0.1-0.2 m. Little significant changes in the fractions were found for the management of the ICLS area in relation to the Forest and the area of Haymaking, although the Forest presented the best values for most of the studied fractions. It is recommended to adopt sustainable practices, such as ICLS, even though the average fractions tend to take time to match reference areas.
Highlights
Soil organic matter (SOM) is a sensitive indicator of soil changes due to its use and occupation (BALDOTTO et al, 2015), since the anthropic action of replacing natural ecosystems with agroecosystems for food production, often favors a decline in the organic carbon (C) content of the soil, due to the reduction of the contribution, and losses due to erosion and changes in the rate of decomposition of organic matter (HICKMANN; COSTA, 2012)
Besides directly affecting the soil organic matter (SOM), causing the decrease of the contribution of C (SILVA et al, 2013), management systems that provide small contributions of cultural residues are not indicated. It is recommended the use of conservationist systems, which interfere little in the soil structure, such as the no-tillage system (HICKMANN; COSTA, 2012) or the integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) are recommended (CASTAGNARA et al, 2015; PIANO et al, 2015)
In the other layers studied (0.05-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m), the total organic carbon (TOC) contents in the Forest zone were higher than all the other management systems studied (Table 1)
Summary
Soil organic matter (SOM) is a sensitive indicator of soil changes due to its use and occupation (BALDOTTO et al, 2015), since the anthropic action of replacing natural ecosystems with agroecosystems for food production, often favors a decline in the organic carbon (C) content of the soil, due to the reduction of the contribution, and losses due to erosion and changes in the rate of decomposition of organic matter (HICKMANN; COSTA, 2012). Besides directly affecting the SOM, causing the decrease of the contribution of C (SILVA et al, 2013), management systems that provide small contributions of cultural residues are not indicated It is recommended the use of conservationist systems, which interfere little in the soil structure, such as the no-tillage system (HICKMANN; COSTA, 2012) or the integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) are recommended (CASTAGNARA et al, 2015; PIANO et al, 2015). Another important aspect of the use of ICLS is that it provides C cycling promoted by deposition of feces and animal urine at the soil surface (BAYER et al, 2011). The dynamic balance between the addition of cultural residues and loss by decomposition or mineralization represents the C stock of soil (PEREIRA et al, 2013), the rates of addition and the quality of vegetation C depend heavily on the climate, vegetation type, soil fertility (BERTNER et al, 2011), and the soil management system (BAYER et al, 2011) as soil density has a direct impact on soil C stocks
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
