Soil organic matter fractions in an Oxisol under tillage systems and winter cover crops for 26 years in the Brazilian subtropics

Abstract

The improvement of carbon (C) accumulation in soils has been one of the main purposes of the conservation systems in agricultural production. This study aimed to assess the long-term effect of conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) combined with winter cover crops, black oat and oilseed radish, and fallow on C accumulation and stabilization in a very clayey Oxisol in Southern Brazil. Soil samples were collected in the 0-0.05, 0.05-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m layers of a 26-year-old experiment. Distribution of size-class aggregates, C stock in aggregates, total C stock, and C stocks in the physical fractions, free particulate organic matter (free-POM), occluded particulate organic matter (occluded-POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (min-OM) were assessed. NT had a higher percentage of macroaggregates and C stock in this size-class, and also higher C stock in bulk soil, free-POM and occluded-POM fractions than CT in 0-0.05 m (Tukey’s test p < 0.05), due to higher input of biomass and minimum soil mobilization in NT. Oat and radish had higher C stock in macroaggregates than fallow in 0.05-0.10 m (Tukey’s test p < 0.05). Radish had the highest C stock in the free-POM (0-0.05 m). Fallow decreased the stabilization of macroaggregates and C accumulation in free-POM, due to the lower C input from aboveground biomass over the years. In conclusion, NT after 26 years improved C accumulation and stabilization, mainly in the superficial layer and in POM fractions, and winter cover crops favored the formation and stability of macroaggregates.