The release of macronutrients from second crop corn straw and their behaviour in a red-yellow latosol

Abstract

Crop residues left on the soil function as a nutrient reservoir and as a ground cover in agricultural systems. The aim of the present study is to assess the chemical alterations in the soil after the decomposition of different amounts of straw from corn as second crop. The climate of the region is classified as hot tropical and the soil is categorized as Red-Yellow Latosol (Typic hapludox) in the cerrado-amazon ecotone. The experiment was set up in randomized blocks in September 2013 after harvesting the second crop corn, comprised of corn straw rates (0, 14.18 and 42.54 t ha-1) with six repetitions. The content of macronutrients, H+Al, pH and base saturation in the soil profile were assessed. The straw rates were added to litter bags and stored on the soil, where they were kept for 154 days throughout the rainy period. Subsequently, the soil characteristics were assessed in layers 0 to 0.05, 0.05 to 0.10, 0.10 to 0.15, 0.15 to 0.20 and 0.20 to 0.40 m. The Ca+2 and Mg+2 elements were only released by the straw on the first 0.05 m of soil. However, K circulated in the soil profile reaching depth of 0.40 m. There was reduction in K+ saturation in treatments without straw. No alterations were observed in the other nutrients and studied attributes. According to the results, it is important to distribute the cultural remains of maize homogeneously in the area during harvesting to avoid the appreciation of soil fertility spots, especially of K.