Seeding densities of the oat crop and the amount of grazing on the physical property and soil carbon

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two sowing densities of oat crop, managed in an integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS), or the use of fallow during the winter period, on the soil physical properties, total carbon and soil carbon stock, in two years. A split-plot in a randomized block design, with additional treatment was used. It was found that the number of grazing in the year 2014 adversely affected the values of macroporosity and microporosity in the layer 0-0.05 m, besides the microporosity in the 0.1-0.2 m layer. The total porosity in the 0.1-0.2 m layer was positively influenced by the sowing density of oats only in the year 2014. The soil penetrometer resistance (SPR) had changes after winter 2015, at 0-0.05 m due to the number of grazing. During 2014, there were no changes in the total carbon and carbon storage of the soil. In 2015, the amount of grazing used, negatively affected the total carbon in layers 0-0.05 and 0.1-0.2 m. However, it positively affected the storage of carbon in soil in the layer 0.05-0.1 m. The adoption of the lower density of the oat crop with realization of a grazing tends to improve the physical properties, total carbon and soil carbon stocks.