Combined legume and non-legume residues management improve soil organic matter on an Oxisol in Brazil

Abstract

Understanding soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics in production systems on tropical soils is necessary to guide strategies to increase SOM formation. This study aimed to evaluate soil carbon (C) dynamics by combining applications of different plant residues used on tropical soils. An incubation study was carried out with and without adding millet (Pennisetum americanum) residues combined with six crop residues (legumes and non-legumes); and one additional treatment with only millet residue. Higher C-CO2 fluxes recorded in jack bean, sunflower and velvet bean residues were correlated with high soluble compound contents (49.5, 49.6 and 32.1 %, respectively). Adding millet residues resulted in positive PE for all residue combinations. Soils without millet, except jack bean, had a negative PE. Residues application promoted four times increase in C-POM content (from 1.04 to 4.2 g kg-1 soil). The C-MAOM content had 2.4 times increase, being more expressive due to its high initial content (from 15.3 to 37.3 g kg-1 soil). The comparison between the final C contents in the SOM fractions showed a significant increase of 8.8 times for MAOM in relation to POM, demonstrating the larger dimension of this C reservoir in the soil. Both combinations of legumes + non-legumes and non-legume + non-legume contributed significantly to the conversion of C to MAOM. The results give insight into possible management strategies for significant C increments in the more stable SOM fractions, depending on the residue type (quality) and residue combination.