Carbon, nitrogen and natural abundance of δ 13C e δ15N of light-fraction organic matter under no-tillage and crop-livestock integration systems

Abstract

This study aimed to quantify the light organic matter mass (LOM) in water, free light fraction (FLF) of soil organic matter (SOM) and carbon (C), nitrogen (N) contents and natural abundance of δ13C e δ15N contained in the mass of LOM, C and N in the FLF in land use systems in the Cerrado region of Goiás State, Brazil. Were evaluated a crop-livestock integration system - CLIS (corn+brachiaria/bean/cotton/soybean) and no-tillage system - NTS (sunflower/millet/soybean/corn). The vegetal coverage of natural Cerrado, adjacent to NTS and CLIS, was considered as the original soil condition. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0.0-5.0 and 5.0-10.0 cm in full random experimental design. The CLIS showed the greatest mass and levels of C-LOM (5-10 cm), and too greatest mass and levels of C and N of FLF (0-10 cm) when compared with the NTS. Regarding the Cerrado, the CLIS showed higher values for N-LOM and 1δ15N-LOM (0-5 cm), C and N of FLF (0-5 cm). Through physical indicators LOM and FLF, it was possible to infer that the CLIS increased the SOM fractions when compared to the NTS.