THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN THE SOIL ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT IN BRAZILIAN CERRADO

Abstract

Were quantified the plant residues on the soil, total soil organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (TN) contents and the different soil organic matte (SOM) fractions and to determine 13C and 15N isotopic soil composition and plant residues in the crop–livestock integration system (CLIS), pasture and Cerrado areas, in Goias, Brazil. TOC and TN, C and N light organic matter content (C-LOM/N-LOM); C and N of particulate organic matter (C-POM/N-POM); and mineral organic matter (C-MOM/N-MOM) were evaluated. δ13C and δ15N of soil and LOM, POM, and MOM fractions, as well as the δ13C of plant residues, were also determined. Plant residues from pasture were more enriched with nutrients and C, and CLIS which are richer in N. δ13C of pasture and CLIS soils indicated that the C from the Cerrado vegetation (typically C3) was replaced by vegetation with C4 photosynthetic mechanisms. CLIS accumulated more TOC than the pasture, and provided higher C-MOM and N-MOM values than pasture, and higher N-LOM levels than pasture and Cerrado. δ13C of LOM is associated with more recent origins of carbon. δ15N of POM and soil of the CLIS and pasture indicate greater mineralization of SOM.