Soil organic matter pools under management systems in quilombola territory in Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stable and labile fractions of soil organic matter and carbon (C) management index in cultivated areas with conservation and conventional management used by Quilombola farmers in the Goiás state, Brazil. The management systems were studied in the areas of Cerradão: Native Cerrado; Pasture; Conventional grain cultivation; Conservation cultivation of perennial crop; and in the sensu stricto Cerrado: Native Cerrado; Natural pasture; Conventional grain cultivation; Conventional cultivation of perennial crop. The study was considered as observational, with five replicates. Total organic C, fractions of humic substances, labile C and C management index were determined. The Cerradão phytophysiognomy had the highest total organic C values and stable soil organic matter fractions. The native areas had low levels of labile C. The conservation cultivation of perennial crop showed the largest accumulation of total organic C in the different fractions of soil organic matter and the highest rates of C management index.