African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6859

Full Length Research Paper

Chemistry, nitrogen and carbon stocks in different land-use systems in a tropical environment

Paulo Robson Mansor
  • Paulo Robson Mansor
  • Instituto Federal de Educação do Espírito Santo, Rua Principal S/N, Distrito de Rive, Caixa Postal 47, Alegre, ES, CEP: 29500-000 Brazil.
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Henrique Duarte Vieira
  • Henrique Duarte Vieira
  • Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Av. Alberto Lamego 2000, Parque Califórnia, CEP 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
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Otacílio José Passos Rangel
  • Otacílio José Passos Rangel
  • Instituto Federal de Educação do Espírito Santo, Rua Principal S/N, Distrito de Rive, Caixa Postal 47, Alegre, ES, CEP: 29500-000 Brazil.
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Fábio Luiz Partelli
  • Fábio Luiz Partelli
  • Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Centro Universitário Norte do Espírito Santo. Rod. BR 101 Norte km 60, Litorâneo, CEP 29932-540, São Mateus, ES, Brazil.
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Geraldo de Amaral Gravina
  • Geraldo de Amaral Gravina
  • Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Av. Alberto Lamego 2000, Parque Califórnia, CEP 28013-602 Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil.
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  •  Received: 13 November 2014
  •  Accepted: 22 January 2015
  •  Published: 12 February 2015

Abstract

Considering the occurrence of land degradation and the need for sustainable practices, it is necessary to conduct studies that evaluate the content of organic carbon and nitrogen in the soil, as well as its chemical attributes. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the content and stock of carbon and nitrogen and the chemical attributes of soil in an area that was classified as a Typic Hapludox and was treated under different land-use systems, a native tropical forest (NF) and agricultural systems with an annual crop (AC), perennial crop (PC) and pasture (PT), located in the southern state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The content and stock of organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), the OC/TN ratio and the chemical attributes of land fertility were analysed at depths of 0 to 10, 10 to 20 and 20 to 40 cm. The OC and TN stocks in the soil presented the following descending percentages in relation to the reference system (NF): PC > AC > PT. The percentage reductions in the stocks of OC and TN were 38 and 15%; 42 and 21%; and 8 and 3%, in the PC, AC and PT systems, respectively. Among the cultivation systems that were studied, the native tropical forest and the pasture lands presented the lowest soil fertility, which indicated acidic soils with insufficient macronutrients. Major deficiencies in the micronutrients copper, zinc and boron were observed, and the content of the latter was below a critical level in all of the systems and soil depths evaluated.

 

Key words: Soil fertility, organic matter, coffee, sorghum, pasture.

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