Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Carbon, nitrogen, organic phosphorus, microbial biomass and N mineralization in soils under cacao agroforestry systems in Bahia, Brazil

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Large amounts of plant litter deposited in cacao agroforestry systems play a key role in nutrient cycling. Organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling and microbial biomass were investigated in cacao agroforestry systems on Latosols and Cambisols in Bahia, Brazil. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbial C and N, mineralizable N and organic P in two soil orders under three types of cacao agroforestry systems and an adjacent natural forest in Bahia, Brazil and also to evaluate the relationship between P fractions, microbial biomass and mineralized N with other soil attributes. Overall, the average stocks of organic C, total N and total organic P across all systems for 0–50 cm soil depth were 89,072, 8,838 and 790 kg ha−1, respectively. At this soil depth the average stock of labile organic P was 55.5 kg ha−1. For 0–10 cm soil depth, there were large amounts of microbial biomass C (mean of 286 kg ha−1), microbial biomass N (mean of 168 kg ha−1) and mineralizable N (mean of 79 kg ha−1). Organic P (total and labile) was negatively related to organic C, reflecting that the dynamics of organic P in these cacao agroforestry systems are not directly associated with organic C dynamics in soils, in contrast to the dynamics of N. Furthermore, the amounts of soil microbial biomass, mineralizable N, and organic P could be relevant for cacao nutrition, considering the low amount of N and P exported in cacao seeds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acquaye DK (1963) Some significance of soil organic phosphorus mineralization in the phosphorus nutrition of cocoa in Ghana. Plant Soil 19:65–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alves BJR, Boddey RM, Urquiaga SS (1993) A rapid and sensitive flow injection technique for the analysis of ammonium in soil extracts. Comm Soil Sci Plant Anal 24:277–284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amatya G, Chang SX, Beare MH, Mead DJ (2002) Soil properties under a Pinus radiate—ryegrass silvopastoral system in New Zealand. Part II. C and N of soil microbial biomass, and soil N dynamics. Agroforest Syst 54:149–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JN, Ingram JSI (1996) Tropical soil biology and fertility: a handbook of methods. CAB International, Wallingford 171p

    Google Scholar 

  • Aranguren J, Escalante G, Herrera R (1982) Nitrogen cycle of tropical perennial crops under shade trees. II. Cacao. Plant Soil 67:259–269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barreto PAB, Gama-Rodrigues EF, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Barros NF, Alves BJR, Fonseca S (2010) Mineralização de nitrogênio e carbono em solos sob plantações de eucalitpto, em uma sequencia de idades. Rev Bras Ci Solo 34:735–745

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barros NFF, Comerford NB, Barros NF (2005) Phosphorus sorption, desorption and resorption by soils of the Brasilian Cerrado supporting eucalypt. Biomass Bioenergy 28:229–236

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bataglia OC, Furlani AMC, Teixeira JPF, Furlani PR, Gallo JR (1983) Métodos de análise química de plantas. Instituto Agronômico, Campinas, 48 p. (Boletim Técnico, 78)

  • Beck MA, Sanches PA (1994) Soil phosphorus fraction dynamics during 18 years of cultivation on a Typic Paleudult. Soil Sci Soc Am J 58:1424–1430

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bornemisza E, Igue K (1967) Comparison of three methods for determining organic phosphorus in Costa Rican soils. Soil Sci 103:347–353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowman RA (1989) A sequential extraction procedure with concentrated sulfuric acid and diluted base for soil organic phosphorus. Soil Sci Soc Am J 53:326–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowman RA, Cole CV (1978) Transformation of organic phosphorus substrates in soil as evaluated by NaHCO3 extraction. Soil Sci 125:49–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowman RA, Savory DJ (1992) Phosphorus distribution in calcareous soil profiles of Central Plains. Soil Sci Soc Am J 56:423–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbel CA, Ellert BH, Jame YW (1993) Nitrogen mineralization potential in soils. In: Carter MR (ed) Soil sampling and methods of analysis. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, pp 341–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Chessel D, Dufour AB, Thioulouse J (2004) The ade4 package—I: one-table methods. R News 4:5–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Condron LM, Moir JO, Tiessen H, Stewart JWB (1990) Critical evaluation of methods for determining total organic phosphorus in tropical soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 54:1261–1266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cunha GM, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Costa GS, Velloso ACX (2007) Fósforo orgânico em solos sob florestas montanas, pastagens e eucalipto no norte fluminense. Rev Bras Ci Solo 31:667–672

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dinesh R, Chaudhuri SG, Ganeshamurthy AN, Dey C (2003) Changes in soil microbial indices and their relationships following deforestation and cultivation in wet tropical forest. Appl Soil Ecol 24:17–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duda GP (2000) Conteúdo de fósforo microbiano, orgânico e biodisponível em diferentes classes de solos. Itaguaí, RJ: Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, 2000. (Tese de Doutorado)–Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, 158 p

  • Embrapa (1999) Manual de análises químicas de solos, plantas e fertilizantes. Embrapa Solos, Brasília

    Google Scholar 

  • Fassbender HW, Beer J, Heuveldop J, Imbach A, Enriquez G, Bonnemann A (1991) Ten year balances of organic matter and nutrients in agroforestry systems at CATIE, Costa Rica. Forest Ecol Manag 45:173–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fontes AG (2006) Ciclagem de nutrientes em sistemas agroflorestais de cacau no sul da Bahia. Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes (Tese de Doutorado)–Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, 71 p

  • Gama-Rodrigues AC (2011) Soil organic matter, nutrient cycling and biological dinitrogen-fixation in agroforestry systems. Agroforest Syst 81:191–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Gama-Rodrigues AC, Cadima ZA (1991) Efectos de fertilización sobre sistema radicular de cacao en suelos de “tabuleiros” del sur de Bahia, Brasil. Turrialba 41:135–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Gama-Rodrigues EF, Barros NF, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Santos GA (2005) Carbon, nitrogen and activity of microbial biomass in soil under eucalypt plantations. Rev Bras Ci Solo 29:893–902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gama-Rodrigues EF, Nair PKR, Nair VD, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Baligar VC, Machado RCR (2010) Carbon storage in soil size fractions under two cacao agroforestry systems in Bahia, Brazil. Environ Manag 45:274–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerra JGM, Almeida DJ, Santos GA, Fernandes MS (1996) Conteúdo de fósforo orgânico em amostras de solos. Pesq agropec Bras 31:291–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartemink AE (2005) Nutrient stocks, nutrient cycling, and soil changes in cocoa ecosystems: a review. Adv Agron 86:227–253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joergensen RG, Brookes PC (1990) Ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen measurements of microbial biomass in 0.5 M K2SO4 soil extracts. Soil Biol Biochem 22:1023–1027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaur B, Gupta SR, Singh G (2000) Soil carbon, microbial activity and nitrogen availability in agroforestry systems on moderately alkaline soils in northern India. Appl Soil Ecol 15:283–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kummerow J, Kummerow M, Alvim PT (1981) Root biomass in mature cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plantation. Rev Theobroma 11:77–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Kummerow J, Kummerow M, Silva WS (1982) Fine root growth dynamics in cacao (Theobroma cacao). Plant Soil 65:193–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee KH, Jose S (2003) Soil respiration and microbial biomass in a pecan—cotton alley cropping system in Southern USA. Agroforest Syst 58:45–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehmann J, Günther D, Mota MS, Almeida MP, Zech W, Kaiser K (2001) Inorganic and organic soil phosphorus and sulfur pools in an Amazonian multistrata agroforestry system. Agroforest Syst 53:113–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lugo AE, Cuevas E, Sanchez MJ (1990) Nutrients and mass in litter and soil of ten tropical tree plantations. Plant Soil 125:263–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Machado MICS, Brauner JL, Vianna ACT (1993) Formas de fósforo na camada arável de solos do Rio Grande do Sul. R. Bras. Ci. Solo 17:331–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Maia SM, Xavier FAS, Oliveira TS, Mendonça ES, Araújo Filho JA (2007) Organic carbon pools in a Luvisol under agroforestry and conventional farming systems in the semi-arid region of Ceará, Brazil. Agroforest Syst 71:127–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moço MKS, Gama-Rodrigues EF, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Machado RCR, Baligar VC (2009) Soil and litter fauna in cacao agroforestry systems in Bahia, Brazil. Agroforest Syst 76:127–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moço MKS, Gama-Rodrigues EF, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Machado RCR, Baligar VC (2010) Relationships between invertebrate communities, litter quality and soil attributes under different cacao agroforestry systems in the south of Bahia, Brazil. Appl Soil Ecol 46:347–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mori SA, Silva LAM (1980) O herbário do Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau em Itabuna, Brasil. Ilhéus, CEPLAC/CEPEC, 8 p (Boletim Técnico, 78)

  • Müller MW, Gama-Rodrigues AC (2007) Sistemas Agroflorestais com cacaueiro. In: Valle RR (ed) Ciência, Tecnologia e Manejo do Cacaueiro. CEPLAC/CEPEC, Ilhéus, pp 246–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz F, Beer J (2001) Fine root dynamics of shaded cacao plantations in Costa Rica. Agrofor Syst 51:119–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy J, Riley JP (1962) A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Anal Chem Acta 27:31–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ndaw SM, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Gama Rodrigues EF, Sales KRN, Rosado AS (2009) Relationships between bacterial diversity, microbial biomass and litter quality in soils under different plant covers in northern—Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Can J Microbiol 55:1089–1095

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nziguheba G, Bünemann E (2005) Organic phosphorus dynamics in tropical agroecosystems. In: Turner BL, Frossard E, Baldwin DS (eds) Organic phosphorus in the environment. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 243–268

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • O’Halloran IP (1993) Total and organic phosphorus. In: Carter MR (ed) Soil sampling and methods of analysis. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, pp 213–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Rita JCO, Gama-Rodrigues EF, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Polidoro JC, Machado RCR, Baligar VC (2011) C and N content in density fractions of whole soil and soil size fraction under cacao agroforestry systems and natural forest in Bahia, Brazil. Environ Manag 48:134–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salamanca EF, Raubuch M, Joergensen RG (2002) Relationships between soil microbial indices in secondary tropical forest soils. Appl Soil Ecol 21:211–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santana MBM, Cabala-Rosand P (1982) Dynamics of nitrogen in shaded cacao plantation. Plant Soil 67:271–281

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma P, Rai SC, Sharma R, Sharma E (2004) Effects of land-use change on soil microbial C, N and P in a Himalayan watershed. Pedobiologia 48:83–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smiley GL, Kroschel J (2008) Temporal change in carbon stocks of cocoa—gliricidia agroforests in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Agrofor Syst 73:219–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparling GP (1992) Ratio of microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon as a sensitive indicator of changes in soil organic matter. Aust J Soil Res 30:195–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stanford G, Smith SJ (1972) Nitrogen mineralization potentials of soils. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 36:465–472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szott LT, Melendez G (2001) Phosphorus availability under annual cropping, alley cropping, and multistrata agroforestry systems. Agrofor Syst 53:125–1132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tate KR, Ross DJ, Feltham CW (1988) A direct extraction method to estimate soil microbial C: effects of experimental variables and some different calibration procedures. Soil Biol Biochem 20:329–335

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2009) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, ISBN 3- 900051-07-0, URL http://www.R-project.org

  • Turner BL, Condron LM, Richardson SJ, Peltzer DA, Allison VJ (2007) Soil organic phosphorus transformations during pedogenesis. Ecosystems 10:1166–1181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uriyo AP, Kesseba A (1975) Amounts and distribution of organic phosphorus in some profiles in Tanzania. Geoderma 13:201–210

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Veloso HP, Rangel Filho ALR, Lima JCA (1991) Classificação da vegetação brasileira adaptada a um sistema universal. IBGE, Rio de Janeiro

    Google Scholar 

  • Zaia FC, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Gama-Rodrigues EF, Machado RCR (2008a) Fósforo orgânico em solos sob agrossistemas de cacau. Rev Bras Ci Solo 32:1987–1995

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaia FC, Gama-Rodrigues AC, Gama-Rodrigues EF (2008b) Formas de fósforo no solo sob leguminosas florestais, floresta secundária e pastagem no norte fluminense. Rev Bras Ci Solo 32:1191–1197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang CB, Wang J, Qian BY, Li WH (2009) Effects of the invader Solidago canadensis on soil properties. Appl Soil Ecol 43:163–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. C. D. Foy for peer review on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Laboratory, North Fluminense State University, Av. Alberto Lamego 2000, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil

    F. C. Zaia, A. C. Gama-Rodrigues, E. F. Gama-Rodrigues & M. K. S. Moço

  2. Federal Institute for Education, Science and Technology of Espírito Santos State, Colatina, ES, 29709-910, Brazil

    A. G. Fontes

  3. MARS—Center of Cocoa Science, Bahia, Itajuípe, BA, 45630-000, Brazil

    R. C. R. Machado

  4. USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA

    V. C. Baligar

Authors
  1. F. C. Zaia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. C. Gama-Rodrigues
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. F. Gama-Rodrigues
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. K. S. Moço
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. G. Fontes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. C. R. Machado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. V. C. Baligar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. C. Gama-Rodrigues.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zaia, F.C., Gama-Rodrigues, A.C., Gama-Rodrigues, E.F. et al. Carbon, nitrogen, organic phosphorus, microbial biomass and N mineralization in soils under cacao agroforestry systems in Bahia, Brazil. Agroforest Syst 86, 197–212 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-012-9550-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-012-9550-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation