Abstract
There is insufficient information about the dynamics of soil organic matter in integrated production systems. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the variations in soil C and N stocks and microbial attributes as a function of the distances apart from the eucalyptus double rows within a silvopastoral system in the Brazilian Cerrado. Four treatments were considered, consisting of four distances (0.5 m, 1.6 m, 3.8 m and 6 m) apart from the double rows of eucalyptus for soil sampling within the silvopastoral system. The soil C and N contents and stocks, C/N ratio, microbial C (Cmic), soil basal respiration, metabolic quotient and microbial quotient were evaluated. Our results showed that soil C contents and stocks were significantly higher near the eucalyptus trees. Soil C stocks ranged from 99.91 (6.0 m) to 119.64 Mg ha−1 (0.5 m) up to 100 cm soil depth, with an increase of 19.73 Mg ha−1 nearest of the forest component. The same pattern was observed for N stocks, with values ranging from 9.52 (0.5 m) to 7.95 Mg ha−1 (6.0 m) and representing an increase of 1.57 Mg ha−1 near the eucalyptus. We also found an increase of 51.32% in the Cmic at 0.5 m apart from the forest component. Thus, we can infer that the presence of eucalyptus improved the soil quality within the silvopastoral system, indicating that the correct soil sampling and measurements must be performed considering all the transect cultivated with forage grass and double rows of eucalyptus.
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The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request..
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for all the logistical support provided by the owners of Buritis Farm during this study.
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This study was funded by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES; Finance Code 001), and the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG; Grant Nos. APQ-00953-14 and PPM-00133-15). The funding agencies had no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in.
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de Abreu, L.H.G., de Freitas, I.C., Santana, P.H.L. et al. Variation in soil carbon, nitrogen and microbial attributes within a silvopastoral system in the Brazilian Cerrado. Agroforest Syst 94, 2343–2353 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-020-00554-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-020-00554-x