Do agrosystems change soil carbon and nutrient stocks in a semiarid environment?
Item
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Title
Do agrosystems change soil carbon and nutrient stocks in a semiarid environment?
Journal of Arid Environments
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Creator
Mônica da Silva Santana
Eunice Maia de Andrade
Everardo Valadares de Sá Barreto Sampaio
Tiago Osório Ferreira
Alessandra Monteiro Salviano
Davi José da Silva
Tony Jarbas Ferreira Cunha
Vanderlise Giongo
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Subject
Caatinga
Edaphic processes
Land use change
Sustainability
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doi
10.1016/j.jaridenv.2022.104747
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Description
Cropping and Farming systems
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Abstract
Ecological processes, such as net primary production, root system development, organic matter mineralization, nutrient removal and fertilizer application interfere in gains and losses of C and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in soils. Herein, we studied how five rainfed livestock and four irrigated agricultural systems affected soil C and nutrient stocks in a semi-arid environment. Soil concentrations, stocks, gains and losses of the nine land-uses were compared to those of the preserved native deciduous forest (Caatinga) along the top 1 m soil layer. Open Caatinga used as pasture, gliricidia and leucaena fields maintained the stocks of most nutrients. The shallower roots of buffel grass and prickly pear led to C (7 and 18%) and N (7 and 20%, respectively) losses, and P, Ca and Mg accumulations in the deeper layers. Irrigated crops reduced soil C and N stocks. C losses in irrigated maize and beans fields (23%) were lower than in rainfed fields in the region, while those in mango fields were large (70 and 66%). Fertilization in beans and grapes increased soil P and K stocks. Knowledge of stock changes allows proper system management to reduce the negative impacts of land-use change and promote sustainable production.
