Atividade biológica e decomposição de resíduos orgânicos em área de lavoura sobre Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico

A atividade biológica do solo pode ser determinada pela soma dos processos metabólicos em que o CO2 é produzido e pela taxa de decomposição de resíduos orgânicos no solo. Os compostos orgânicos podem apresentar alta ou baixa relação C/N, e podem ser lábeis ou recalcitrantes, ou seja, de rápida ou lenta decomposição. Os compostos lábeis possuem função de disponibilizar nutrientes e energia para os microrganismos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a emissão de CO2 e a decomposição de resíduos orgânicos sobre Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico. Os resíduos avaliados foram - T1: palha de serradela, T2: esterco bovino, T3: cama de aviário, T4: húmus, T5: cama de aviário + palha de serradela e T6: esterco bovino + palha de serradela. Houve estímulo na atividade biológica do solo pela presença de todos os tratamentos, principalmente pela palha de serradela (Ornithopus compressus). Observou-se que quando não havia presença de resíduos, o solo emitiu CO2, pois os microrganismos utilizaram a matéria orgânica do solo como fonte de energia para sobrevivência.

Changes in soil mineral nitrogen, nitrogen leached, and surface pH under annual and perennial pasture species

Soil mineral nitrogen (N) profiles during the growing season and changes in total soil N and available N after 3–4 years were examined under 9 different pasture swards containing annual legumes, lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), or one of 4 perennial grasses at 2 sites representative of the low and medium rainfall belt of south-eastern Australia. The effect of the presence of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) or lucerne on the spatial variation in surface pH was also measured. The 9 pastures were subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), subterranean clover with annual weeds, yellow serradella (Ornithopus compressus L.), lucerne, phalaris, cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula (Schrader) Nees), wallaby grass (Austrodanthonia richardsonii (Cashm.) H.P. Linder), and a mixture of lucerne, phalaris, and cocksfoot. All the perennial treatments were sown with subterranean clover. Available mineral N values in the surface 0.10 m of soil following summer rainfall were substantially higher in pure subterranean clover or serradella (Ornithopus compressus L.) swards (24–50 μg N/g) than those containing a mixture of subterranean clover and perennials (9–20 μg N/g). Apparent leaching of soil nitrate down the profile during winter was greatest in annual pasture treatments and least in swards containing perennials. Soil pH(CaCl2) at the 0–0.10 m depth varied with proximity to perennial plants and was significantly higher (+0.2–1.1 pH units) near the base of perennial plants than in gaps between the perennials or in annual-only swards. Available mineral N to 1.0 m before cropping at the end of the pasture phase was highest following subterranean clover (175–344 kg N/ha) and serradella (202–316 kg N/ha) at both sites. Available N was lowest (91–143 kg N/ha) following perennial grass–clover swards at the drier site where the annual legume content was lower, but perennial grass–clover swards produced larger soil N values (147–219 kg N/ha) at the higher rainfall site. Removal of the pasture in August–September compared with November in the year before cropping increased available N at the time of sowing by an average of 44% (51 kg N/ha) at the drier site and 43% (74 kg N/ha) at the wetter site. Incorporating perennial pasture species in swards was found to be advantageous in reducing nitrate leaching and preventing a decline in surface soil pH; however, available soil N to following crops could be lower if the annual legume content of perennial grass-based pastures declined due to competition from the perennial species.