Microbial biomass, microbial activity, and carbon pools under different land-use systems in the Brazilian cerrados

In the Brazilian savannas, or Cerrados the rapid advance in agriculture and cattle ranching is affecting soils through, for example, accelerated erosion and depletion of soil organic matter (SOM). Changes in soil microbial biomass are good indicators of changes in SOM. We therefore assessed the effe...

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Main Authors: Renz, TE, Neufeldt, Henry, Ayarza, Miguel Angel, Resck, DVS, Zech, W.
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: International Center for Tropical Agriculture 1999
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55138
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author Renz, TE
Neufeldt, Henry
Ayarza, Miguel Angel
Resck, DVS
Zech, W.
author_browse Ayarza, Miguel Angel
Neufeldt, Henry
Renz, TE
Resck, DVS
Zech, W.
author_facet Renz, TE
Neufeldt, Henry
Ayarza, Miguel Angel
Resck, DVS
Zech, W.
author_sort Renz, TE
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In the Brazilian savannas, or Cerrados the rapid advance in agriculture and cattle ranching is affecting soils through, for example, accelerated erosion and depletion of soil organic matter (SOM). Changes in soil microbial biomass are good indicators of changes in SOM. We therefore assessed the effects of agricultural and pastoral use of a clayey Oxisol in the Cerrados on soil microbial biomass, and evaluated the usefulness of this parameter in studying SOM dynamics in savanna ecosystems. Surface soil horizons under a pine forest and different crop and pasture treatments were compared with the control soil under native savanna. Soil microbial carbon (C mic), potential microbial activity, pH, organic C, water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC), and total N were assessed for the different systems. Compared with native savanna, crop cultivation and reforestation depleted C mic. The C mic,/C quotients indicated that C might continue to decline in these two systems. Changing from conventional to no tillage appears to slow down the depletion of topsoil C mic, C, and other parameters measured. Pasture establishment in native savanna did not clearly change C mic, but stimulated microbial activity. The ratio of microbial activity to Cmic was higher under pastures than under the other systems. Soil microbial carbon was shown to be closely related to the soil carbon cycle. Water-extractable organic carbon, possibly the most important source of C for microbes, consists of root exudates and litter degradation products. Root density, together with organic matter (OM) input and soil cover, was therefore assumed to be a major factor controlling the amount of C mic. Microbial growth was hypothesized to be C-limited in the crop systems and possibly N-limited in the pastures. The results indicate that the C mic/C ratio can be used as an indicator of OM dynamics in highly weathered tropical soils.
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spelling CGSpace551382024-01-09T09:49:04Z Microbial biomass, microbial activity, and carbon pools under different land-use systems in the Brazilian cerrados Renz, TE Neufeldt, Henry Ayarza, Miguel Angel Resck, DVS Zech, W. savannas carbon soil management oxisols soil biology sabanas carbono manejo del suelo oxisoles biología del suelo In the Brazilian savannas, or Cerrados the rapid advance in agriculture and cattle ranching is affecting soils through, for example, accelerated erosion and depletion of soil organic matter (SOM). Changes in soil microbial biomass are good indicators of changes in SOM. We therefore assessed the effects of agricultural and pastoral use of a clayey Oxisol in the Cerrados on soil microbial biomass, and evaluated the usefulness of this parameter in studying SOM dynamics in savanna ecosystems. Surface soil horizons under a pine forest and different crop and pasture treatments were compared with the control soil under native savanna. Soil microbial carbon (C mic), potential microbial activity, pH, organic C, water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC), and total N were assessed for the different systems. Compared with native savanna, crop cultivation and reforestation depleted C mic. The C mic,/C quotients indicated that C might continue to decline in these two systems. Changing from conventional to no tillage appears to slow down the depletion of topsoil C mic, C, and other parameters measured. Pasture establishment in native savanna did not clearly change C mic, but stimulated microbial activity. The ratio of microbial activity to Cmic was higher under pastures than under the other systems. Soil microbial carbon was shown to be closely related to the soil carbon cycle. Water-extractable organic carbon, possibly the most important source of C for microbes, consists of root exudates and litter degradation products. Root density, together with organic matter (OM) input and soil cover, was therefore assumed to be a major factor controlling the amount of C mic. Microbial growth was hypothesized to be C-limited in the crop systems and possibly N-limited in the pastures. The results indicate that the C mic/C ratio can be used as an indicator of OM dynamics in highly weathered tropical soils. 1999 2015-01-28T14:17:28Z 2015-01-28T14:17:28Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55138 en Open Access International Center for Tropical Agriculture Renz, Timan E.; Neufeldt, Henry; Ayarza, Miguel Angel; Resck, Dimas Vital Siqueira; Zech, Wolfgang. 1999. Microbial biomass, microbial activity, and carbon pools under different land-use systems in the Brazilian cerrados. In: Thomas, Richard J.; Ayarza, Miguel Angel (eds.). Sustainable land management for the oxisols of the Latin American savannas: Dynamics of soil organic matter and indicators of soil quality. Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Cali, CO. p. 187-197. (CIAT publication no. 312)
spellingShingle savannas
carbon
soil management
oxisols
soil biology
sabanas
carbono
manejo del suelo
oxisoles
biología del suelo
Renz, TE
Neufeldt, Henry
Ayarza, Miguel Angel
Resck, DVS
Zech, W.
Microbial biomass, microbial activity, and carbon pools under different land-use systems in the Brazilian cerrados
title Microbial biomass, microbial activity, and carbon pools under different land-use systems in the Brazilian cerrados
title_full Microbial biomass, microbial activity, and carbon pools under different land-use systems in the Brazilian cerrados
title_fullStr Microbial biomass, microbial activity, and carbon pools under different land-use systems in the Brazilian cerrados
title_full_unstemmed Microbial biomass, microbial activity, and carbon pools under different land-use systems in the Brazilian cerrados
title_short Microbial biomass, microbial activity, and carbon pools under different land-use systems in the Brazilian cerrados
title_sort microbial biomass microbial activity and carbon pools under different land use systems in the brazilian cerrados
topic savannas
carbon
soil management
oxisols
soil biology
sabanas
carbono
manejo del suelo
oxisoles
biología del suelo
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/55138
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