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ABSTRACT The accessibility of soil P reserves by plants on highly weathered Brazilian soils remains unclear. In this study, we assessed the contribution of soil P fractions to P uptake by soybean plants in two no-till Oxisols (Latossolos), with low and high initial content of available P. The recommended P rates (viz., 153 and 50 kg ha-1 yr-1 in the low-P and high-P soil, respectively) were applied in the form of triple superphosphate (TSP) or Bayovar rock phosphate (BRP) plus a treatment without fertilizer. Yields of winter cereals and soybean on the studied soils were examined over a period of three years. Soil samples were collected in the 0.00-0.10 m soil layer and subjected to sequential chemical fractionation of P. In the last crop season, the P content of soybean shoot biomass was determined. Soil P fractions and P content of soybean shoots were subjected to path analysis. The addition BRP in the low-P soil resulted in a winter cereal yield of 2.0 Mg ha-1 lower than TSP. In the scenario of high P, it is possible to maintain high crop yields even without phosphate fertilization for three consecutive years. Path analyses demonstrated the addition of P using either TSP or BRP boosted the contribution of the more labile inorganic P fractions. The addition of BRP should be avoided in P-deficient soils. The addition TSP or BRP reduces the pressure of plants to use soil P reserves. Therefore, the soil P legacy should be considered in fertilization recommendations for high-P soils in NT.

ABSTRACT Although numerous studies have been conducted with common bean regarding nitrogen (N) dose, time of application, and source in no-till (NT) soils in Brazil, the heterogeneity of the results makes it difficult to establish technical recommendations based on individualized studies. This meta-analysis aimed to rank the main factors influencing common bean response to N management in NT areas. The database consisted of 99 scientific papers that encompassed 160 trials and 2394 observations. In general, the probability of obtaining a positive response to N application in common bean productivity was 77 %, with an average 18 % increment (358 kg ha-1). The main factors that affect the response of common bean grain yield to N fertilization and the choice of the applied N dose are soil organic matter (OM) content and the preceding crop. In soils with OM content >20 g kg-1, the N dose that determines the highest economic return is 50 kg ha-1. For soils with OM content 100 kg ha-1), inoculating common bean seeds increased grain yields by 6 % on average (118 kg ha-1). The combined analysis of the available results demonstrated that the crop recommendations used in Brazilian soils under NT could be refined considering the soil OM concentration and preceding crop. Additionally, seed inoculation and N dose splitting in the form of common urea should be recommended.

Every year more than 150,000 tons of resin used in a myriad of industrial applications are produced by Brazilian plantations of Pinus elliottii Engelm. (slash pine), which are also used for timber. A pine tree can be tapped for resin over a period of several years. Resin is a complex mixture of terpenes, which are carbon-rich molecules, presumably influencing pine plantation carbon budgets. A total of 270 trees (overall mean DBH of 22.93 ± 0.11 cm) of 14-, 24-, and 26-year-old stands had their C content measured. Three different treatments (intact, wounded panels, and wounded + chemically stimulated panels, 30 trees each) were applied per site. Above- and belowground biomass, as well as resin yield, were quantified for two consecutive years. Data were statistically evaluated using normality distribution tests, analyses of variance, and mean comparison tests (p ≤ 0.05). The highest resin production per tree was recorded in the chemically stimulated 14-year-old stand. Tree dry wood biomass, a major stock of carbon retained in cell wall polysaccharides, ranged from 245.69 ± 11.73 to 349.99 ± 16.73 kg among the plantations. Variations in carbon concentration ranged from 43% to 50% with the lowest percentages in underground biomass. There was no significant difference in lignin concentrations. Soils were acidic (pH 4.3 ± 0.10–5.83 ± 0.06) with low C (from 0.05% to 1.4%). Significantly higher C stock values were recorded in pine biomass compared to those reported for temperate zones. Resin-tapping biomass yielded considerable annual increments in C stocks and should be included as a relevant component in C sequestration assessments of planted pine forests.

ABSTRACT In agricultural areas with a historical of systematic soil sampling, alternative methodologies such as directed sampling design based on management zones (MZ) have been proposed to reduce sampling costs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical and economic impacts of replacing a dense systematic soil sampling design (cell size of 0.5 ha) by a systematic sampling with a smaller number of samples (cell size ranging from 1 to 4.5 ha), directed or conventional sampling design on the mapping of soil plant-available phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K), and pHwater. The study was carried out in an agricultural area of 120 ha with soil classified as an Oxisol. The directed sampling designs were based on MZ delimited from data of elevation and overlapping of crop yield maps. Our finding revealed that systematic samplings with grids larger than 2 ha were not efficient to detect the spatial variability of soil P, K and pHwater. Larger systematic grid sizes, directed and conventional sampling design resulted in more generalist thematic maps, losing information about spatial variability of the soil attributes. Thus, from a technical point of view, soil sampling designs with a low density were little efficients, particularly for mapping P and K, due to their higher spatial variability. However, because soil P and K contents were close to or above critical levels and soil acidity was low (average pH close to 5.5), the different sampling designs presented little influence on fertilizer and liming recommendations. Therefore, we concluded that systematic soil sampling design may be replaced by soil sampling directed based on MZ or even by conventional sampling in soils with high fertility to reduce sampling costs. Nevertheless, crop responses must be monitored to validate fertilization management based on these simplifications on soil sampling procedure.

Core Ideas Soybean yield did not respond to low starter fertilizer N rates in soils with high organic matter content. Nitrogen limitation tended to be greater in low compared with medium‐high yield levels. Nitrogen limitation is potentially related to lower contribution of N coming from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and mineralization. Overcoming potential N limitation in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a critical factor for sustaining plant nutrient demand and improving productivity. Following this rationale, a set of studies were executed in southern Brazil with the goals of quantifying yield response to early season fertilizer N rates (up to 40 kg ha−1), “starter N fertilization,” and to understand if soybean seed yields are limited by N (testing a non‐limiting N scenario) when grown in soils with medium to high organic matter content. The main key outcomes of this research were: (i) starter N fertilization did not increase yields compared with non‐fertilized soybean, potentially highlighting the absence of an early season N limitation; and (ii) N limitation was observed when soybean yields were compared with non‐limiting N scenario and it tended to be greater in low compared with medium‐high yield levels, potentially connected with co‐limitations on both N sources (N2 fixation and mineralization) to satisfy soybean N demand. Producing soybean in a sustainable manner implies focus on production practices to conserve and, potentially, to increase soil organic matter on a long‐term basis. Furthermore, it requires enhancing the biological N2 fixation process for satisfying the large plant N demand for achieving high soybean yields. Future research should be focused on understanding factors governing biological N2 fixation and N mineralization processes in soybean grown in soils with medium‐high organic matter content.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate natamycin, Lactobacillus buchneri (LB), or their combination on the chemical composition, loss, fermentative profile, and aerobic stability as well as gas production and composition of sugarcane silages. The treatments were (wet basis): no additive (control), 10 g t−1 of natamycin (N10), 5 × 104 cfu g−1 of LB, and the combination of 4 g t−1 of natamycin and 2.5 × 104 cfu g−1 of LB (NLB). Sugarcane was chopped (10 mm), treated with the additives, and ensiled in experimental silos (four replicates). The silos remained stored for 51 days. The LB inoculation, alone or in combination with natamycin, increased the acetic acid content (by 105 and 78% respectively) and decreased ethanol content (by 83 and 71% respectively) when compared to N10 treatment and the control. A decrease in both dry matter and gas losses was observed in the LB (by 72 and 78%, respectively) and N10 (by 69 and 77%, respectively) silages compared with the control, but not the combination. The N10 treatment reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by 86% compared with the control silage. Control and N10 silages deteriorated to the same extent with aerobic exposure, whereas LB and NLB presented higher aerobic stability. The use of natamycin alone is not recommended when ethanol and aerobic stability are concerns. However, natamycin may be considered for the composition of blend additives to decrease greenhouse gas emission and fermentative loss in silages. Further studies must be carried out to optimize doses of natamycin in blend additives.

Abstract The management of eucalyptus harvest residues can affect the initial growth and nutrient content of new eucalyptus plantations. We investigated the initial growth and nutritional status of Eucalyptus saligna plantation according to five alternative strategies for management of harvest residues on sandy soil, in the municipality of Barra do Ribeiro, RS. The total height, diameter at breast height (DBH), individual volume and nutrient content in the leaves were evaluated after twelve months. We observed that the maintenance of harvest residues increased growth in height, DBH and individual volume. The levels of calcium in leaves of eucalyptus were higher in the treatments in which harvest residues were removed, whereas the opposite was confirmed for sulfur. The differences found in our study point that the maintenance of harvest residues increase the eucalyptus growth, especially in sandy soils.

ABSTRACT Sulfur (S) fertilization recommendations for grain crops in Brazil were formerly established from studies on crops with a low yield potential grown on soils under conventional tillage (CT). However, the subsequent adoption of no-tillage (NT) altered S dynamics in the soil, making it necessary to carefully evaluate the applicability of these S fertilizer recommendations. In addition, the emergence of modern high-yield-potential genotypes, the successive application of concentrated low-sulfur fertilizers, and reduction in S atmospheric deposition have raised the likelihood of positive responses of crops to S fertilization. Available literature reports contrasting crop responses to S fertilization in Brazilian soils, ranging from substantial gains to slight yield losses depending on the particular crop, soil, and climate. The primary aim of this study was to examine available data for crop grain responses to S application in NT soils in order to ascertain whether existing recommendations established for Brazilian CT soils also hold for NT soils. A systematic review of data from 35 scientific publications spanning 58 crop harvests revealed a positive yield response to S fertilization in 31 % of the crop harvests, with an average yield increase of 16 %. Crops on soils with available SO42–-S contents above the critical level (viz., 7.5 mg dm-3) exhibited no positive response to S fertilization in any crop harvest (n = 18). Dry edible bean and corn were the most responsive crops, and canola and wheat, the least. For the trials with positive crop responses, a fertilizer rate of 26 kg ha-1 S sufficed to obtain at least 95 % of the maximum possible yield. In general, the S fertilization recommendations previously established for CT soil proved effective with grain crops on NT soils as a result of the critical levels of soil available SO42--S and the fact that the recommended S rates are similar to those found in this study considering trials conducted under NT conditions only. However, existing recommendations could be improved by using additional criteria for soils with available SO42--S contents below the critical level since a positive response was observed in 22 % (n = 18) and 92 % (n = 12) of the crop harvests under a subtropical and a tropical climate, respectively. Our results suggest that S fertilization must be prioritized in NT soils with available SO42--S contents below 7.5 mg dm-3 in the 0.00-0.20 m layer, especially in tropical climate zones. In addition, regional fertilizer recommendation guidelines should consider crop type and yield expectation in order to facilitate more sustainable S management and increased crop yields in Brazil.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o impacto das plantas de cobertura de inverno azevém (Lolium multiflorum) e azevém+cornichão (Lotus corniculatus), bem como da drenagem parcial do solo, nas emissões de CH4 e N2O em um Planossolo cultivado com arroz irrigado. Amostras de ar foram coletadas semanalmente com câmara estática fechada, parcialmente inserida no solo (0,05 m). Calcularam-se o potencial de aquecimento global parcial (PAGp=CH4×25+N2O×298) e o PAGp por unidade de produtividade de grãos (PAGpPG). A drenagem parcial foi estabelecida pela suspenção temporária da irrigação por períodos de 8 a 15 dias, durante três ocasiões ao longo do ciclo da cultura. O aporte de resíduos pelas plantas de cobertura intensificou os fluxos de CH4 do solo, que excederam em dez vezes a emissão acumulada do solo em pousio invernal. As emissões de N2O foram maiores com o consórcio azevém+cornichão, em comparação ao azevém e ao pousio. O cultivo de plantas de cobertura elevou o índice PAGpPG (0,35 kg de CO2eq por quilograma de arroz), comparativamente ao pousio (0,06 kg kg-1). Nos tratamentos com cobertura de inverno, as estratégias de mitigação devem focar principalmente no CH4, que foi responsável pela maior porção (80%) do PAGp. A drenagem parcial reduziu em até 50% o PAGp e apresenta grande potencial para mitigar as emissões de gases em sistemas de produção de arroz irrigado.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da conversão de áreas de campos de murundus para sistemas agrícolas de plantio direto (PD) nos estoques de C orgânico e de N total do solo, em suas frações na matéria orgânica do solo e na estabilidade de agregados. O estudo foi realizado em uma cronossequência com 7, 11 e 16 anos de conversão para o PD, e em duas áreas de referência caracterizadas como topo dos murundus (TM) e entre os murundus (EM). O teor de C nos solos variou de acordo com o tempo de conversão para áreas agrícolas, em todas as profundidades, com exceção da área EM. Os estoques de C sofreram efeitos negativos da conversão da área nativa em agrícola, e os maiores estoques foram observados nas áreas EM e TM. O índice de manejo de C aumentou com o tempo de adoção do PD, em relação ao TM, e os atributos do solo melhoraram com o aumento no tempo de adoção de 7 para 16 anos de PD, mas os estoques de C orgânico nas áreas convertidas não retornam aos níveis observados nas áreas referências.

Food additives may increase food and animal production efficiency, as well as reduce the production of enteric methane (CH4). With the aim to evaluate the influence of organic additives in two concentrations (250 and 500 ppm) in the production of CH4 (mL), short chain fatty acids (SCFA), ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3) and pH, an experiment “in vitro” gas was conducted, having two control groups, one as a negative control without the presence of additive and another as a positive control, with the addition of monensin-sodium (30ppm). The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatment with monensin-sodium increased the propionate production (pppp>0.05) in the remaining parameters related to treatment without additives. In this sense, monensin-sodium shows characteristics of modulation of rumen environment.

ABSTRACT Nitrogen losses by ammonia (NH3) volatilization can be reduced by appropriate irrigation management or by alternative N sources, replacing urea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of irrigation management and N source combinations in decreasing NH3 volatilization from an Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico típico cultivated for 28 years with black oat (Avena strigosa) and maize (Zea mays), under no-tillage in the region of Depressão Central, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with split plots with three replications, where the main plots consisted of irrigation systems: no irrigation; irrigation immediately before and irrigation immediately after fertilization. The subplots were treated with different N sources: urea, urea with urease inhibitor and slow-release fertilizer, at an N rate of 180 kg ha-1, broadcast over maize, plus a control treatment without N fertilization. Ammonia volatilization was assessed using semi-open static collectors for 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10 days after N fertilization. In general, more than 90 % of total NH3-N losses occurred until three days after N fertilization, with peaks up to 15.4 kg ha-1 d-1. The irrigation was efficient to reduce NH3 losses only when applied after N fertilization. However, reductions varied according to the N fertilizer, and were higher for urea (67 %) and slightly lower for urea with urease inhibitor (50 %) and slow-release fertilizer (40 %), compared with the mean of the treatments without irrigation and irrigation before fertilization. The use of urea with urease inhibitor instead of urea was only promising under volatilization-favorable conditions (no irrigation or irrigation before N fertilization). Compared to urea, slow-release fertilizer did not reduce ammonia volatilization in any of the rainfed or irrigated treatments.

ABSTRACT The DayCent ecosystem model, widely tested in upland agroecosystems, was recently updated to simulate waterlogged soils. We evaluated the new version in a paddy rice experiment in Southern Brazil. DayCent was used to simulate rice yield, soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil CH4 fluxes. Model calibration was conducted with a multiple-year dataset from the conventional tillage treatment, followed by a validation phase with data from the no-tillage treatment. Model performance was assessed with statistics commonly used in modeling studies: root mean square error (RMSE), model efficiency (EF), and mean difference (M). In general, DayCent slightly underestimated rice yields under no-tillage (by 0.07 Mg ha-1, or 9.2 %) and slightly overestimated soil C stocks, especially in the first years of the experiment. A comparison of observed and simulated CH4 daily fluxes showed that DayCent could simulate the general patterns of soil CH4 fluxes with slight discrepancies. Daily soil CH4 fluxes were overestimated by 0.43 kg ha-1 day-1 (12 %). Growth-season CH4 emissions under no-tillage were also somewhat overestimated (11 % or 45.29 kg ha-1). We conclude that DayCent simulated SOC, rice yield, and CH4 with some inaccuracies, but the overall performance was considered adequate. However, the model failed to represent the observed potential of no-tillage to mitigate CH4 emissions, possibly because model algorithms could not capture the actual field conditions derived from no-tillage management, such as soil redox potential, plant senescence, and surface placement of plant residue.

ABSTRACT Rice yield increases in response to improvements in crop management, but the impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the subtropical region of Southern Brazil remains unknown. A three-year field study was developed aiming to evaluate the impact that an increase in crop management levels (high and very high) has on soil methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, as compared to the level (medium) currently adopted by farmers in Southern Brazil. Differences in crop management included seed and fertilizer rates, irrigation, and pesticide use. The effect of crop management levels on the annual partial global warming potential (pGWP = CH4 × 25 + N2O × 298) ranged from 7,547 to 17,711 kg CO2eq ha−1 and this effect was larger than on the rice grain yield (9,280 to 12,260 kg ha−1), resulting in approximately 60 % higher yield-scaled GHG with the high crop management level compared to the current level. Soil CH4 emissions accounted for 98 % of pGWP in the flooded rice season, whereas N2O prevailed during the drained non-rice season (≈65 %). Although it was impossible to relate emissions to any individual input or practice, soil CH4 emissions in the rice season were linearly related to the biomass produced by the rice crop (p

ABSTRACT This paper aims to discuss the impact of the introduction of pastures and grazing animals in agricultural systems. For the purposes of this manuscript, we focus on within-farm integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS), typical of Southern Brazil. These ICLS are designed to create and enhance the synergisms and emergent properties have arisen from agricultural areas where livestock activities are integrated with crops. We show that the introduction of the crop component will affect less the preceding condition than the introduction of the livestock component. While the introduction of crops in pastoral systems represents increasing diversity of the plant component, the introduction of animals would represent the entry of new flows and interactions within the system. Thus, given the new complexity levels achieved from the introduction of grazing, the probability of arising emergent properties is theoretically much higher. However, grazing management is vital in determining the success or failure of such initiative. The grazing intensity practiced during the pasture phase would affect the canopy structure and the forage availability to animals. In adequate and moderate grazing intensities, it is possible to affirm that livestock combined with crops (ICLS) has a potential positive impact. As important as the improvements that grazing animals can generate to the soil-plant components, the economic resilience remarkably increases when pasture rotations are introduced compared with purely agriculture systems, particularly in climate-risk situations. Thus, the integration of the pastoral component can enhance the sustainable intensification of food production, but it modifies simple, pure agricultural systems into more complex and knowledge-demanding production systems.

ABSTRACT The use of gypsum to improve the root environment in tropical soils in the southeastern and central-western regions of Brazil is a widespread practice with well-established recommendation criteria. However, only recently gypsum began to be used on subtropical soils in South of Brazil, so available knowledge of its effect on crop yield is incipient and mainly for soils under no-till (NT) systems. Avaiable studies span a wide range of responses, from a substantial increase to a slight reduction in crop yield. Also, the specific conditions leading to a favorable effect of gypsum application on crop yield are yet to be accurately identified. The primary objectives of this study were to examine previously reported results to assess the likelihood of a crop response to gypsum and to develop useful recommendation criteria for gypsum application to subtropical soils under NT in Brazil. For this purpose, we examined the results of a total of 73 growing seasons, reported in 20 different scientific publications that assessed grain yield as a function of gypsum rates. Four different scenarios were examined, by the occurrence or not of high subsurface acidity (viz., Al saturation >20 % and/or exchangeable Ca 3 cmolc dm-3) failed to increase crop yield, irrespective of the soil water status. Under these conditions, high gypsum rates (6-15 Mg ha−1) may even reduce grain yield, possibly by inducing K and Mg deficiency. On the other hand, applying gypsum to soils with high subsurface acidity increased yield by 16 % in corn (87 % of cases) and by 19 % in winter cereals (83 % of cases), whether or not the soil was water-deficient. By contrast, soybean yield was only increased by gypsum applied in the simultaneous presence of high soil subsurface acidity and water deficiency (average increase 27 %, 100 % of cases).

There is no consensus in the literature regarding how many subsamples are needed to perform accurate on-farm soil penetration resistance (SPR) mapping. Therefore, the objective of this study was to define the number of subsamples per sampling point needed to quantify the SPR. The experiment was performed in a 4.7 ha area and employed a 50 × 50 m grid system (18 sampling points). The SPR was evaluated using a digital penetrometer in two different years with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 15 subsamples per sampling point. The SPR maps produced with increasing numbers of subsamples were compared to the reference maps (15 subsamples) using the relative deviation coefficient and Pearson´s linear correlation. A reduction in the number of subsamples promoted an increase in the variability of the SPR data. Generally, the results from this study suggest the use of at least four subsamples per sampling point to achieve SPR maps with a coefficient of relative deviation less than 10% (30% maximum error per point around the mean) and significant correlation with the reference maps (15 subsamples).

ABSTRACT High winter cereal yields depend on an adequate supply of nitrogen (N). We developed a system for indicating N rates for wheat and barley in the South-Central region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, using results of 72 field experiments conducted from 2007 to 2012. The N rates recommended for winter cereals were estimated to supply the amounts of N fertilizer needed to obtain increasing yields (5.5 Mg ha-1) of crops grown after soybean and corn on soils with a variable organic matter content (60 g dm-3). The apparent mineralization rate of soil N was estimated to be 1 % and the N fertilization efficiency 50 %. The N rates recommended for wheat ranged from 30 to 150 kg ha-1 when cultivated after soybean, and from 30 to 170 kg ha-1 after corn. The N rates for barley ranged from 30 to 120 kg ha-1 when grown after soybean, and from 30 to 130 kg ha-1 after corn. These N rates are consistent with those indicated by the Soil Fertility Commission for the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina (CQFS-RS/SC, 2016), and also with the rates of maximum economic efficiency estimated in our study. The proposed N rate recommendation system can be used by agricultural technicians and producers to manage N fertilization of wheat and barley in the South-Central region of Paraná, Brazil.

ABSTRACT High nitrogen (N) losses by ammonia (NH3) volatilization from urea can compromise nitrogen fertilization efficiency and corn yield. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of irrigation management and the addition of the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) on NH3-N losses from urea and on corn yield. To this end, two experiments were carried out in the 2011/12 crop season on a sandy clay loam Acrisol in the Central Basin region of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Experiment I consisted of two different N sources (urea and urea plus the inhibitor) at a rate of 200 kg ha-1 N and two corn sowing times [viz., an early time (Sept. 3, 2011) and an intermediate time (Oct. 3, 2011)]. Experiment II considered a combination of three irrigation management systems (viz., without irrigation on the fertilization day and on the next 7 days; 20 mm of water immediately before N fertilization; and 20 mm water after N fertilization) and two N sources (urea and urea plus the inhibitor) at 150 kg ha-1 N. A control treatment without topdressed N fertilization was also performed in parallel with the two experiments. The NH3-N losses from common urea increased with increasing soil moisture in Experiment I (25 % applied N), and with irrigation before N fertilization in Experiment II (27 % applied N). The inhibitor reduced NH3-N losses from urea by 46 to 80 %. Also, irrigation after fertilization reduced ammonia volatilization by 83 % on average, with little effect from the inhibitor. The effects of the inhibitor and post-fertilization irrigation on the mitigation of NH3 losses by volatilization from urea were not additive; in addition, they led to no increase in corn yield.

ABSTRACT Livestock urine and dung are important components of the N cycle in pastures, but little information on its effect on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions is available. We conducted a short-term (39-day) trial to quantify the direct N2O-N emissions from sheep excreta on an experimental area of ryegrass pasture growing on a Typic Paleudult in southern Brazil. Four rates of urine-N (161, 242, 323, and 403 kg ha-1 N) and one of dung-N (13 kg ha-1 N) were applied, as well as a control plot receiving no excreta. The N2O-N emission factor (EF = % of added N released as N2O-N) for urine and dung was calculated, taking into account the N2O fluxes in the field, over a period of 39 days. The EF value of the urine and dung was used to estimate the emissions of N2O-N over a 90-day period of pasture in the winter under two grazing intensities (2.5 or 5.0 times the herbage intake potential of grazing lambs). The soil N2O-N fluxes ranged from 4 to 353 µg m-2h-1. The highest N2O-N fluxes occurred 16 days after application of urine and dung, when the highest soil nitrate content was also recorded and the water-filled pore space exceeded 60 %. The mean EF for urine was 0.25 % of applied N, much higher than that for dung (0.06 %). We found that N2O-N emissions for the 90-day winter pasture period were 0.54 kg ha-1 for low grazing intensity and 0.62 kg ha-1 for moderate grazing intensity. Comparison of the two forms of excreta show that urine was the main contributor to N2O-N emissions (mean of 36 %), whereas dung was responsible for less than 0.1 % of total soil N2O-N emissions.

Abstract:The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of grazing intensity on the decomposition of cover crop pasture, dung, and soybean residues, as well as the C and N release rates from these residues in a long-term integrated soybean-beef cattle system under no-tillage. The experiment was initiated in 2001, with soybean cultivated in summer and black oat + Italian ryegrass in winter. The treatments consisted of four sward heights (10, 20, 30, and 40 cm), plus an ungrazed area, as the control. In 2009-2011, residues from pasture, dung, and soybean stems and leaves were placed in nylon-mesh litter bags and allowed to decompose for up to 258 days. With increasing grazing intensity, residual dry matter of the pasture decreased and that of dung increased. Pasture and dung lignin concentrations and C release rates were lower with moderate grazing intensity. C and N release rates from soybean residues are not affected by grazing intensity. The moderate grazing intensity produces higher quality residues, both for pasture and dung. Total C and N release is influenced by the greater residual dry matter produced when pastures were either lightly grazed or ungrazed.

O Estado do Paraná não dispõe de um sistema de recomendação de adubação para rotação de culturas em plantio direto (PD). Em razão disso, utiliza indicações geradas para culturas individuais há mais de 30 anos e em preparo convencional. Este estudo teve como objetivo consolidar a calibração de P e avaliar a resposta das culturas à adubação fosfatada, visando à proposição de um sistema de indicações técnicas para a adubação fosfatada das culturas da soja, do milho, do trigo e da cevada cultivadas em sistema de rotação em Latossolos com longo histórico de PD (>30 anos) na região centro-sul do Paraná, que se caracteriza por possuir alto potencial produtivo. Três experimentos de calibração foram conduzidos de 2008 a 2013 e consistiram na criação de níveis de P pela aplicação de doses a lanço de até 640 kg ha-1 de P2O5. Quarenta e quatro experimentos de resposta a P foram conduzidos entre as safras de 2011 a 2012/13, tendo como foco avaliar a resposta das culturas a P em solos com distinta disponibilidade do nutriente. Os rendimentos relativos [RR = (rendimento sem P/rendimento máximo) × 100] das culturas e os teores de P no solo (Mehlich-1) foram relacionados, obtendo-se os teores críticos e as classes de disponibilidade de P no solo. Para a estimativa das doses nas classes de disponibilidade Baixa e Média, foram utilizadas as curvas de resposta à adubação de P, seguindo a filosofia de suficiência (adubação de cultura). Nas classes de disponibilidade Alta e Muito Alta, as doses foram com base na exportação pelos grãos. Os cereais de inverno se evidenciaram mais exigentes e determinaram o teor crítico de P de 8 mg dm-3 para a rotação de culturas, considerando a camada de 0-20 cm. As doses de P indicadas para soja, milho, trigo e cevada em solos em PD de longa duração são superiores às de adubação atualmente indicadas no PR, o que, ao menos em parte, justificam-se pelas altas produtividades das culturas e alta capacidade de retenção de P dos solos da região. Embora adotada a filosofia de suficiência/adubação de cultura para a indicação das doses de adubação fosfatada em solos abaixo do teor crítico, estima-se que as doses estipuladas para as culturas elevem o teor de P no solo ao teor crítico após um ciclo da rotação de culturas (três anos).

Os mecanismos de estabilização da matéria orgânica (MO) têm sido estudados em solos tropicais e subtropicais brasileiros; no entanto, poucos trabalhos avaliaram a influência da parte metodológica do uso das soluções nos resultados obtidos. Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência de duas soluções salinas (iodeto de sódio - NaI 1,8 kg dm-3 e politungstato de sódio - PTS 2,0 kg dm-3) na separação de frações densimétricas da MO em dois solos (Argissolo Vermelho do sul do Brasil - 220 g kg-1 argila e Latossolo Vermelho do Cerrado - 630 g kg-1 argila) e o reflexo dessa eficiência na magnitude e importância do mecanismo de proteção física por oclusão em agregados no acúmulo de MO em solos brasileiros. Amostras de solo coletadas nas camadas de 0,00-0,05; 0,05-0,10; e 0,10-0,20 m foram submetidas ao fracionamento físico densimétrico e separadas as frações leve livre (FLL), leve-oclusa (FLO) e pesada (FP) da MO do solo. O uso de PTS 2,0 kg dm-3 aumentou o rendimento de carbono orgânico (CO) das FLL e FLO em ambos os solos em relação à solução de NaI 1,8 kg dm-3, sendo o efeito mais pronunciado na FLO. A utilização do sistema plantio direto (PD) aumentou os estoques de CO total na camada de 0,00-0,05 m do Argissolo em relação ao solo em preparo convencional (PC). O mecanismo de proteção física da MO por oclusão em agregados foi efetivo no aumento dos estoques de C do solo, sendo responsável por aproximadamente ⅓ do acúmulo na camada superficial do Argissolo (0,00-0,05 m). Para o Latossolo, não houve diferenças entre o estoque de CO total do PD e do PC, porém o solo sob PD apresentou acúmulo de aproximadamente ⅔ do estoque de C como FLO na camada superficial do solo. A proteção física por oclusão em agregados é um mecanismo expressivo na estabilização e sequestro de C em solos tropicais e subtropicais, cuja importância pode ser mascarada pela baixa eficiência da solução de NaI em estudos de fracionamento densimétrico da MO do solo.

Soil management, in terms of tillage and cropping systems, strongly influences the biological properties of soil involved in the suppression of plant diseases. Fungistasis mediated by soil microbiota is an important component of disease-suppressive soils. We evaluated the influence of different management systems on fungistasis against Fusarium graminearum, the relationship of fungistasis to the bacterial profile of the soil, and the possible mechanisms involved in this process. Samples were taken from a long-term experiment set up in a Paleudult soil under conventional tillage or no-tillage management and three cropping systems: black oat (Avena strigose L.) + vetch (Vicia sativa L.)/maize (Zea mays L.) + cowpea (Vigna sinensis L.), black oat/maize, and vetch/maize. Soil fungistasis was evaluated in terms of reduction of radial growth of F. graminearum, and bacterial diversity was assessed using ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA). A total of 120 bacterial isolates were obtained and evaluated for antibiosis, and production of volatile compounds and siderophores. No-tillage soil samples showed the highest level of F. graminearum fungistasis by sharply reducing the development of this pathogen. Of the cropping systems tested, the vetch + black oat/maize + cowpea system showed the highest fungistasis and the oat/maize system showed the lowest. The management system also affected the genetic profile of the bacteria isolated, with the systems from fungistatic soils showing greater similarity. Although there was no clear relationship between soil management and the characteristics of the bacterial isolates, we may conclude that antibiosis and the production of siderophores were the main mechanisms accounting for fungistasis.

This study aimed to quantify the nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) fluxes at sites with different vegetation covers and where bird activity was present or absent using the static chamber method, on Rip Point, Nelson Island, maritime Antarctic. The sites were soils covered by Sanionia uncinata, lichens, Prasiola crispa, Deschampsia antarctica and bare soil. Seabirds used the P. crispa and D. antarctica sites as nesting areas. Soil mineral N contents, air and soil temperature and water-filled pore space were measured, and the content of total organic C and particulate organic C, total N, bulk density and texture were determined to identify controlling variables of the gas emissions. The N2O and CH4 flux rates were low for all sampling events. Mean N2O flux rates ranged from 0.11±1.93 up to 21.25±22.14 µg N2O m−2 h−1 for the soils under lichen and P. crispa cover, respectively. For the CH4 fluxes, only the P. crispa site showed a low positive mean (0.47±3.61 µg CH4 m−2 h−1). The bare soil showed the greatest absorption of CH4 (−11.92±5.7 µg CH4 m−2 h−1), probably favoured by the coarse soil texture. Bare soil and S. uncinata sites had N2O accumulated emissions close to zero. Net CH4 accumulated emission was observed only at the P. crispa site, which was correlated with NH4+ (p

Crop residues on the soil surface of no-till systems can intensify ammonia volatilization from N fertilizers applied to cereal crops. This study assessed the magnitude of N losses through ammonia volatilization from urea applied to no-till winter (wheat) and summer crops (maize) on a Typic Hapludox in the south-central region of Paraná, southern Brazil. In addition, the potential of alternative N sources (urea with urease inhibitor, liquid fertilizer, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate) and different urea managements (fertilizer applied in the morning or afternoon) were evaluated. Two experiments with maize and wheat were carried out for two years, arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. Nitrogen volatilization losses were assessed with a semi-open static collector until 21 days after fertilization. In winter, the losses were low (

The capacity of soils to sequestrate carbon (C) is mainly related to the formation of organo-mineral complexes. In this study, we investigated the influence of soil management systems on the C retention capacity of soil with an emphasis on the silt and clay fractions of two subtropical soils with different mineralogy and climate. Samples from a Humic Hapludox and a Rhodic Hapludox, clayey soils cultivated for approximately 30 years under no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) were collected from six layers distributed within 100-cm soil depth from each site and from an adjacent native forest. After the removal of particulate organic matter (POM), the suspension (

Soil carbon accumulation is largely dependent on net primary productivity. To our knowledge, there have been no studies investigating the dynamics of carbon accumulation in weathered subtropical soils, especially in managed eucalyptus plantations. We quantified the seasonal input of leaf litter, the leaf decomposition rate and soil carbon stocks in an commercial plantation of Eucalyptus saligna Labill. in southern Brazil. Our goal was to evaluate, through multiple linear regression, the influence that certain chemical characteristics of litter, as well as chemical and physical characteristics of soil, have on carbon accumulation in soil organic matter fractions. Variables related to the chemical composition of litter were not associated with the soil carbon stock in the particulate and mineral fractions. However, certain soil characteristics were significantly associated with the carbon stock in both fractions. The concentrations of nutrients associated with plant growth and productivity, such as phosphorus, sulfur, copper and zinc, were associated with variations in the labile carbon pool (particulate fraction). Clay content was strongly associated with the carbon stock in the mineral fraction. The carbon accumulation and stabilization in weathered subtropical Ultisol seems to be mainly associated with the intrinsic characteristics of the soil, particularly clay content, rather than with the quantity, chemical composition or decomposition rate of the litter.

O fracionamento físico da matéria orgânica (MO) do solo é uma alternativa para a obtenção de frações lábeis utilizadas no cálculo do índice de manejo de carbono (IMC). O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência do fracionamento físico granulométrico (53µm) e densimétrico, com soluções de iodeto de sódio 1,8Mg m-3 (NaI) ou politungstato de sódio 2,0Mg m-3 (PTS), na separação das frações lábeis (particulada e leve, respectivamente) da MO e o seu uso na estimativa do IMC. Amostras da camada de 0-20cm de um Argissolo Vermelho sob preparo convencional (PC) e plantio direto (PD), combinados com dois sistemas de culturas (aveia/milho e aveia+ervilhaca/milho+caupi), foram avaliadas quanto ao estoque de carbono orgânico total (COT), e nas frações particulada (COP) e leve (C-FL) da MO. No fracionamento físico densimétrico, com a utilização de NaI, foi recuperado menos C-FL em relação ao uso de PTS. A recuperação de COP no fracionamento granulométrico foi intermediária entre a recuperação de FL-NaI e de FL-PTS. O IMC com os dados do fracionamento granulométrico apresentou elevada correlação com o IMC dos dados de fracionamento densimétrico (NaI e PTS), havendo porém uma subestimação dos resultados com o uso de NaI. Os sistemas de manejo sem revolvimento do solo e com maior aporte de resíduos vegetais resultaram em maior IMC, tanto pelo aumento do índice de labilidade quanto do índice de estoque de carbono. O IMC a partir de frações físicas densimétricas da MO demonstra ser um índice eficiente na discriminação de sistemas de manejo, podendo ser utilizado na avaliação das práticas de manejo do solo.

Soil can be either source or sink of methane (CH4), depending on the balance between methanogenesis and methanotrophy, which are determined by pedological, climatic and management factors. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of drainage of a highland Haplic Histosol on CH4 fluxes. Field research was carried out in Ponta Grossa (Paraná, Brazil) based on the measurement of CH4 fluxes by the static chamber method in natural and drained Histosol, over one year (17 sampling events). The natural Histosol showed net CH4 eflux, with rates varying from 238 µg m-2 h-1 CH4, in cool/cold periods, to 2,850 µg m-2 h-1 CH4, in warm/hot periods, resulting a cumulative emission of 116 kg ha-1 yr-1 CH4. In the opposite, the drained Histosol showed net influx of CH4 (-39 to -146 µg m-2 h-1), which resulted in a net consumption of 9 kg ha-1 yr-1 CH4. The main driving factors of CH4 consumption in the drained soil were the lowering of the water-table (on average -57 cm, vs -7 cm in natural soil) and the lower water content in the 0-10 cm layer (average of 5.5 kg kg-1, vs 9.9 kg kg-1 in natural soil). Although waterlogged Histosols of highland areas are regarded as CH4 sources, they fulfill fundamental functions in the ecosystem, such as the accumulation of organic carbon (581 Mg ha-1 C to a depth of 1 m) and water (8.6 million L ha-1 = 860 mm to a depth of 1 m). For this reason, these soils must not be drained as an alternative to mitigate CH4 emission, but effectively preserved.

The low phosphorus availability in tropical and subtropical soils, normally related to adsorption of phosphate to the minerals surfaces, can be attenuated when organic matter (OM) accumulates in the soils. Herein, we report the results of long-term experiments (18–32 years) aimed at quantifying the maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity (MPAC) and its determinant mineralogical variables in Brazilian soils and at assessing the effect of no-tillage (NT) in mitigating the phosphorus adsorption of soils. The MPAC of soils ranged from 297 to 4,561 mg kg-1 in the 0.00–0.10 m layer and from 285 to 4,961 mg kg-1 in the 0.10–0.20 m layer. The MPAC was correlated with the concentrations of iron oxides, goethite and ferrihydrite, gibbsite/(gibbsite+kaolinite) ratio and the specific surface area. The OM increased in the 0.00–0.10 m layer of NT soils, which was not reflected on the decrease of MPAC for the no-tillage soils.

Conservation management systems are usually suggested as alternative to restore the soil methane (CH4) oxidation capacity of degraded soils; however, little information is available on tropical and subtropical soils. Our objective was to evaluate the long-term (19 years) effect of no-tillage (NT) versus conventional tillage (CT) management systems on CH4 fluxes in a formerly degraded Acrisol in Southern Brazil. Annual CH4 fluxes of two cropping systems [O/M-black oat (Avena strigosa)/maize and V/M-vetch (Vigna sativa)/maize] were measured in NT and CT soils. Static chambers were used for air sampling, while chromatography was used for CH4 analysis. Analysis of the historical dataset at this experimental site indicated improvements in soil quality under the NT system, especially in legume-based cropping system (V/M) that exhibited the highest annual biomass input. CH4 fluxes ranged from −42 ± 2 to 38 ± 16 μg C m-2 h-1, and annual CH4 emissions ranged from −825 ± 117 (CT V/M) to 453 ± 185 g C ha-1 (NT O/M). Thus, the annual CH4 oxidation capacity of the soil was not related to the soil quality produced by the soil management systems. On the basis of our results and published literature, we postulate that conservation management systems improve the methane oxidation and soil quality in distinct soil layers, which result in a slow effect of these management systems on the methane oxidation capacity. Sistemas conservacionistas de manejo de solo são considerados usualmente uma alternativa para restaurar a capacidade de solos agrícolas degradados em oxidar metano (CH4), mas escassa informação é disponível para solos tropicais e subtropicais. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito de longo prazo (19 anos) do plantio direto (PD) nos fluxos de CH4 em um Argissolo Vermelho (Classificação Brasileira) degradado da região Sul do Brasil, em comparação ao preparo convencional (PC). Fluxos anuais de CH4 do solo foram avaliados nos sistemas PD e PC sob dois sistemas de cultura (aveia/ milho- A/M e ervilhaca/milho-E/M). Amostragem do ar foi conduzida utilizando o método da câmara estática fechada e as análises de CH4 foram realizadas por cromatografia gasosa. Dados históricos do experimento evidenciaram melhoria expressiva da qualidade do solo em PD, especialmente quando associado ao sistema de cultura com leguminosas de cobertura de solo (E/M) que apresentou a mais elevada adição anual de biomassa ao solo. Os fluxos de CH4 variaram de −42±2 a 38±16 μg C m-2 h-1 e as emissões anuais de CH4 variaram de −825±117 (PC E/M) a 453±185 g C ha-1 (PD A/M). Portanto, a capacidade de oxidação de CH4 não teve relação com a qualidade do solo nos distintos sistemas de manejo. Baseado nos resultados do presente estudo e da literatura, nos hipotetizamos que as zonas de oxidação de CH4 e de melhoria da qualidade do solo ocorrem em posições distintas no perfil do solo sob sistemas conservacionistas de manejo, determinando que a recuperação da capacidade do solo em oxidar CH4 seja bastante lenta.

Paddy rice fields may contribute to methane (CH4) emission from soil due to anaerobic conditions after flooding. Alternatives to continuous flooding irrigation in rice have been developed to mitigate CH4 efflux into the atmosphere. This study aims to investigate the effects of irrigation managements in the CH4 efflux during the rice growing season. An experiment was carried out at in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, during 2007/08 and 2009/10 growing seasons. The treatments were continuous flooding and intermittent irrigation in 2007/08 and continuous flooding, intermittent irrigation and flush irrigation in 2009/10. Intermittent irrigation is effective in mitigating CH4 efflux from rice fields when climatic conditions enable water absence during cultivation, but its efficiency depends on the electrochemical soil conditions during the flooding cycles.O cultivo de arroz irrigado pode contribuir com a emissão de metano (CH4), em razão das condições anaeróbicas, após o alagamento do solo. Alternativas ao alagamento contínuo da irrigação na cultura do arroz têm sido desenvolvidas a fim de mitigar o efluxo de CH4 para a atmosfera. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito do regime de irrigação contínua, intermitente e por banhos no efluxo de CH4 em arroz irrigado. Para tal, foi conduzido um experimento no Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, durante os anos agrícolas 2007/2008 e 2009/2010. Os tratamentos consistiram em irrigação contínua e intermitente, em 2007/2008, e irrigação contínua, intermitente e por banhos, em 2009/2010. A prática da irrigação intermitente é eficiente em abrandar o efluxo de CH4 no cultivo do arroz irrigado, quando as condições climáticas permitem a ausência da lâmina de água durante o cultivo. A eficiência em suavizar o efluxo de CH4 pelo manejo intermitente da irrigação na cultura do arroz depende das condições eletroquímicas do solo, durante a intermitência dos ciclos de alagamento da cultura.

A adoção do plantio direto (PD) em substituição ao preparo convencional promove alterações na dinâmica de nutrientes e na acidez no solo, podendo influenciar as relações solo-planta e, portanto, os critérios de manejo da fertilidade do solo. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar os critérios de recomendação de calagem e os teores críticos de fósforo (P) e potássio (K) para o sistema de rotação de culturas envolvendo soja, milho, trigo, cevada e aveia branca, amplamente adotado na região Centro-Sul do Paraná. O estudo foi com base em 13 experimentos de campo conduzidos em Latossolos Brunos em longo prazo em PD (>15 anos), nos municípios de Guarapuava, Pinhão e Candói. Desses, cinco envolveram calagem e oito adubação de P e K. Em amostras de solo das camadas de 0-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m, foi determinado o pH (CaCl2) e calculada a saturação por bases (V%) nos experimentos de calagem e os teores de P e K disponível (Mehlich-1) nos experimentos de adubação. O método dos quadrantes foi utilizado para determinar os critérios de recomendação de calagem; e o nível crítico de pH e V% consistiu no valor em que, acima do qual, as culturas apresentaram rendimento relativo (RR) superior a 90 % e nunca inferior a 80 %. A relação entre os teores de P e K e os valores de RR foi verificada pela equação de Mitscherlich, sendo o teor crítico aquele correspondente ao RR de 90 %. Os resultados indicaram que os níveis críticos relacionados à acidez e disponibilidade de P e K foram maiores para a camada de 0-0,10 m do que para a de 0-0,20 m. A cultura da soja foi mais sensível à acidez do solo, enquanto os cereais de inverno foram mais exigentes em P e K. Tomando-se como referência as culturas mais restritivas do sistema de rotação e a camada de 0-0,20 m, os níveis críticos para calagem foram pH (CaCl2) de 4,9 e saturação por bases de 60 %, enquanto os teores críticos para adubação foram 8 mg dm-3 de P e 0,30 cmol c dm-3 de K para Latossolos cultivados no longo prazo em sistema PD na região Centro-Sul do Paraná.

Assessments of soil carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are critical for determination of the agricultural practices' potential to mitigate global warming. This study evaluated the photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) for the assessment of soil greenhouse gases (GHG) fluxes in comparison to the standard gas chromatography (GC) method. Two long-term experiments with different tillage and cropping systems over a Paleudult were evaluated using static chambers. PAS measurements of CO2 and N2O concentrations showed good relationship and linearity (R2=0.98 and 0.94, respectively) with GC results. However, CH4 measurements were significantly affected by air sample moisture which interfered on CH4 detection by PAS. Overestimation of CO2 and N2O concentrations in air samples determined by PAS (14.6 and 18.7%, respectively) were also related to sampling moisture. CO2 and N2O fluxes showed good agreement between methods (R2=0.96 and 0.95, respectively), though PAS overestimated fluxes by 18.6 and 13.6% in relation to GC results, respectively. PAS showed good sensitivity and was able to detect CO2 and N2O fluxes as low as 332mg CO2 m-2 h-1 and 21µg N2O m-2 h-1. PAS analyzer should be detailed calibrated to reduce humidity interference on CO2, CH4 and N2O concentrations measurements avoiding overestimation or erroneous determination of soil GHG fluxes.As avaliações das emissões de dióxido de carbono (CO2), metano (CH4) e óxido nitroso (N2O) do solo são fundamentais para a determinação do potencial de práticas agrícolas em mitigar o aquecimento global. Este estudo avaliou a espectroscopia fotoacústica (EFA) para a determinação dos fluxos de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) do solo em comparação com o método padrão de cromatografia gasosa (CG). Dois experimentos de longa duração com diferentes sistemas de preparo do solo e rotação de culturas sobre um Argissolo foram avaliados usando câmaras estáticas. As medidas das concentrações de CO2 e N2O realizadas por EFA mostraram boa correlação e linearidade (R2=0,98 e 0,94; respectivamente) com os resultados de CG. Entretanto, as medidas de CH4 foram significativamente afetadas pela umidade da amostra de ar que interferiu na detecção do CH4 por EFA. A superestimativa das concentrações de CO2 e N2O nas amostras analisadas por EFA (14,6 e 18,7%; respectivamente) também foram relacionadas com o conteúdo de umidade da amostra. Os fluxos de CO2 e N2O mostraram boa correlação entre os métodos (R2=0,96 e 0,95; respectivamente), apesar da superestimativa dos fluxos determinados por EFA ter sido de 18,6 e 13,6% em relação aos resultados obtidos por CG, respectivamente. A EFA mostrou boa sensibilidade e foi capaz de detectar fluxos de CO2 e N2O tão baixos quanto 332mg CO2 m-2 h-1 and 21µg N2O m-2 h-1. A calibração detalhada do analisador fotoacústico para reduzir a interferência da umidade das amostras nas medidas das concentrações de CO2, CH4 e N2O deve ser realizada a fim de evitar superestimativa ou erro na determinação dos fluxos de GEE do solo.

Replacing conventional tillage (CT) with no-tillage (NT) management alters the pedoenvironment and the rate of topsoil processes, with possible effects on dissolution processes associated with iron oxides and therefore soil mineralogy. This study aimed to determine the effect of NT on the content and distribution of types of iron oxides in a Rhodic Paleudult in southern Brazil. Soil samples were collected at eight depths within the 0.00-0.80 m layer under CT and NT in a long-term experiment (21 years). Mineralogical identification was conducted by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the Fe content related to specific types of iron oxides determined by selective dissolution and diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy. Kaolinite, quartz, goethite, hematite, and maghemite were identified in the clay fraction. In the NT-managed soil, there was a decrease in the content of crystalline iron oxides and an increase in the content of poorly crystalline iron oxides with increasing proximity to the soil surface. These results suggest that iron oxides are rearranged in this soil by reductive dissolution of the crystalline types and neoformation of metastable ferrihydrite in topsoil layers, which should be assessed further in laboratory studies.

ABSTRACT Changes in soil physical properties due to different management systems occur slowly, and long-term studies are needed to assess soil quality. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of soil management systems and liming methods on the physical properties of a Latossolo Bruno Alumínico típico (Hapludox). A long-term experiment that began in 1978 with conventional and no-tillage systems was assessed. In addition, different liming methods (no lime, incorporated lime, and lime on the soil surface) have been applied since 1987 and were also evaluated in this study. Moreover, an area of native forest was evaluated and considered a reference for the natural condition of the soil. Soil physical properties were evaluated in layers to a depth of 1.00 m. Compared to native forest, the conventional tillage and no-tillage systems had higher soil bulk density, penetration resistance, and microporosity, and lower aggregate stability and macroporosity. Compared to the conventional tillage system, long-term no-tillage improved the structure of the Hapludox, as evidenced by increased microporosity and aggregate stability, especially in the soil surface layer. In no-tillage with lime applications sporadically incorporated, soil physical properties did not differ from no-tillage without lime and with lime applied on the soil surface, indicating that this practice maintains the physical quality of soil under no-tillage. Liming in a conventional tillage system improved soil aggregation and reduces penetration resistance in the soil layers near the soil surface. No-tillage was the main practice related to improvement of soil physical quality, and liming methods did not influence soil physical properties in this soil management system.

ABSTRACT Litter production in forest ecosystems is a major indicator of primary productivity because litter helps incorporate carbon and nutrients from plants into the soil and is directly involved in plant-soil interactions. To our knowledge, few studies have investigated the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem processes in subtropical forest fragments. In this work, we determined forest structural parameters and assessed seasonal leaf litter input, leaf decomposition rate, litter quality and soil characteristics in two subtropical Atlantic Forest fragments. Litter production was greater in the native fragment with the higher species diversity (FN1). The two native fragments (FN1 and FN2) differed in basal area, volume and dominance in the upper stratum, which were positively correlated with litter production in FN1 but negatively correlated in FN2. Soil in FN1 exhibited higher contents of organic C, available phosphorus and exchangeable calcium, and the leaf litter had a higher C:N ratio. Although these results are consistent with a plant-soil feedback, which suggests the presence of a complementary effect, the dominance of certain families in subtropical forest fragments results in a selection effect on litter productivity and decomposition.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the distribution pattern and composition of soil organic matter (SOM) and its physical pools of Leptosols periodically affected by fire over the last 100 years in South Brazil. Soil samples at 0-5, 5-10, and 10-15 cm depths were collected from the following environments: native pasture without burning in the last year and grazed with 0.5 livestock per hectare per year (1NB); native pasture without burning in the last 23 years and grazed with 2.0 livestock per hectare per year (23NB); and an Araucaria forest (AF). Physical fractionation was performed with the 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil layers. Soil C and N stocks were determined in the three depths and in the physical pools, and organic matter was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. The largest C stocks in all depths and physical pools were found under the AF. The 23NB environment showed the lowest soil C and N stocks at the 5-15 cm depth, which was related to the end of burning and to the higher grazing intensity. The SOM of the occluded light fraction showed a greater chemical recalcitrance in 1NB than in 23NB. Annual pasture burning does not affect soil C stocks up to 15 cm of depth.

O sistema plantio direto (PD) intensifica as perdas de N da ureia por volatilização, em comparação ao preparo convencional (PC). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a magnitude desse efeito nas condições de temperatura amena e primavera chuvosa da região Centro-Sul do Paraná, bem como avaliar a influência de diferentes plantas de cobertura invernais (aveia-branca e ervilhaca comum) nas perdas de amônia (NH3) em PD. O estudo sobre o efeito dos preparos de solo foi realizado em experimento de longa duração (28 anos), e a avaliação das plantas de cobertura foi feita em experimento implantado especificamente com esse fim em área em PD por longo período (> 15 anos). Em ambos os experimentos cultivou-se milho. A ureia foi aplicada nas doses de 0, 80 e 160 kg ha-1 de N em apenas uma aplicação no experimento de preparos, e nas doses de 0, 100 e 200 kg ha-1 de N, divididas em duas aplicações, no experimento de plantas de cobertura. A volatilização de amônia foi avaliada durante 20 dias após a aplicação da ureia, utilizando coletores semiabertos estáticos. A atividade da urease no solo foi avaliada em ambos os experimentos. As maiores taxas de perda de NH3 ocorreram nos cinco dias que sucederam à aplicação de ureia. As perdas acumuladas atingiram 18 % da dose aplicada no PD e 3 % no PC, e as maiores perdas no PD podem ser parcialmente relacionadas à maior atividade da urease na camada superficial do solo. A volatilização de amônia não foi alterada pelo tipo de planta de cobertura. O parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada em cobertura por si só não garante a diminuição das perdas de N por volatilização, a qual é relacionada à ocorrência de chuva no período imediatamente posterior à aplicação da ureia.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de sistemas de manejo do solo alterarem os teores e a dinâmica do carbono no solo. Foram avaliados a vegetação natural e sistemas de manejo compostos de pastagens, lavouras anuais em preparo convencional e em plantio direto, e rotação de pastagem com lavoura, em experimentos de longa duração conduzidos em Dourados, Maracaju e Campo Grande, MS. Os experimentos foram dispostos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em Dourados e Maracaju, e em blocos ao acaso em Campo Grande. Foram determinados os teores e os estoques de C total no solo e em frações granulométricas da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS). A qualidade da MOS foi estimada pela relação entre o C nas frações lábil e não lábil, e expressa na forma de labilidade. A pastagem, permanente ou em rotação com lavouras, aumentou o C na fração particulada e a labilidade da MOS. As menores taxas de acúmulo e os menores estoques de C no solo foram observados nos sistemas apenas com lavouras anuais, enquanto os maiores valores foram registrados nos sistemas com pastagens.

O fracionamento físico densimétrico é uma importante ferramenta no estudo da proteção física da matéria orgânica (MO) em agregados de solo, porém seus resultados podem ser alterados pela malha da peneira utilizada no preparo da amostra. A hipótese do presente estudo é de que a desagregação excessiva do solo pelo uso de peneira de 2 mm libera MO originalmente protegida dentro de agregados e, portanto, subestima o teor de C na fração leve-oclusa (C-FLO) e a magnitude da proteção física da MO intra-agregados, em comparação à peneira de 9,5 mm. Amostras (0-5 cm) de cinco solos foram coletadas em experimentos de longa duração (9-18 anos) nas regiões Centro-Oeste (quatro solos) e Sul do Brasil (um solo), sob sistemas de manejo convencional e conservacionista. Tomando as amostras < 9,5 mm como referência, verificou-se subestimação de 2,9 a 15,7 % no C-FLO quando utilizadas amostras < 2,0 mm, a qual foi mais expressiva nos sistemas conservacionistas de manejo de solo e positivamente correlacionada com os teores de C no solo (r = 0,92, p < 0,04), massa de macroagregados > 2 mm (r = 0,90, p < 0,02) e índice de estabilidade de agregados (r = 0,94, p < 0,01). Em três dos cinco solos estudados, o uso de amostras < 2,0 mm levou à conclusão errônea de que os sistemas conservacionistas de manejo do solo não são efetivos na proteção física da MO do solo. Em estudos da proteção física da MO intra-agregados indica-se o uso da peneira de malha de 9,5 mm no preparo da amostra ou, alternativamente, da mesma malha da peneira empregada na preparação de amostras para avaliação da estabilidade de agregados, usualmente 8 mm ou maior.

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a crucial role in soil quality and can act as an atmospheric C-CO2 sink under conservationist management systems. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects (19 years) of tillage (CT-conventional tillage and NT-no tillage) and crop rotations (R0-monoculture system, R1-winter crop rotation, and R2- intensive crop rotation) on total, particulate and mineral-associated organic carbon (C) stocks of an originally degraded Red Oxisol in Cruz Alta, RS, Southern Brazil. The climate is humid subtropical Cfa 2a (Köppen classification), the mean annual precipitation 1,774 mm and mean annual temperature 19.2 ºC. The plots were divided into four segments, of which each was sampled in the layers 0-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0.20-0.30 m. Sampling was performed manually by opening small trenches. The SOM pools were determined by physical fractionation. Soil C stocks had a linear relationship with annual crop C inputs, regardless of the tillage systems. Thus, soil disturbance had a minor effect on SOM turnover. In the 0-0.30 m layer, soil C sequestration ranged from 0 to 0.51 Mg ha-1 yr-1, using the CT R0 treatment as base-line; crop rotation systems had more influence on soil stock C than tillage systems. The mean C sequestration rate of the cropping systems was 0.13 Mg ha-1 yr-1 higher in NT than CT. This result was associated to the higher C input by crops due to the improvement in soil quality under long-term no-tillage. The particulate C fraction was a sensitive indicator of soil management quality, while mineral-associated organic C was the main pool of atmospheric C fixed in this clayey Oxisol. The C retention in this stable SOM fraction accounts for 81 and 89 % of total C sequestration in the treatments NT R1 and NT R2, respectively, in relation to the same cropping systems under CT. The highest C management index was observed in NT R2, confirming the capacity of this soil management practice to improve the soil C stock qualitatively in relation to CT R0. The results highlighted the diversification of crop rotation with cover crops as a crucial strategy for atmospheric C-CO2 sequestration and SOM quality improvement in highly weathered subtropical Oxisols.

Solos de várzea sob cultivo de arroz irrigado contribuem com aproximadamente 18 % das emissões totais de metano (CH4) do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Entretanto, a liberação de CH4 depende do curso de redução de cada solo. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a dinâmica da emissão desse gás de efeito estufa (GEE) em seis solos: Gleissolo (2), Planossolo (2), Chernossolo e Neossolo, representativos do cultivo de arroz irrigado no Sul do Brasil, visando identificar também sua relação com propriedades do solo e as alterações eletroquímicas da solução após o alagamento. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação, com três repetições, segundo delineamento de blocos casualizados. Os solos foram dispostos em vasos de PVC mantidos com uma lâmina de água de 10 cm de altura e cultivados com arroz. A avaliação das emissões de CH4 foi realizada semanalmente, do 3º ao 66º dia após o alagamento (DAA) do solo, com o auxílio de uma câmara de PVC acoplada ao topo dos vasos. As amostras de ar foram coletadas em quatro intervalos de 5 min, para estimativa das taxas de emissão de CH4. A solução do solo também foi coletada e caracterizada. O início da emissão de CH4 variou entre os solos e, normalmente, ocorreu após a quase total redução do Fe3+ (em torno de 90 % da maior liberação de Fe2+) e estabilização dos valores de pH e de Eh da solução. A emissão total de CH4 variou de 8,5 a 44,2 g m-2 e apresentou relação sigmoidal com os teores de C orgânico dos solos (r²=0,83, p < 0,05), sugerindo que a disponibilidade de C somente foi limitante para o processo de metanogênese em teores inferiores a 8 g kg-1 de C no solo. Os resultados mostram que a dinâmica e as quantidades totais de CH4 emitidas são influenciadas pelo tipo de solo e que esforços devem ser direcionados para determinação dos fatores de emissão de CH4 para os diferentes solos representativos da produção de arroz no Sul do Brasil, bem como na avaliação do efeito de práticas agrícolas na mitigação das emissões desse GEE nos diferentes solos.

Winter cover crops are sources of C and N in flooded rice production systems, but very little is known about the effect of crop residue management and quality on soil methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This study was conducted in pots in a greenhouse to evaluate the influence of crop residue management (incorporated into the soil or left on the soil surface) and the type of cover-crop residues (ryegrass and serradella) on CH4 and N2O emissions from a flooded Albaqualf soil cultivated with rice (Oryza sativa L.). The closed chamber technique was used for air sampling and the CH4 and N2O concentrations were analyzed by gas chromatography. Soil solution was sampled at two soil depths (2 and 20 cm), simultaneously to air sampling, and the contents of dissolved organic C (DOC), NO3-, NH4+, Mn2+, and Fe2+ were analyzed. Methane and N2O emissions from the soil where crop residues had been left on the surface were lower than from soil with incorporated residues. The type of crop residue had no effect on the CH4 emissions, while higher N2O emissions were observed from serradella (leguminous) than from ryegrass, but only when the residues were left on the soil surface. The more intense soil reduction verified in the deeper soil layer (20 cm), as evidenced by higher contents of reduced metal species (Mn2+ and Fe2+), and the close relationship between CH4 emission and the DOC contents in the deeper layer indicated that the sub-surface layer was the main CH4 source of the flooded soil with incorporated crop residues. The adoption of management strategies in which crop residues are left on the soil surface is crucial to minimize soil CH4 and N2O emissions from irrigated rice fields. In these production systems, CH4 accounts for more than 90 % of the partial global warming potential (CH4+N2O) and, thus, should be the main focus of research.

Pouco se conhece sobre a eficiência relativa de fosfatos solúveis e naturais em sistemas de alta produtividade de culturas em plantio direto no centro-sul do Paraná. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a eficiência agronômica de fosfatos naturais reativos em comparação a um fosfato solúvel na produtividade de várias espécies vegetais anuais em dois ciclos de um sistema de rotação de culturas trienal. O experimento foi conduzido sobre um Latossolo Bruno, em Guarapuava, PR, de 2000 a 2006. Dois fosfatos naturais reativos (FNR: Gafsa e Arad) e um fosfato solúvel (superfosfato triplo, SFT) foram aplicados, a lanço, nas doses de 0, 40, 80 e 160 kg ha-1 de P2O5, no início do primeiro e do segundo ciclo de rotação de culturas trienal (aveia branca/milho/trigo/soja/cevada/soja). À exceção da cevada, a produtividade das culturas não foi alterada pela adição de qualquer dos fosfatos no primeiro ciclo de rotação, provavelmente, devido ao alto teor de P previamente existente no solo (8,7 mg dm-3 na camada de 0-10 cm). No segundo ciclo de rotação, quando o solo tinha 4,1 mg dm-3 de P, a aplicação de P na semeadura da aveia branca incrementou em 11 % a produtividade das culturas de verão e em 20 % a das culturas de inverno, tendo o menor incremento ocorrido no milho (8 %) e o maior na cevada (44 %). Neste ciclo, o SFT proporcionou maior produtividade do que os FNR nas culturas de inverno (aveia branca, trigo e cevada), numa média de 11 %, não tendo havido diferença de produtividade entre os FNR. O fosfato solúvel em água é mais eficiente do que os fosfatos naturais reativos em solos sob plantio direto, tanto no efeito imediato quanto na fase residual. Apesar disso, não é necessário aplicar fertilizantes fosfatados para obter alta produtividade em solos com altos teores de P em plantio direto, a não ser para culturas muito exigentes, a exemplo da cevada.

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization can reduce the efficiency of urea applied to the surface of no-till (NT) soils. Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the magnitude of NH3 losses from surface-applied urea and to determine if this loss justifies the urea incorporation in soil or its substitution for other N sources under the subtropical climatic conditions of South-Central region of Paraná State, Brazil. The experiment, performed over four harvesting seasons in a clayey Hapludox followed a randomized block design with four replicates. A single dose of N (150 kg ha-1) to V5 growth stage of corn cultivated under NT system was applied and seven treatments were evaluated, including surface-applied urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, urea with urease inhibitor, controlled-release N source, a liquid N source, incorporated urea, and a control treatment with no N application. Ammonia volatilization was evaluated for 20 days after N application using a semi-open static system. The average cumulative NH3 loss due to the superficial application of urea was low (12.5 % of the applied N) compared to the losses observed in warmer regions of Southeastern Brazil (greater than 50 %). The greatest NH3 losses were observed in dry years (up to 25.4 % of the applied N), and losses decreased exponentially as the amount of rainfall after N application increased. Incorporated urea and alternative N sources, with the exception of controlled-release N source, decreased NH3 volatilization in comparison with surface-applied urea. Urea incorporation is advantageous for the reduction of NH3 volatilization; however, other aspects as its low operating efficiency should be considered before this practice is adopted. In the South-Central region of Paraná, the low NH3 losses from the surface-applied urea in NT system due to wet springs and mild temperatures do not justify its replacement for other N sources.A volatilização de amônia (NH3) pode resultar em baixa eficiência da ureia aplicada na superfície de solos sob plantio direto (PD). Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a magnitude da perda de NH3 proveniente da ureia e verificar se essa perda justifica a incorporação do fertilizante ou a sua substituição por outras fontes de N nas condições climáticas da região centro-sul do Paraná. O experimento, conduzido por quatro safras num Latossolo Bruno argiloso, consistiu da aplicação em dose única de 150 kg ha-1 de N em cobertura na cultura do milho (estádio V5) em PD, em sete tratamentos (ureia superficial, ureia incorporada, sulfato de amônio, nitrato de amônio, ureia com inibidor de urease, fonte de N de liberação gradual e uma fonte líquida de N), além de um tratamento controle (sem adubação nitrogenada). Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. A volatilização de NH3 foi avaliada por meio do sistema semiaberto estático, durante 20 dias após a aplicação dos fertilizantes. A perda acumulada de NH3 com a aplicação superficial de ureia, na média dos quatro anos, foi baixa (12,5 % do N aplicado) em comparação a perdas superiores a 50 % determinadas em regiões mais quentes do Sudeste do Brasil. As maiores perdas de NH3 da ureia foram verificadas em anos secos (até 25,4 % do N aplicado), as quais reduziram exponencialmente com o aumento do volume de chuva posterior à aplicação do N. A incorporação da ureia e as demais fontes de N, com exceção da fonte de N de liberação gradual, reduziram a volatilização de NH3 em comparação à ureia superficial. A incorporação da ureia é tecnicamente vantajosa quanto à redução da volatilização de NH3, porém a adoção dessa prática deverá levar em consideração outros aspectos, como o seu baixo rendimento operacional. Por sua vez, a baixa perda de NH3 proveniente da ureia superficial nas condições regionais de primavera chuvosa e com temperatura amena não justifica economicamente sua substituição por outras fontes de N na região centro-sul do Paraná.

Nitrogen fertilizers increase the nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and can reduce the methane (CH4) oxidation from agricultural soils. However, the magnitude of this effect is unknown in Southern Brazilian edaphoclimatic conditions, as well as the potential of different sources of mineral N fertilizers in such an effect. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different mineral N sources (urea, ammonium sulphate, calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, Uran, controlled- release N fertilizer, and urea with urease inhibitor) on N2O and CH4 fluxes from Gleysol in the South of Brazil (Porto Alegre, RS), in comparison to a control treatment without a N application. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block with three replications, and the N fertilizer was applied to corn at the V5 growth stage. Air samples were collected from a static chambers for 15 days after the N application and the N2O and CH4 concentration were determined by gas chromatography. The topmost emissions occurred three days after the N fertilizer application and ranged from 187.8 to 8587.4 µg m-2 h-1 N. The greatest emissions were observed for N-nitric based fertilizers, while N sources with a urease inhibitor and controlled release N presented the smallest values and the N-ammonium and amidic were intermediate. This peak of N2O emissions was related to soil NO3--N (R² = 0.56, p < 0.08) when the soil water-filled pore space was up to 70 % and it indicated that N2O was predominantly produced by a denitrification process in the soil. Soil CH4 fluxes ranged from -30.1 µg m-2 h-1 C (absorption) to +32.5 µg m-2 h-1 C (emission), and the accumulated emission in the period was related to the soil NH4+-N concentration (R² = 0.82, p < 0.001), probably due to enzymatic competition between nitrification and metanotrophy processes. Despite both of the gas fluxes being affected by N fertilizers, in the average of the treatments, the impact on CH4 emission (0.2 kg ha-1 equivalent CO2-C ) was a hundredfold minor than for N2O (132.8 kg ha-1 equivalent CO2-C). Accounting for the N2O and CH4 emissions plus energetic costs of N fertilizers of 1.3 kg CO2-C kg-1 N regarding the manufacture, transport and application, we estimated an environmental impact of N sources ranging from 220.4 to 664.5 kg ha-1 CO2 -C , which can only be partially offset by C sequestration in the soil, as no study in South Brazil reported an annual net soil C accumulation rate larger than 160 kg ha-1 C due to N fertilization. The N2O mitigation can be obtained by the replacement of N-nitric sources by ammonium and amidic fertilizers. Controlled release N fertilizers and urea with urease inhibitor are also potential alternatives to N2O emission mitigation to atmospheric and systematic studies are necessary to quantify their potential in Brazilian agroecosystems.Fertilizantes nitrogenados incrementam os fluxos de óxido nitroso (N2O) e podem deprimir a oxidação de metano (CH4) em solos agrícolas. Entretanto, não existem resultados da magnitude desses efeitos nas condições edafoclimáticas do Sul do Brasil, tampouco do potencial de algumas fontes de N em mitigar esses efeitos. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o impacto da aplicação de fertilizantes nitrogenados (ureia, sulfato de amônio, nitrato de cálcio, nitrato de amônio, Uran, N de liberação lenta e ureia com inibidor de urease) nos fluxos de N2O e CH4 em um Gleissolo no Sul do Brasil (Porto Alegre, RS), em comparação a um tratamento controle sem aplicação de N. O experimento seguiu um delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com três repetições, e os fertilizantes foram aplicados, em cobertura, numa dose única de 150 kg ha-1 N, no estádio V5 da cultura do milho. A avaliação dos gases foi feita utilizando-se o método da câmara estática, nos 15 dias que sucederam a aplicação de N, e a análise das concentrações de N2O e CH4 nas amostras de ar foi realizada por meio de cromatografia gasosa. O pico de emissão de N2O ocorreu no terceiro dia após a aplicação dos fertilizantes nitrogenados e a sua intensidade variou de 187,8 a 8.587,4 µg m-2 h-1 N, destacando-se as fontes nítricas com as maiores emissões, as fontes amoniacais e amídicas com emissões intermediárias e os fertilizantes de liberação lenta e com inibidor de urease com as menores emissões. As emissões no terceiro dia tiveram relação direta com os teores de N-NO3- do solo (R² = 0,56, p < 0,08) e ocorreram quando este apresentava valores de porosidade preenchida por água (PPA) maiores que 70 %, o que indica que a desnitrificação foi o processo predominante na produção de N2O. Os fluxos de CH4 do solo variaram de -30,1 µg m-2 h-1 C (absorção) a +32,5 µg m-2 h-1 C (emissão), e a emissão acumulada desse gás teve relação direta com os teores de NH4+ no solo (R² = 0,82, p < 0,001), possivelmente pela competição enzimática entre os processos de nitrificação e de metanotrofia. Apesar de os fluxos de ambos os gases terem sido alterados pela aplicação dos fertilizantes nitrogenados, na média dos tratamentos, o impacto das emissões de CH4 (0,2 kg ha-1C-CO2 equivalente) foi centenas de vezes menor que o verificado para as emissões de N2O (132,8 kg ha-1 C-CO2 equivalente). Considerando as emissões desses gases no solo fertilizado e o custo médio de 1,3 kg C-CO2 kg-1 N referente à produção, transporte e aplicação do fertilizante, o impacto ambiental dos fertilizantes nitrogenados variou de 220,4 a 664,5 kg ha-1 C-CO2, o qual pode ser apenas parcialmente contrabalanceado pelo acúmulo de C na matéria orgânica do solo, pois nenhum estudo realizado no Sul do Brasil evidenciou taxa anual de acúmulo de C no solo, decorrente da adubação nitrogenada, maior que 160 kg ha-1 C. A redução das emissões de N2O do solo e, portanto, do impacto ambiental pode ser obtida pelo uso de fontes amoniacais e amídicas em detrimento de fontes nítricas. Os fertilizantes de liberação lenta e com inibidores de urease também são alternativas potenciais visando à mitigação das emissões de N2O para atmosfera, e esforços deverão ser empreendidos numa avaliação sistemática desse potencial em agroecossistemas brasileiros.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is the most important non-CO2 greenhouse gas and soil management systems should be evaluated for their N2O mitigation potential. This research evaluated a long-term (22 years) experiment testing the effect of soil management systems on N2O emissions in the postharvest period (autumn) from a subtropical Rhodic Hapludox at the research center FUNDACEP, in Cruz Alta, state of Rio Grande do Sul. Three treatments were evaluated, one under conventional tillage with soybean residues (CTsoybean) and two under no-tillage with soybean (NTsoybean) and maize residues (NTmaize). N2O emissions were measured eight times within 24 days (May 2007) using closed static chambers. Gas flows were obtained based on the relations between gas concentrations in the chamber at regular intervals (0, 15, 30, 45 min) analyzed by gas chromatography. After soybean harvest, accumulated N2O emissions in the period were approximately three times higher in the untilled soil (164 mg m-2 N) than under CT (51 mg m-2 N), with a short-lived N2O peak of 670 mg m-2 h-1 N. In contrast, soil N2O emissions in NT were lower after maize than after soybean, with a N2O peak of 127 g m-2 h-1 N. The multivariate analysis of N2O fluxes and soil variables, which were determined simultaneously with air sampling, demonstrated that the main driving variables of soil N2O emissions were soil microbial activity, temperature, water-filled pore space, and NO3- content. To replace soybean monoculture, crop rotation including maize must be considered as a strategy to decrease soil N2O emissions from NT soils in Southern Brazil in a Autumn.O óxido nitroso (N2O) é o mais importante gás de efeito estufa excetuando o CO2, e os sistemas de manejo devem ser avaliados quanto ao potencial de mitigação da emissão desse gás. O presente estudo foi realizado em experimento de longa duração (22 anos) e teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de sistemas de manejo nas emissões de N2O no período pós-colheita (outono) em um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico típico situado na Fundação Centro de Experimentação e Pesquisa Fecotrigo (FUNDACEP), Cruz Alta, RS. Três sistemas de manejo foram avaliados: um em preparo convencional com resíduos de soja (PCsoja) e dois outros em plantio direto com resíduos de soja (PDsoja) e de milho (PDmilho). As emissões de N2O foram medidas em oito coletas de amostras de ar no período de 24 dias (maio de 2007), usando o método da câmara estática. Os fluxos foram obtidos pela relação entre as concentrações de gases dentro da câmara em intervalos regulares (0, 15, 30 e 45 min), analisada por cromatografia gasosa. Sobre os resíduos de soja, as emissões de N2O no período avaliado foram aproximadamente três vezes superiores no solo em PD (164 mg m-2 de N) do que em PC (51 mg m-2 de N), atingindo pico máximo de curta duração de emissão de 670 mg m-2 h-1 de N. Por outro lado, sobre os resíduos de milho, o solo em PD apresentou uma emissão inferior (34 mg m-2 de N) do que após soja, atingindo valor máximo de 127 mg m-2 h-1 de N. Variáveis de solo foram avaliadas simultaneamente às coletas de gases, e a análise multivariada dos resultados indicou que as principais variáveis controladoras da emissão de N2O foram a atividade microbiana, a temperatura, a porosidade preenchida por água e o teor de NO3- no solo. A inclusão do milho na rotação de culturas deve ser adotada em substituição à monocultura de soja como estratégia de redução da emissão outonal de N2O em solos sob plantio direto do Sul do Brasil.