Changes in physical properties and organic carbon of a Kandiudox fertilized with manure

ABSTRACT: Successive applications of pig slurry and poultry manure can improve the soil structure, according to the land use conditions and amounts applied. This study evaluated the effect of manure fertilization on the physical properties and organic carbon of a Rhodic Kandiudox. Treatments included land use and management and time of pig slurry and poultry litter application, namely: native forest (NF); yerba mate after 20 years of animal waste application (YM20); pasture after 15 years of application (P15); grassland after 20 years of manuring (PP20); grassland after 3 years of manuring (P3); pasture without application (P0), maize after 20 years of application (M20); and maize after 7 years of application (M7). Soil samples were collected in the 0-5, 5-10 and 10-20cm layers, in which density, porosity, aggregate stability, flocculation, penetration resistance, available water, and total clay content, total and particulate organic carbon, and C:N ratio were analyzed. The total organic carbon is sensitive to management and was not related to waste application, except in the 10-20cm layer of ryegrass pasture after three years of manuring. Reponses to waste application and land use and management systems were observed in the variables soil density and penetration resistance.