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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 47(3)

Carbon stocks of a Rhodic Ferralsol under no-tillage in Southern Brazil: spatial variability at a farm scale

P. L. O. A. Machado A H , A. C. C. Bernardi B , L. I. Ortiz Valencia C , M. S. P. Meirelles C D , C. A. Silva E , L. M. Gimenez F , J. P. Molin G and B. E. Madari A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Embrapa Rice and Beans, Cx Postal 179, CEP 75375-000 Santo Antonio de Goias, GO, Brazil.

B Embrapa Cattle-Southeast, Cx Postal 339, CEP 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.

C Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Departamento de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computação, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524 Bloco D. CEP 20559-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

D Embrapa Soils, Rua Jardim Botânico 1024, Jardim Botânico, CEP 22460-000, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

E Universidade Federal de Lavras, Dep. de Ciência do Solo, Cx. Postal 3037, CEP 37200-000 Lavras, MG, Brazil.

F Fundação ABC, Caixa Postal 1003, CEP 84165-980 Castro, PR, Brazil.

G ESALQ-USP, Departamento de Engenharia Rural, Cx. Postal 9, CEP 13418-900 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.

H Corresponding author. Email: pmachado@cnpaf.embrapa.br

Australian Journal of Soil Research 47(3) 253-260 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR08140
Submitted: 19 June 2008  Accepted: 27 January 2009   Published: 25 May 2009

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine, at a farm level, the spatial variability of organic carbon stock (CS) at different depths on a field of 1 soil type in long-term (13-year) crop production under no-tillage. The crop rotation comprised soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] alternating with maize (Zea mays L.) in the summer season. For the winter season, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was cropped in rotation with black oat (Avena sativa L.), a cover crop. The 12.5-ha field was sampled at a density of 6.25 samples/ha. Within the coarse grid, 2 dense grids with 20-, 10-, and 5-m spacing were established. Soil samples were collected at all grid nodes and analysed for soil organic carbon and bulk density. The CS at 0–0.05, 0.05–0.10, and 0.10–0.20 m was corrected for equal soil mass. Geostatistics was used for the estimation of spatial distribution of CS at 3 soil depths. We found that CS variation was low to medium (CV 6.7–19.4%). The variograms of CS at all depths were best fitted by spherical models and showed ranges of 120 m, except at 0–0.05 m (range 109 m). At 0–0.20 m depth, CS was 15.2–24.5 t/ha (CV 8.2%, range 120 m). The use of geostatistics reveals a powerful tool for the spatial estimation of CS at depth of a Rhodic Ferralsol under no-tillage, and demonstrated CS variation on a 12.5-ha area, even though soil and crop management were the same for >10 years.

Additional keywords: soil organic carbon, soil organic matter, crop rotation, soil texture, geostatistics.


Acknowledgements

This research was partially funded by the Agricultural Technology Development Project for Brazil (PRODETAB Proj. No. 041-01/99). Special thanks are extended to Mr. Geraldo Slob, owner of Fazenda Tabatinga.


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