Soil chemical attributes and organic matter quality in sugarcane harvest systems with and without burning

Authors

  • Diana Signor Embrapa Semiárido, Rodovia BR-428, Km 152, Zona Rural, CEP 56302-970 Petrolina, PE.
  • Rodrigo Vianei Czycza Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Departamento de Ciência do Solo, Avenida Pádua Dias, no 11, CEP 13418-900 Piracicaba, SP.
  • Débora Marcondes Bastos Pereira Milori Embrapa Instrumentação, Rua XV de Novembro, no 1.452, Centro, Caixa Postal 74113, CEP 560-970 São Carlos, SP.
  • Tony Jarbas Ferreira Cunha Embrapa Semiárido, Rodovia BR-428, Km 152, Zona Rural, CEP 56302-970 Petrolina, PE.
  • Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri Universidade de São Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Departamento de Ciência do Solo, Avenida Pádua Dias, no 11, CEP 13418-900 Piracicaba, SP.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2016.v51.22408

Keywords:

pH-dependent charges, spectroscopy, C and N stocks, soil fertility, chemical fractionation, humification degree

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate soil chemical attributes, to quantify soil contents and stocks of C and N, and to evaluate the chemical quality of soil organic matter in sugarcane harvest systems with or without burning. Cultivated sugarcane areas were evaluated with or without burning of the fields at 6 and 12 years after the last renovation of the sugarcane fields. In addition, a native vegetation area and another one cultivated for 19 years without burning were also evaluated. Soil C content in the unburnt areas was higher than
that of the burnt ones and lower than that of the areas with native vegetation. Carbon stock at the 0.0–0.3-m soil depth in the burnt areas was 22% lower than in the 6-year unburnt area and 43% lower in the 12-year area. The highest humification degrees occurred in the 19-year unburnt area; and the lowest, in the native vegetation area. The cultivated soils showed higher concentration of phenolic and carboxylic groups in humic acids. Soil fertility increases in the unburnt sugarcane areas because of their more humified organic matter and of the higher quantity of carboxylic and phenolic groups.

Author Biography

Tony Jarbas Ferreira Cunha, Embrapa Semiárido, Rodovia BR-428, Km 152, Zona Rural, CEP 56302-970 Petrolina, PE.

Pesquisador, Embrapa Semiárido

Published

2016-10-17

How to Cite

Signor, D., Czycza, R. V., Milori, D. M. B. P., Cunha, T. J. F., & Cerri, C. E. P. (2016). Soil chemical attributes and organic matter quality in sugarcane harvest systems with and without burning. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 51(9), 1438–1448. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2016.v51.22408