ABSTRACT An important strategy for the sustainable management of Cerrado soils is no-till (NT) systems, which may improve soil properties, particularly aggregation. Soil aggregates can be categorized according to their formation pathways into physicogenic (Phy) and biogenic (Bio). This study aimed (i) to quantify the relative proportion of physicogenic and biogenic aggregates and (ii) evaluate the levels of total organic carbon and their respective humic and physical fractions in the aggregates’ formation pathways. The following managed and unmanaged sites were evaluated: a 6-year no-till site (6NT), an 18-year no-till site (18NT), a conventional tillage site (CT), and a reference Cerrado site (RS). Retained aggregates were analyzed morphologically, separated into Phy and Bio, and quantified. Subsequently, aggregates were subjected to total organic carbon (TOC) determination, fulvic acid carbon, humic acid carbon, humin carbon, particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon, and free light fraction carbon (FLFC). The proportion of Bio aggregates increased with decreasing management intensity. When TOC and humic acid carbon levels were compared between sites, it was found that Bio aggregates from 18NT and 6NT contained higher carbon content than Bio aggregates from CT. Particulate organic carbon and FLFC differed between aggregate types, with higher POC values observed in Bio aggregates from CT and 18NT and higher FLFC values in Bio aggregates from CT, 6NT, and 18NT. The practices adopted in the conservation management system favored biogenic aggregation in the Cerrado region, which can be proven through the study of the fractions of soil organic matter contained in these aggregates. The biogenic aggregation changed the SOM dynamics. Principal component analysis showed a clear distinction between conventional and conservationist management systems.

RESUMO Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a deposição de serapilheira ao longo de dois anos e a qualidade nutricional da serapilheira, em função do espaçamento de plantio visando à restauração florestal. Os espaçamentos de plantio 1 × 1; 1,5 × 1,5; 2 × 2 e 3 × 2 m, constituem as unidades amostrais dos tratamentos. No espaçamento 1 × 1 m foi observada a maior deposição de serapilheira, não havendo diferenças entre as unidades dos demais espaçamentos. A fração folha mostrou, em todos os espaçamentos, maior aporte de serapilheira (77%). O maior conteúdo de nutrientes foi observado no espaçamento 1 × 1 m. Em geral, constatou-se a seguinte ordem quanto o conteúdo de nutrientes da serapilheira N > Ca > K > Mg > P.

ABSTRACT The objectives of this study were to evaluate the deposition of litter over two years and the nutritional quality of the litter, depending on the planting space aimed at forest restoration. The planting space 1 × 1, 1.5 × 1.5, 2 × 2 and 3 × 2 m, are the sampling units of the treatments. In 1 × 1 m spacing greater deposition of litter, with no differences between the units other spacings was observed. Leaf fraction showed, in all spacings, greater intake of litter (77%). The higher nutrient content was observed in the 1 × 1 m spacing. In general, was observed the following order as the nutrient content of litter N> Ca> K> Mg> P.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os teores de carbono orgânico total (COT), matéria orgânica leve (MOL) e fósforo remanescente (Prem), em áreas de cerrado sob sistema de plantio direto com diferentes cultivos de coberturas do solo, e compará-los aos de áreas sob preparo convencional e pousio. O experimento foi conduzido em campo, em um Latossolo Vermelho, de agosto de 2000 a março de 2007. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas, sendo as parcelas constituídas pelos cinco sistemas de manejo do solo avaliados - pousio, preparo convencional e plantio direto com uso dos cultivos de cobertura crotalária (Crotalaria juncea), milheto (Pennisetum americanum) e braquiária (Urochloa brizantha) -, e as subparcelas pelos cultivos de soja e milho. Em março de 2007, coletaram-se amostras de solo das profundidades 0,0-0,025, 0,025-0,05, 0,05-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m, das quais foram quantificados COT, MOL, estoques de COT e Prem. Em áreas sob plantio direto, o aumento nos teores de MOL pode reduzir a adsorção de fósforo ao solo. Sistemas de manejo que não envolvem revolvimento do solo favorecem o aumento do estoque de carbono orgânico nas camadas superficiais, enquanto o preparo convencional e o plantio direto com uso do milheto como planta de cobertura propiciam a incorporação mais profunda do carbono.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the contents of total organic carbon (COT), light organic matter (MOL) and remaining phosphorus (Prem) on savanna areas under no tillage system using cover crops and to compare them to the ones observed under fallow and conventional tillage. The experiment was carried out in field conditions, in a Latossolo Vermelho (Rhodic Haplustox) from August 2000 to March 2007. A randomized complete block design was used, in a split-plot arrangement, with plots consisting of the five soil management systems evaluated - fallow, conventional tillage, and no tillage using sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum), and palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha) as cover crops -, and sub-plots consisting of maize and soybean crops. In March 2007, the 0.0-0.025, 0.025-0.05, 0.05-0.10 e 0.10-0.20 m soil layers were sampled and assessed for COT, MOL, COT stocks and Prem. In the no tillage areas, increases in MOL content can reduce phosphorus adsorption in soil. Management systems without soil disturbance increases COT stocks in the superficial layers while conventional tillage and no tillage using pearl millet as cover crops provide a deeper incorporation of carbon in the soil.