ABSTRACT Conservation management practices with minimum soil mobilization, maintenance of amounts of straw in the soil, and chiseling of ratoons interrows can be beneficial to soil quality, nutrition and sugarcane yield; however, the combination of these practices and their influence over the culture cycle should be better understood. This study aimed to assess the effects of levels of remaining straw and chiseling in the cultivation of ratoons on soil fertility, nutritional status and yield of stalks and sugar in one sugarcane cycle (five ratoons), under no-tillage and conventional tillage systems. The study was performed in Dourados municipality, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in areas with a Oxisol (Latossolo) with very clayey texture. Design in randomized blocks was adopted, with four repetitions, in a subdivided portions scheme. Portions were composed of levels of remaining straw (0, 50 and 100 %), annually, and collected alternately in odd years (0I) and even years (0P) established after the plant harvest; sub-portions were composed of systems with and without chiseling. In the fourth ratoon, leaf diagnosis was made with quantification of macro-nutrient contents, and during the fifth ratoon soil samples were collected for chemical analyses. By the end of the cycle, accumulated yields of stalks and sugar were determined. In both management systems, keeping 100 % of straw improved soil fertility and kept higher yield levels in one sugarcane cultivation cycle, while chiseling did not influence soil fertility, nutrition and sugarcane yield. The use of no-tillage farming for sugarcane cultivation proved to be feasible in corrected environments, and did not reduce stalk and sugarcane yield. Straw removal influenced nutrient leaf contents, regardless of soil management.

ABSTRACT Sugarcane requires planning aimed at maintaining production levels, technological quality, and longevity of the sugarcane field, as it is a semi-perennial crop. To this end, the adoption of soil management systems associated with the maintenance of remaining straw are some of the strategies aimed at protecting the soil structure and its properties vital to the sustainability of agricultural systems. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of soil management systems and remaining straw with and without ratoon chiseling on the optimum water range (OWR) and load-bearing capacity (LBC) of the soil. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks in a split-plot scheme, with four replications. The plots were composed of no-tillage and conventional tillage, the subplots consisted of three levels of remaining straw (0, 50, and 100%), and the sub-subplots consisted of the use or not of chiseling. Samples with preserved structures were collected at depths of 0.05 and 0.15 m for the analysis of the physical indicators OWR and LBC. Maintaining 100% straw associated with the use of chiseling resulted in an increase in OWR in both soil management systems and depths. Maintaining straw at 50 and 100% also led to lower LBC values in the evaluated soil management systems and depths, suggesting an improvement in soil physical quality. The use of chiseling of ratoons in conventional tillage promoted higher LBC values, indicating possible additional soil compaction in these areas.

RESUMO No cenário das mudanças climáticas, o estudo das emissões de gases do efeito estufa (GEE) e de medidas de mitigação na Caatinga são estratégicos e podem fornecer a base para planos de mitigação. Objetivou-se avaliar os fluxos de CO2, CH4 e N2O do solo, bem como determinar uma linha de base anual para as emissões de GEE, em um sistema de produção silvipastoril de referência no semiárido brasileiro, a fim de fornecer subsídios para estudos futuros de mitigação das emissões de GEE. Os fluxos de GEE foram monitorados durante um ano, em pastagem de capim buffel e em área de Caatinga pastejada e nativa, as quais são componentes de um sistema silvipastoril de longa duração. Os fluxos de CO2 variaram de -19,98 a 179,12 mg m-2 h-1 de C-CO2, os de CH4 de -76,21 a 113,87 µg m-2 h-1 de C-CH4, os de N2O de -1.043,12 a 471,37 µg m-2 h-1 de N-N2O e a umidade do solo foi o principal fator limitante para os fluxos de GEE. As emissões totais convertidas para CO2-equivalente nas áreas antropizadas foram menores que na área de vegetação nativa (65 % para o capim buffel e 741 % para a Caatinga pastejada). Portanto, pode-se afrmar que as emissões de GEE nas áreas pastejadas no bioma Caatinga não são tão altas quanto na Caatinga nativa, o que é um importante indicador da sustentabilidade ambiental do sistema silvipastoril avaliado.

ABSTRACT In the climate change scenario, studying greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and measures of mitigation in the Caatinga biome are strategic and may provide a basis for mitigation plans. This study aimed to evaluate the soil CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes, as well as determining an annual baseline for GHG emissions, in a reference site of silvopastoral production system in the Brazilian semiarid region, in order to provide subsidies for future studies on GHG emissions mitigation. The GHG fluxes were monitored over one year, in a buffel grass pasture and in grazed and native Caatinga areas, which are components of a long-term silvopastoral system. The CO2 fluxes ranged from -19.98 to 179.12 mg m-2 h-1 of CO2-C, CH4 fluxes from -76.21 to 113.87 µg m-2 h-1 of CH4-C, N2O fluxes from -1,043.12 to 471.37 µg m-2 h-1 of N2O-N and the soil moisture was the main factor limiting the GHG fluxes. The total emissions converted to CO2-equivalent in the anthropized areas were lower than in the native area (65 % for the buffel grass pasture and 741 % for the grazed Caatinga). Therefore, it is possible to afrm that the GHG soil emissions from grazed areas in the Caatinga biome are not as high as in the native Caatinga, what is an important indication of the environmental sustainability of the evaluated silvopastoral system.

RESUMO O Cerrado brasileiro possui vasta área ocupada por pastagens com algum grau de degradação, e um dos principais desafios está na incorporação dessas áreas a um sistema produtivo. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de sistemas de renovação de pastagem na qualidade microbiológica e estrutural de um Latossolo de textura média. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e oito sistemas de renovação de pastagem: 1) soja/milho safrinha/soja; 2) soja/consórcio milho-capim/soja; 3) 10 meses de capim e uma safra de soja; 4) 10 meses de capim + crotalária e uma safra de soja; 5) 13 meses de capim e uma safra de soja; 6) 13 meses de capim + crotalária e uma safra de soja; 7) uma safra de soja; 8) pasto original (testemunha). A qualidade microbiológica foi avaliada por meio do carbono da biomassa microbiana do solo, atividade microbiana do solo, quociente metabólico - qCO2 e atividade da enzima β-glucosidase, e a qualidade estrutural por meio do índice de qualidade estrutural do solo. A implantação de sistemas de renovação de pastagem com capim solteiro (sistemas 3 e 5) ou consorciado com crotalária (sistemas 4 e 6) melhora a qualidade microbiológica e estrutural do solo. A renovação de pastagem iniciada com sistema de sucessão soja-milho safrinha (sistema 1) não é indicada para o solo de textura média avaliado neste estudo.

ABSTRACT The central Brazilian Savanna biome, known as Cerrado, has a vast area of pastures affected by some degree of degradation, where one of the main challenges is incorporating these areas into a crop production system. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pasture renewal systems on the microbiological and structural quality of a medium-texture Oxisol. A randomized blocks design was adopted, with four replications and eight pasture renewal systems: 1) soybean/off-season maize/soybean; 2) soybean/maize-grass intercropping/soybean; 3) grass for 10 months and then one soybean crop; 4) grass + rattlepod for 10 months and then one soybean crop; 5) grass for 13 months and then one soybean crop; 6) grass + rattlepod for 13 months and then one soybean crop; 7) one soybean crop; 8) original pasture (control). The microbiological quality was assessed based on soil microbial biomass carbon, soil microbial activity, microbial metabolic quotient - qCO2 and activity of the β-glucosidase enzyme; and the structural quality based on the soil structural quality index. The implementation of pasture renewal systems with grass as a single crop (systems 3 and 5) or intercropped with rattlepod (systems 4 and 6) improves the soil microbiological and structural quality. The pasture renewal system beginning with soybean/off-season maize succession (system 1) is not indicated for the medium-texture soil evaluated in this study.

ABSTRACT The soil properties reported in areas with different management provide useful information about the systems’ operation, state of conservation and resilience. In this way, this study evaluated physical properties and organic matter dynamics of soil under different plant covers in seven areas consisting of: five areas under ecological restoration (REC1 to REC5), an areas with native vegetation (MATA) and a sugarcane crop area (SC), all located in State of Mato Grosso do Sul, a transition area between the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes. Samples were taken at the 0-10 and 10-20 cm layers and were analyzed for soil density (Ds), macroporosity (Ma), microporosity (Mi), total porosity (PT), weighted mean diameter (DMP), aggregate stability index (IEA), and the particle sizes of organic matter. There were no differences in DMP between the areas, however, sugarcane crop area and areas under ecological restoration (REC 1, 3 and 4) had high values of density and microporosity and low contents of the fractions of organic matter, which can promote a greater restriction to the root development of plants. Among the areas under restoration, REC1 and REC5 presented physical conditions with higher similarity to the native vegetation area. Changes in the physical soil properties and parameters such as Total organic carbon (COT), confirmed that the restoration practices applied improved the soil quality.

RESUMO Urina e fezes de ovinos são componentes importantes do ciclo do N em pastagens, mas pouco se sabe sobre o efeito desses nas emissões de óxido nitroso (N2O) para atmosfera. Um estudo foi conduzido para quantificar as emissões de N-N2O provenientes das excretas de ovinos sobre uma pastagem de azevém num Argissolo Vermelho Distrófico típico no sul do Brasil. Quatro doses de N-urina (161, 242, 323 e 403 kg ha-1 N) e uma de N-fezes (13 kg ha-1 N) foram aplicadas, além de um tratamento-controle sem aplicação de excretas. O fator de emissão de N-N2O (FE = % do N adicionado emitido na forma de N-N2O) foi calculado para urina e fezes, levando em consideração os fluxos de N2O determinados no período de 39 dias. Os FEs da urina e fezes foram utilizados para estimar as emissões de N-N2O num período de 90 dias da pastagem no inverno, sob duas intensidades de pastejo (2,5 e 5,0 vezes o potencial de consumo dos ovinos). Os fluxos de N-N2O variaram de 4 a 353 µg m-2 h-1. Os fluxos mais elevados de N-N2O ocorreram 16 dias após a aplicação da urina e das fezes, quando os teores mais elevados de nitrato ocorreram e a porosidade preenchida por água excedeu 60 %. O FE médio da urina foi 0,25 % do N aplicado, muito superior ao verificado para as fezes (0,06 %). Considerando o período de 90 dias de utilização da pastagem no inverno, estimou-se que a emissão de N-N2O foi de 0,54 kg ha-1 na intensidade de pastejo baixa e de 0,62 kg ha-1 na intensidade de pastejo moderada. Entre as excretas, a urina foi o principal contribuinte para a emissão de N-N2O (media de 36 %), enquanto as fezes foram responsáveis por menos do que 0,1 % das emissões totais de N-N2O do solo.

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.

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.

Este estudo investigou a composição química e distribuição da matéria orgânica do solo (SOM) em compartimentos de Oxissolo sob pastagem nativa sem queima há 41 anos (NP), pastagem nativa sem queima há oito anos (BP), pastagem nativa em solo com calcário e adubado, sem queima há 41 anos (AP), e mata nativa (NF). Os estoques de carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) no solo e nos compartimentos físicos foram determinados e a composição química da SOM foi investigada por espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR) e análise termogravimétrica. Entre os ambientes sob pastagem, AP apresentou maiores estoques de C e de N no solo e nas frações leves. A fração pesada de BP apresentou maior índice de aromaticidade, o que pode ser devido à presença de carbono pirogênico. O sistema AP apresenta uma alternativa sustentável para sequestrar carbono em comparação com as práticas de queima da vegetação em sistemas de pastagens nativas no sul do Brazil.

This study evaluated the chemical composition and distribution patterns of soil organic matter (SOM) of Oxisol under native pasture without burning for the last 41 years (NP), native pasture without burning for the last eight years (BP), native pasture in soil amended by liming and fertilization and without burning for the last 41 years (AP), and native forest (NF). Stocks of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in the whole soil and in physical pools were determined and SOM composition was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis. Among the pasture environments, AP presented the greatest C and N stocks in soil and in the light fractions. The heavy fraction of BP presented the greatest aromaticity index, and this can be related to the presence of pyrogenic carbon. Concerning soil carbon accumulation, AP represents a sustainable alternative in relation to the practice of vegetation burning in the management of native pastures in southern Brazil.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o padrão de distribuição e a composição da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) e de seus compartimentos físicos em um Neossolo periodicamente afetado pelo fogo nos últimos 100 anos, no Sul do Brasil. Amostras de solo foram coletadas nas profundidades de 0-5, 5-10 e 10-15 cm, nos seguintes ambientes: pastagem nativa sem queima há um ano e com lotação de 0,5 animal por hectare por ano (1NB); pastagem nativa sem queima há 23 anos e com lotação de 2,0 animais por hectare por ano (23NB); e mata de Araucária (AF). Fracionamento físico foi realizado com amostras das camadas de 0-5 e 5-10 cm. Os estoques de C e N do solo foram determinados nas três profundidades e nas frações físicas, e a matéria orgânica foi caracterizada por espectroscopia de infravermelho e termogravimetria. O maior estoque de C em todas as profundidades e as frações físicas foi verificado na AF. O ambiente 23NB apresentou o menor estoque de C e N do solo na profundidade de 5-15 cm, associado ao cessar fogo e à maior densidade de pastejo. A MOS da fração leve oclusa apresentou maior recalcitrância química em 1NB do que em 23NB. A queima anual da pastagem não afeta o estoque de C até 15 cm de profundidade.

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 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.

Density fractionation is an important tool to determine the physical protection of organic matter within soil aggregates, but results may be affected by the mesh size used to sieve soil samples. The hypothesis of this study is that in comparison to 9.5 mm sieve, sieving through 2 mm mesh results in excessive soil disaggregation by releasing organic matter originally protected within aggregates and consequently leads to underestimations of the carbon content in the occluded light fraction (OLF-C) and of the magnitude of physical protection of organic matter within soil aggregates. Soil samples (0-5 cm) of five Brazilian soils under long-term experiments (9-18 yrs) were collected in the regions Center West (4 soils) and South (1 soil), under conventional and conservation soil management systems. Based on < 9.5 mm soil samples as reference, an underestimation of 2.9-15.7% of the OLF-C pool was observed in comparison to < 2.0 soil samples mm. This effect was more pronounced for conservation soil management systems and positively correlated with soil organic C content (r = 0.92, p < 0.04), macroaggregate mass > 2 mm (r = 0.90, p < 0.02) and aggregate stability index (r = 0.94, p < 0.01). In three of the evaluated soils, the use of < 2.0 mm soil samples led to the erroneous conclusion that conservation soil management systems are not efficient to stabilize organic matter within soil aggregates. Therefore, a mesh size of 9.5 mm is indicated to evaluate the physical protection of organic matter in aggregates, or alternatively, the sieves used to prepare soil samples for aggregate stability analysis, i.e., usually greater than 8 mm.

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.

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.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do cultivo da mandioca em diferentes sistemas de cobertura do solo na densidade e diversidade da comunidade da macrofauna de invertebrados edáfica. O trabalho foi conduzido no Município de Glória de Dourados, MS, num Argissolo Vermelho, sob sistema convencional (SC), plantio direto sobre palhada de mucuna (PDMu), sorgo (PDSo) e milheto (PDMi), além de sistema com vegetação nativa (VN), como referencial para comparação. As avaliações foram realizadas em quatro épocas distintas: abril/2003 (antes do plantio), novembro/2003 (6 meses após o plantio), abril/2004 (11 meses após o plantio) e novembro/2004 (18 meses após o plantio). Houve efeito da interação entre os sistemas avaliados e as épocas de amostragens sobre a densidade, riqueza e diversidade da macrofauna invertebrada do solo. Entre os grupos da macrofauna invertebrada do solo, cupins, formigas e coleópteros (imaturo e adulto) foram predominantes no ambiente estudado. O uso de plantas de cobertura no pré-cultivo de mandioca no sistema plantio direto proporcionou condições para a recomposição da comunidade de macrofauna invertebrada do solo, o que indica que as espécies utilizadas, mucuna, sorgo e milheto, representam alternativas promissoras para melhor manejo dessa cultura.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of cassava cultivation under different vegetable cover crops according to the density and diversity of soil invertebrate macrofauna. Field experiment was carried out at Glória de Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, on an Oxisol, under conventional drilling (SC), no-tillage system under Stizolobium cinereum (PDMu), Sorghum bicolor (PDSo) and Pennisetum glaucum (PDMi) mulching, with comparison of native vegetation system (VN). Evaluations were performed in April/2003 (before sowing), November/2003 (6 months after sowing), April/2004 (11 months after sowing) and November/2004 (18 months after sowing). Significant effect of the interaction between the evaluated systems and sampling dates in relation to density and diversity values of soil invertebrate macrofauna was observed. The termites, ants and Coleoptera (immature and adult) groups were predominant in this study. The use of cover crops plants in the cassava pre-sowing, under no-tillage, provided conditions for the reestablishment of soil invertebrate macrofauna community, indicating that Stizolobium cinereum, Sorghum bicolor and Pennisetum glaucum are promising alternatives for a better management.