Nitrous oxide and methane emissions from a Ferralsol as affected by loblolly pine cultivation time in subtropical Brazil.

We hypothesized that the age of loblolly pine stands influences soil methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This is a relevant topic to be studied in subtropical Brazil, where the pine plantation area is increasing considerably. We evaluated N2O and CH4 emissions for two years in a Ferralsol under loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) stands of 1, 9 and 18 year-olds and a native forest (NF). We calculated the net CO2eq emission by considering the N2O and CH4 emissions from soil and the carbon (C) accumulation as litter in the forest floor. The soil N2O emission reduced gradually over the loblolly pine cultivation years, whereas CH4 uptake rates showed no clear pattern. Soil N2O emission showed a positive relationship with soil temperature in NF, and with soil ammonium and nitrate intensities in the pine stands. Soil CH4 uptake was inversely related to water-filled pore space in the pine stands, but this relationship was not observed in NF. The soil CH4 uptake rate was 4.6 times higher (p < 0.10) in NF than the average uptake in loblolly pine stands. On the other hand, soil N2O emissions in 9 and 18-year-old stands were similar (p > 0.10) to those in NF (1.3 kg N ha-1 yr-1). Our results suggest that cultivation with loblolly pine for 18 years can reduce soil N2O emission, and the uptake of CH4 in this system offsets 17 % of N2O emissions. Furthermore, the C accumulation as litter in the forest floor of the mature pine stands (9- and 18-year-old) generated a net emission of -1.6 Mg CO2eq ha-1 yr-1, showing to be an expressive offsetting mechanism. Therefore, we conclude that aged loblolly forests can reach N2O emissions levels comparable to those of NF, and the C sequestration in these forests floor can significantly contribute to offset N2O emissions and act as sink for net atmospheric CO2eq.

Changes in chemical composition of cover crops residue during decomposition / Mudanças na composição química dos resíduos culturais de plantas de cobertura durante a decomposição

Crop residues decomposition are controlled by chemical tissue components. This study evaluated changes on plant tissue components, separated by the Van Soest partitioning method, during cover crop decomposition. The Van Soest soluble fraction was the first to be released from the crop residues, followed by cellulose and hemicellulose. Lignin was the crop residue component that suffered the least degradation, and for certain crop residue types, lignin degradation was not detected. The degradation of the main components of crop residues (soluble fraction, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) is determined by the chemical and structural composition of each fraction.

A decomposição de resíduos culturais é controlada pela composição química do tecido vegetal. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as alterações que ocorrem nos componentes do tecido vegetal, separados pelo fracionamento de Van Soest, durante a decomposição de plantas de cobertura. A fração solúvel foi a primeira a ser liberada dos resíduos culturais, seguida pela celulose e hemicelulose. A lignina foi o componente dos resíduos culturais de menor degradação, sendo que em alguns resíduos culturais não foi possível detectar a degradação deste componente. A degradação dos principais componentes dos resíduos culturais (fração solúvel, celulose, hemicelulose e lignina) é determinada pela composição química e estrutural de cada uma destas frações.

Redução na velocidade da nitrificação no solo após aplicação de cama de aviário com dicianodiamida / Reduction of the nitrification rate in the soil after addition of poultry manure with dicyandiamide

A rápida nitrificação do nitrogênio (N) amoniacal de fontes orgânicas e minerais no solo pode resultar em perdas de nitrato (NO3-) para o ambiente. Uma estratégia para a redução dessas perdas envolve o uso de inibidores de nitrificação. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o de avaliar, em condições de laboratório, a eficiência da dicianodiamida (DCD), presente no produto Agrotain® Plus (AP), em inibir a nitrificação do N amoniacal de cama de aviário (CA) no solo. Foram avaliados cinco tratamentos, sendo um com CA incorporada ao solo, três com CA incorporada ao solo com AP, nas doses de 3,5, 7,0 e 14,0kg ha-1, além de um tratamento somente com solo. A nitrificação foi monitorada através da determinação periódica dos teores de NH4+ e NO3 no solo durante 69 dias. A maior taxa de nitrificação ocorreu no tratamento em que a CA foi incorporada ao solo sem AP. As doses de 3,5 e 7,0kg de AP ha-1 inibiram parcialmente a nitrificação do N amoniacal da CA na fase inicial da incubação, perdendo a eficiência em inibir esse processo no período entre 12 e 27 dias. O tratamento com a maior dose de AP (14kg ha-1) foi aquele em que a DCD exerceu maior efeito inibitório da nitrificação, preservando maior quantidade de NH4+ e retardando o aparecimento de NO3- no solo. Os resultados deste trabalho indicam que a DCD, contida no Agrotain® Plus, reduz a taxa de nitrificação do N amoniacal da CA no solo, o que poderá contribuir à redução das perdas de NO3- para o ambiente.

The fast nitrification of ammoniacal nitrogen (N) of organic and mineral sources in soil can result in losses of nitrate (NO3-) to the environment. One strategy to reduce these losses involves the use of nitrification inhibitors. The objective of this study was to evaluate, in laboratory conditions, the efficiency of Agrotain® Plus (AP), which contains dicyandiamide (DCD), as a nitrification inhibitor of ammoniacal nitrogen from poultry manure (PM) in soil. Were evaluated five treatments, one with PM incorporated into the soil, three with PM incorporated into the soil with AP at the doses of 3.5, 7.0 e 14.0kg ha-1 and one treatment without PM and AP. Nitrification was monitored by measuring changes in soil mineral N (NH4+ and NO3-) periodically over 69 days. The highest rate of nitrification occurred in the treatment in which PM was incorporated into the soil without AP. The doses of 3.5 and 7.0kg ha-1 of AP inhibited partially the nitrification of ammoniacal nitrogen of PM in the initial phase of incubation, losing the ability to inhibit this process in the period between 12 and 27 days. The treatment with the higher dose of AP (14kg ha-1) was on in which the DCD exerted more inhibitory effect on nitrification, preserving most NH4+ and delaying the onset of NO3- in soil. The results of this study indicate that the DCD, contained in the Agrotain® Plus, reduces the nitrification rate of ammoniacal nitrogen from PM in soil, that may contribute to reduce NO3- losses to the environment.