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Intercropping forest plantations of Eucalyptus with nitrogen-fixing trees can increase soil N inputs and stimulate soil organic matter (OM) cycling. However, microbial indicators and their correlation in specific fractions of soil OM are unclear in the tropical sandy soils. Here, we examined the microbial indicators associated with C and N in the soil resulting from pure and intercropped Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mangium plantations. We hypothesized that introduction of A. mangium in a Eucalyptus plantation promotes changes in microbial indicators and increases C and N concentrations on labile fractions of the soil OM, when compared to pure eucalyptus plantations. We determined the microbial and enzymatic activity, and the potential for C degradation by the soil microbial community. Additionally, we evaluated soil OM fractions and litter parameters. Soil (0–20 cm) and litter samples were collected at 27 and 39 months after planting from the following treatments: pure E. grandis (E) and A. mangium (A) plantations, pure E. grandis plantations with N fertilizer (E+N) and an E. grandis, and A. mangium intercropped plantations (E+A). The results showed that intercropped plantations (E+A) increase 3, 45, and 70% microbial biomass C as compared to A, E+N, and E, at 27 months after planting. The metabolic quotient (qCO2) showed a tendency toward stressful values in pure E. grandis plantations and a strong correlation with dehydrogenase activity. A and E+A treatments also exhibited the highest organic fractions (OF) and C and N contents. A canonical redundancy analysis revealed positive correlations between microbial indicators of soil and litter attributes, and a strong effect of C and N variables in differentiating A and E+A from E and E+N treatments. The results suggested that a significant role of A. mangium enhance the dynamics of soil microbial indicators which help in the accumulation of C and N in soil OF in intercropped E. grandis plantations. Our results are mostly relevant to plantations in sandy soil areas with low levels of OM, suggesting and efficient method for improving nutrient availability in the soil and optimizing eucalyptus growth and development.

Newer methods of management and harvesting of sugarcane are being considered to improve soil and water conservation in Brazil. Our aim in this study was to evaluate soil C dynamics under sugarcane cultivation as influenced by the use of conservation management, using measurements from four different management systems and land use histories, i.e. conventional management with preharvest burning, no burning with residue retention and two systems without burning plus additional organic amendments. Field sites also differed in terms of soil texture. We compared field measurements of soil C stocks, 13C and microbial biomass with simulated results from the Century ecosystem model for each of the sites and management histories. We also did long-term simulations of the management treatments and sites to approximate steady-state SOC levels, to explore potential management-induced differences in SOC stocks and interactions with soil texture. The model accurately represented treatment and site differences for total SOC stocks, in which SOC stocks were strongly affected by both rates of organic matter input to soil and soil clay content. However, the model tended to underestimate the relative contribution of sugarcane-derived C to total SOC for sites with high residue and external organic matter amendments. Measured microbial biomass C across the sites was closely aligned with relative amounts of organic matter input but did not appear to be strongly affected by soil texture, whereas the model predicted that both texture and organic matter input rate would impact microbial biomass C. Long-term simulations of the conservation management alternatives suggested that SOC stocks could be maintained at or above levels in the original native Cerradão vegetation, whereas conventional practices using residue burning would result in a reduction of SOC to ca. 60% of native levels. Our results support the use of the CENTURY model as an aid to assess the impacts of different soil management practices on SOC stocks under sugarcane in Brazil.

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Brazilian sugar cane production has undergone changes in residue management. To better understand the dynamics of soil C and N in soil organic matter (SOM) fractions resulting from sugar cane management practices, we determined: the effects of different sugar cane management on the C and N content of SOM fractions; the effects of crop management, soil texture, depth and different organic matter additions on changes in 13C/12C and 15N/14N isotope composition; and the amount of SOC derived from different sources. Physical fractionation of SOM was performed for soils cultivated under four sugar cane managements, namely straw burning(SB), green cane (GC) and organic systems consisting of sugar cane grown under GC harvesting with high inputs of organic residues for 4 and 12 years (O-4 and O-12 respectively), as well as from a native vegetation (NV) area (Goianésia, Brazil). Ultrasonic dispersion of soil samples from 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 90–100-cm depths resulted in three organomineral fractions (<53, 75–53 and 2000–75µm) and one organic fraction denoted as light fraction (2000–75µm). C and N concentrations, 13C and 15N natural abundance and the proportion of C derived from C4 sugar cane plant residues (C-C4) were determined for each fraction. The C management index (CMI), derived from the total C pool and C lability, is useful in evaluating the capacity of management systems to improve soil quality and was calculated using the NV as the reference. Highest C and N concentrations were found for O-12 and O-4, mainly for the <53-µm organomineral fraction at 0–5cm depth. The 13C and C-C4 values indicated a greater accumulation of C-C4 in SOM fractions in organic compared with burned and unburned systems. GC combined with organic management is a strategy for long-term storage of total C and N in the SOM fraction associated with <53-µm fraction and light fraction. In addition, the highest CMI and its positive relationship with C-C4 in O-12 suggest the role of this system to foster soil quality improvement. The results allow infer regarding the potential of management practices on C accumulation in SOM fractions, which, in turn, can be used as indicators of the effects of land management.

Recent evidence suggests an upward trend in surface water phosphorus (P) concentrations in many segments of Florida, including the upper basin of the St. Johns River, a region that currently receives about two‐thirds of the state Class B biosolids land application. Concerns about water quality in this area are encouraging reexamination of the regulations governing biosolids programs. The objectives of this study were (i) to identify and thoroughly characterize the main biosolids sources routinely applied in the region, and (ii) to evaluate runoff and leachate N and P losses from a typical Florida Spodosol amended with biosolids or commercial inorganic fertilizer. Biosolids and inorganic fertilizer were surface applied uniformly at a rate equivalent to ∼114 kg P ha−1, which corresponded to a typical P load associated with nitrogen (N)‐based biosolids application. Soluble reactive P (SRP) was the predominant form of P lost in runoff and leachate. Inorganic P fertilizer increased flow‐weighted runoff total P concentrations nearly 60‐fold relative to control treatment (0.4 vs. 22 mg P L−1 for control and fertilizer treatments, respectively). With exception of biological P removal (BPR) biosolids, all other tested biosolids yielded flow‐weighted runoff P concentrations similar to untreated soils. Cumulative P and N losses (as a percentage of P and N applied) were greater from commercial inorganic fertilizer (∼38% of P and 46% of N) than any biosolids source (3% of P and 6% of N). Results demonstrate the value of water‐extractable P (WEP) as an indicator of biosolids P loss potential. Core Ideas Biosolids presented a lower risk of P and N losses than inorganic fertilizer. Nitrogen and P lability varies significantly depending on the biosolids treatment process. Data supported the usefulness of water‐extractable P as an indicator of biosolids P loss potential. More field research is warranted to understand nutrient dynamics in biosolids‐amended soils.