Changes in tropical land use have profound effects on soil organic matter (SOM) status. It has been suggested that alterations in the different fractions of SOM are more effective in indicating changes in soil use than total soil organic matter content. The main objective of this study was to investigate changes in the content of humic substances in an Ultisol under different land uses, in the northeast region of Brazil. Soil samples were collected from the 0-10 and 10-30 cm layers, in three agricultural areas (conventional coconut orchard, integrated coconut orchard, and citrus orchard). A native forest soil was used as reference. Organic C and total N were determined to characterize the SOM. Humic substances were chemically fractionated into fulvic acid, humic acid, and humin, based on solubility in acid and alkali. Significant loss (47.5%) of soil organic matter was observed in the surface layers of the conventional coconut and citrus orchards, compared to the native forest. There was increased SOM content in the integrated coconut orchard soil, due to the presence of cover crops as well as management of crop residues. However, in the subsurface soil of the integrated coconut orchard, cultivation modified the distribution of the more labile fractions of the soil organic matter, as measured by the ratio between humic and fulvic acids (>1.0), indicating a substantial loss of fulvic acids. The degree of humification was in the range 40-97%. The distributions of the soil organic matter fractions varied in the ranges 12-32.5% (fulvic acids), 12-34.5% (humic acids), and 40-69.5% (humin).

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In the tropics, water erosion is one of the most important factors leading to the degradation and deterioration of agricultural land. Olive orchards have a low canopy coverage, especially during the first years after planting, due to the low density of olive trees. Given the fast expansion of olive orchards in Brazil, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of cover vegetation on soil and water losses under natural rainfall. In addition, it was assessed the crop performance and the vegetation cover index in different management systems in olive orchards. The study was carried out in soil erosion plots, where water and sediment were sampled and measured over two crops season, under the following treatments: in the first season, bare soil with olive cultivation (OBS); olive trees intercropped with spontaneous vegetation (OSV); olive trees intercropped with jack beans (OJB); olive trees intercropped with millet (OM) and, as a control, only bare soil (BS). In the second season, the OM treatment was replaced by olive trees intercropped with sunn hemp (OSH). On bare soils, soil loss was the highest reaching 303.9 Mg ha -1 yr -1 and where the surface runoff amounted to 484.8 mm yr -1 . However, in the absence of competition for resources with other crops, olive trees performed best under this system. The olive orchards planted in shallow and sloping soils without cover crops showed unsustainable soil loss, crusting, and sealing in the superficial soil layer, which can progress quickly for soil degradation in the future. The efficiency in the reduction of loss in relation to bare soil was 4.11 and 12.93 % for the soil loss and 12.15 and 25.17 % for water loss, respectively, for olive with spontaneous vegetation and olive with jack beans. Cover crops combined with olive trees, and reconciled with the crop performance aspects of cultivation in tropical regions, is of great relevance for improving sustainability, especially regarding the reduction of soil and water losses due to water erosion.

The main objective of this study was to investigate changes in carbon dynamics and stocks in agricultural soils. Soil samples were collected at 0-10 cm and 10-30 cm depths in two agricultural areas (cultivated with banana (Musa spp.), and cultivated with citrus (Citrus sinensis). A native forest soil was used as a reference and to determine the carbon pool management index. Organic matter was physically fractionated into particulate organic matter (> 53 µm) and complexed organic matter (< 53 µm). Analysis of total organic carbon was run to characterize soil organic matter. Comparing to the native forest soil, the banana cultivation increased the total soil organic carbon content (TOC) in approximately 14% while citrus cultivation reduced the TOC content in about 38%. The cultivated soils reduced the particulate organic matter fraction in more than 50%, showing a higher decomposition rate of the organic residues. The Carbon Management Index values were lower than 1 in all treatments, however the best results were observed for the citrus orchard (116.5). Overall, the change in land use from native forest to fruit crops reduced soil organic matter content, especially its labile fraction, and reduced soil quality.Manejo da matéria orgânica do solo e estoques de carbono em cultivos de frutas tropicais R E S U M OCom este trabalho objetivou investigar as mudanças na dinâmica e no estoque de carbono em solos agrícolas. Amostras de solo foram coletadas de 0-10 cm e 10-30 cm, em duas áreas agrícolas (cultivo de banana (Musa spp) e cultivo de citros (Citrus sinensis). Um solo em floresta nativa foi utilizado como referência e para determinação do Índice de Manejo de Carbono (IMC). A matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) foi fracionada fisicamente em particulada (MOP, > 53 µm) e complexada (MOC, < 53 µm). O carbono orgânico total (COT) foi analisado para caracterizar a MOS. Comparando com o solo em mata nativa o cultivo da banana aumentou o teor de carbono orgânico do solo (TOC) em aproximadamente 14% enquanto o cultivo de citros reduziu o teor de TOC em cerca de 38%. O cultivo de fruteiras reduziu a fração particulada em mais de 50% mostrando uma velocidade de decomposição maior dos resíduos orgânicos. Os valores do Índice de Manejo de Carbono foram menores que 1 em todos os tratamentos; entretanto, foram observados os melhores resultados para o pomar de citros (116,5). No geral, a mudança no uso da terra de mata nativa para culturas de frutas reduziu o teor de matéria orgânica do solo, especialmente sua fração lábil, e a qualidade do solo.

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Knowledge of the quantity and quality of the material lost by soil erosion due to soil management is a basic need to identify land management zones in catchments. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of soil management on the quantity and quality of soil material lost by erosion in the Posses sub-watershed, Municipality of Extrema, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Water and sediments lost by natural rainfall erosion were sampled from erosion plots located on a Red-Yellow Argisol (PVA) under the following systems: bare soil, subsistence farming (maize/beans/pumpkin/jack-beans/fallow), degraded pasture, well-managed pasture, and reforestation set up in 2013; and in a Litholic Neosol (RL): reforestation set up in 2008, bare soil, and native forest. Ca, Mg, K, P, N and soil organic matter (SOM) contents were determined in sediment and soil samples (at 0-5 cm depth) for the determination of the runoff enrichment ratios. Management influences soil losses more so than water losses. Minor losses were found in reforestation set up in 2013 (soil); in well-managed pasture (water); and in reforestations (nutrients and SOM). These losses tend to stability with time. The general sequence of nutrient losses was N > Ca > Mg > K > P in PVA; and N > Ca > K > Mg > P in RL. Loss rates of SOM and N followed the order: bare soil > subsistence farming > degraded pasture > well-managed pasture > reforestation, in PVA; and bare soil > native forest > reforestation, in RL. Reforestation and well-management pasture are effective conservation strategies in order to lower the erosion process in the Posses sub-watershed. Soil losses, as well as nutrients and organic matter losses were more influenced by soil management than water losses. The safeguarding native forest under Litholic Neosol is essential to the conservation of this pedoenvironment, especially in steep slopes.

Erosion is the main cause of soil degradation, compromising soil productivity and sustainability. As soil organic matter (SOM) is a key indicator of quality, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of different olive tree managements on SOM and its soil fractions in soil (Inceptisol) and erosion sediments. Five treatments were installed: bare soil, olive cultivation in bare soil, olive tree intercropped with jack bean, olive tree intercropped with pearl millet, and olive tree cultivated with spontaneous vegetation; a contiguous area of native vegetation was used as reference. Carbon in soil and sediment were determined by wet oxidation with external heating, while the fractionation of SOM was performed based on granulometry. The Carbon Management Index (CMI) was determined by the proportions of SOM fractions. The results indicated that SOM associated with minerals is the most present in soil and sediment erosion, regardless of the adopted management. Results on CMI showed that the systems olive tree intercropped with pearl millet or with spontaneous vegetation are the most favorable to increase the carbon stock in the soil.

How to cite: Bispo DFA, Batista PVG, Guimarães DV, Silva MLN, Curi N, Quinton JN. Monitoring land use impacts on sediment production: a case study of the pilot catchment from the Brazilian program of payment for environmental services. Rev Bras Cienc Solo. 2020;44:e0190167.