Determination of soil chemical attributes with terra preta nova experiment

Abstract

Research conducted with Terra Preta Nova (TPN) experiment has been directed in the attempt to replicate soils known as Archeological Black Earth (ABE), characterized by being highly fertile and stable soils, associated with deposit of vegetal and animal residues origin by prehistoric man. The aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of soil chemical attributes on incorporation of wood residues and animal wastes in Terra Preta Nova experiment. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with 17 treatments consisting of incorporation of substrates in soil, individual or combined, of charcoal (C); wood sawdust (WS); MDF residues (MDF); bone meal residues (BNR); animal fat (AF); and control treatment (CT), without incorporation of substrate in soil, with four replicates. The incorporation and combinations of substrates promoted increase in soil organic matter, verifying that individual treatment based on charcoal resulted in a value of 70.35 g kg-1 of SOM, for P nutrient verified value of 332.76 mg kg-1 (C+BNR). For N and exchangeable bases contents (K, Na, Ca, and Mg), verified low values, without modifications with incorporation of different substrates in soil. The areas conducted with Terra Preta Nova experiment showed values of low soil chemical attributes compared to Archeological Black Earth, suggesting that time in which residues were incorporated was not sufficient for formation of soil fertility, characteristic of Archeological Black Earth.