Organic matter fractions in soil under coffee with split applications of phosphorus and water regimes

Abstract

Phosphorus fertilization and irrigation management are essential practices to increase coffee yields, though information is scarce about the effect of these practices on organic matter fractions of soils of the ‘Cerrado’ (savanna-like vegetation). The purpose of this study was to evaluate organic matter fractions of a clayey Oxisol under coffee with split applications of phosphorus (P) and water regimes. The experimental design was a randomized block with 3 x 2 factorial arrangement with three split applications of P (P1: 300 kg ha-1 P2O5 applied annually of which 2/3 applied in September and 1/3 in December; P2: 600 kg ha-1 P2O5 applied at planting and every two years, and P3: 1800 kg ha-1 of P2O5 applied only at planting, corresponding to a 6-year requirement), two water regimes (with and without irrigation) and three replications. Soil from the 0-5 and 5-10 cm layers was sampled. The total organic carbon (TOC), labile carbon (LC), microbial carbon (Cmic), and carbon fractions of fulvic acid (FA), humic acid (HA) and humin (HU) were determined. The irrigation regime of coffee increased the TOC, LC and Cmic levels and the humified fractions of soil organic matter. In general, the form of P splitting had little influence on the fractions of soil organic matter.