Soil carbon and nitrogen under different land-use and landscape loca-tions in central Brazil

Abstract

In Central Brazil, plateaus, the most common geomorphologic form, have been undergoing intense conversion from native vegetation to pasture and agriculture in recent decades. We used carbon stable isotope ratios (δ13C) and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ15N) to assess possible changes in soil organic matter dynamics under such land use modifications. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in soil δ13C and δ15N and C and N stocks between native vegetation and agricultural or pasture areas in different locations of a plateau in the savannas of Central Brazil. We sampled soil up to 100 cm depth in pasture areas in the summit of the plateau and no-tillage and conventional tillage on the border of a plateau, as well as soils under native vegetation in both landscape locations. Both soil δ13C and δ15N, and C and N stocks showed no differences between land uses. The different relationships between δ15N and C/N ratio at different locations indicated distinct behavior of the soil organic matter between the summit and border of the plateau. Therefore, in addition to land-use, landscape location contributes to both δ13C and δ15N, and C and N stocks in the soil of the plateau.

Perspectives on carbon footprint of agricultural land-use in Brazil

“…These activities are currently confined to some regional segments and a small number of farmers, but they should be disseminated for wider adoption on a national scale. To achieve this, it is Carvalho et al [44] Rittl et al Pinheiro et al…”

“…Vicente et al [52] Integrated crop-livestock system Cerrado 30 60-73 Carvalho et al [44] Silvopasture Cerrado 100 19-420 Pinheiro et al…”

“…Tonucci et al [49] Eucalyptus Atlantic rainforest 100 145-160 Vicente et al [52] Native vegetation Cerrado 30 63-75 Siqueira-Neto et al [43] Carvalho et al [44] Native vegetation Cerrado 40 ~75 Gmach et al [46] Native vegetation Cerrado 100 75-94 Santos et al [45] Native vegetation -an intermediate Cerrado with trees Cerradão 100 94-414 Oliveira et al [42] Pinheiro et al…”

“…Tonucci et al [49] Natural forest Amazon 30 56-70 Carvalho et al [44] Rittl et al [47] Natural forest Atlantic rainforest 100 83-260 Salgado et al [41] Oliveira et al [50] Monroe et al [51] Vicente et al [52] Gama-Rodrigues et al necessary to involve the local community, local and national NGOs, the private sector, and federal and municipal agencies and intensify public policies for access to rural credits and innovations in diffusing technologies. Large-scale adoption of conservationist agriculture practices by the farming community will generate economic opportunities leading to financial gains from the commercialization of carbon credits and payment for environmental services.…”

Influência do Relevo na Dinâmica Temporal do Uso e Cobertura da Terra no Norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…A crescente demanda pela produção de alimentos e matéria prima intensificou a conversão de ecossistemas naturais em agroecossistemas (Winkler et al, 2021). Quando realizadas sem planejamento ou conhecimento prévio acerca do funcionamento dos ecossistemas, essas conversões podem causar perda de hábitats, alterações nos ciclos biogeoquímicos de elementos e da água, mudanças no microclima local e degradação de sistemas hídricos por assoreamento e eutrofização (Santos et al, 2021;Fernandes et al, 2021;Lourenço et al, 2022;Caballero et al, 2022). Entender como, quando e onde as alterações na cobertura do solo ocorrem pode minimizar os impactos negativos e auxiliar o planejamento ambiental e territorial.…”