There are no seeding rates established for organic production of field pea and lentil in Saskatchewan and organic producers must rely upon rates recommended for conventional production of these crops. These seeding rates may not be suitable for organic production as the two systems differ in the use of inputs and in pest management. The objectives of this study were to determine an optimal seeding rate for organic production of field pea and lentil in Saskatchewan considering a number of factors, including yield, weed suppression, soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, soil water storage, colonization of crop roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), plant P uptake, and profitability. A field experiment was conducted to determine the optimal seeding rates of field pea and lentil. Field pea seeding rates were 10, 25, 62, 156 and 250 plants m-2 and lentil seeding rates were 15, 38, 94, 235 and 375 plants m-2. Sites were established at Vonda, Vanscoy and Delisle, SK using a randomized complete block designs with summerfallow and green manure treatments included for each crop. Seed yield increased with increasing seeding rate for both crops, up to 1725 kg ha-1 for field pea and 1290 kg ha-1 for lentil. Weed biomass at physiological maturity decreased with increasing seeding rate for both crops. In field pea, weeds were reduced in weight by 68%, while lentil reduced weed biomass by 59% between the lowest and highest seeding rates. <p>Post-harvest soil phosphate-P levels did not change consistently between treatments, indicating that there was no trend in soil P concentration with seeding rate. Post-harvest soil inorganic N, however, was higher for the summerfallow and green manure treatments than for the seeding rate treatments in both crops. Inorganic N was higher at some sites for the highest two seeding rates in field pea. Soil water storage following harvest was not affected by treatment.<p>Colonization of crop roots by AMF increased for lentil with increasing seeding rate, but the same trend was not observed in field pea. A growth chamber experiment to study the rate of colonization of field pea between 10 and 50 d after emergence did not show any differences in AMF colonization between seeding rates. Colonization levels were high (70 to 85%) for both crops in both the field and growth chamber. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization and seeding rate had no effect on plant P concentration for either field pea or lentil. Both crops became increasingly profitable as seeding rate increased. Field pea reached a maximum return at 200 plants m-2 and lentil return increased to the highest seeding rate of 375 plants m-2. Organic farmers should increase seeding rates of these crops to increase returns and provide better weed suppression.

There are no seeding rates established for organic production of field pea and lentil in Saskatchewan and organic producers must rely upon rates recommended for conventional production of these crops. These seeding rates may not be suitable for organic production as the two systems differ in the use of inputs and in pest management. The objectives of this study were to determine an optimal seeding rate for organic production of field pea and lentil in Saskatchewan considering a number of factors, including yield, weed suppression, soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, soil water storage, colonization of crop roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), plant P uptake, and profitability. A field experiment was conducted to determine the optimal seeding rates of field pea and lentil. Field pea seeding rates were 10, 25, 62, 156 and 250 plants m-2 and lentil seeding rates were 15, 38, 94, 235 and 375 plants m-2. Sites were established at Vonda, Vanscoy and Delisle, SK using a randomized complete block designs with summerfallow and green manure treatments included for each crop. Seed yield increased with increasing seeding rate for both crops, up to 1725 kg ha-1 for field pea and 1290 kg ha-1 for lentil. Weed biomass at physiological maturity decreased with increasing seeding rate for both crops. In field pea, weeds were reduced in weight by 68%, while lentil reduced weed biomass by 59% between the lowest and highest seeding rates. <p>Post-harvest soil phosphate-P levels did not change consistently between treatments, indicating that there was no trend in soil P concentration with seeding rate. Post-harvest soil inorganic N, however, was higher for the summerfallow and green manure treatments than for the seeding rate treatments in both crops. Inorganic N was higher at some sites for the highest two seeding rates in field pea. Soil water storage following harvest was not affected by treatment.<p>Colonization of crop roots by AMF increased for lentil with increasing seeding rate, but the same trend was not observed in field pea. A growth chamber experiment to study the rate of colonization of field pea between 10 and 50 d after emergence did not show any differences in AMF colonization between seeding rates. Colonization levels were high (70 to 85%) for both crops in both the field and growth chamber. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonization and seeding rate had no effect on plant P concentration for either field pea or lentil. Both crops became increasingly profitable as seeding rate increased. Field pea reached a maximum return at 200 plants m-2 and lentil return increased to the highest seeding rate of 375 plants m-2. Organic farmers should increase seeding rates of these crops to increase returns and provide better weed suppression.

A mudança de uso da terra no Cerrado acarreta em alterações na dinâmica da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS). Práticas de manejo com revolvimento das camadas de solo aceleram a decomposição da MOS, favorecendo as emissões de gases do efeito estufa do solo para atmosfera. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar as mudanças na dinâmica da MOS de um Neossolo Quartzarênico submetido a diferentes usos e sistemas de manejo, utilizando como referência o sistema nativo (Cerrado). O presente estudo foi realizado no município de Comodoro - MT (13º50\'00\" a 13º50\'03\" S e 59º37\'18\" O). Foi empregado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com sete áreas de estudo. As coletas foram realizadas em julho de 2005 e fevereiro de 2006 e as áreas amostradas foram: Cerrado nativo (CER); pastagem (CAP22); plantio convencional com a cultura da soja (CS1), sucessão de culturas arroz-soja (CAS3) e sucessão arroz-soja-sorgo ou milheto (CAS/Sor3 e CAS/M3); e plantio direto (CAP13S/M5). Foram estudadas as seguintes variáveis: atributos físicos e químicos do solo, estoques de carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) do solo, teores de C e N nas frações granulométricas da MOS, quantidades de N inorgânico, C e N microbiano do solo, quociente metabólico (qCO2) e fluxos de gases do solo (CO2, N2O e CH4). Os resultados deste estudo indicaram que os sistemas com plantio convencional e plantio direto avaliados apresentaram melhoria nos atributos físicos e químicos do solo em relação a pastagem (CAP22), com menor compactação do solo e aumento na disponibilidade de fósforo, cálcio e magnésio. Foram obtidos maiores estoques de C e N em CAS/Sor3 e CAS/M3, áreas com maiores teores de argila. A área CAP13S/M5 também mostrou maiores teores de argila, porém baixos estoques de C e N, resultado atribuído ao uso da terra por treze anos com pastagem sem reforma e ao pouco tempo de implantação do sistema plantio direto. Analisando as frações granulométricas da MOS verificou-se maiores teores de C e N na fração menor que 50 \'mü\'m. As maiores quantidades de N inorgânico em relação ao CER foram observados na área CAS/M3, e com exceção desta área, a forma predominante de N inorgânico foi o amônio. Foram obtidas maiores quantidades de C e N microbiano na época úmida, quando todas as áreas estavam com cobertura vegetal. Entre as áreas de estudo, as maiores quantidades de C e N microbiano foram obtidos em CAP22. Os fluxos de C-CO2, com exceção da área CAS/Sor3, foram maiores na época úmida, enquanto que os fluxos de N-N2O e C-CH4 foram semelhantes entre as épocas de estudo. Os fluxos de gases em C equivalente não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre as áreas de estudo devido ao alto desvio padrão verificado para cada gás. A mudança de uso da terra promove alterações na dinâmica da MOS, porém neste estudo não foi possível distinguir qual o melhor sistema de uso para o Neossolo Quartzarênico devido ao pouco tempo de implantação dos sistemas plantio convencional e plantio direto, e a degradação da pastagem (apesar do maior tempo de implantação) / Land-use changes of Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) result in alterations of the soil organic matter (SOM). Managements practices with tillage accelerate the SOM decomposition, enhancing greenhouse gases emissions from the soil to the atmosphere. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the changes in the SOM dynamics of a Typic Quartzipisamment submitted to different uses and managements systems, using as reference the native system (Cerrado). The present study was conducted in areas located at Comodoro (Mato Grosso state, Brazil) (from 13º50\'00\" till 13º50\'03\" S and 59º37\'18\" W). At each site, samples were taken randomly within seven areas. Sampling activities were performed in July 2005 and February 2006 and the sample sites consist of an area of \"Cerrado\" (CER); pasture (CAP22); conventional tillage with soybean (CS1), rice-soybean succession (CAS3) and rice-soybean-sorghum or millet (CAS/Sor3 and CAS/M3) successions; and a field with no-tillage system (CAP13S/M5). Studied variables were: physical and chemical attributes, C and N stocks, isotopic composition of 13C/12C and 15N/14N, C and N content in the SOM fractions, quantity of inorganic N, microbial C and N biomass, metabolic quotient (qCO2), and the soil gases fluxes (CO2, N2O and CH4). The results of this study showed that all evaluated fields under conventional or no-tillage systems result in physical and chemical attribute improvement in relation to the pasture (CAP22), with soil compaction decrease, pH increase and improvement of the availability in phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. The C and N stocks were higher in areas CAS/Sor3 and CAS/M3, corresponding to the highest clay content. The area CAP13S/M5 showed similar clay content, but smaller C and N stocks, this result was attributed to the land-use: thirteen years as pastures without reform and also the short time of no-tillage implantation. Analyzing the SOM fractions, it was verified higher C and N contents in the 50 \'mü\'m fraction. The higher quantities of inorganic N in relation to the CER were found in area CAS/M3, and with exception of this area, ammonium was the predominant form of inorganic N. Higher quantities of the microbial C and N were obtained during the wet season, when all areas presented a cover crop. Among areas, the higher quantities of microbial C and N were obtained in CAP22. The fluxes of C-CO2, excepting area CAS/Sor3, were higher during the wet season, while the fluxes of N-N2O and C-CH4 were similar between seasons studied, because high standard deviations were calculated for each gas. The land use promoted alterations in SOM dynamic, however it was not possible to differentiate the best land use for this Typic Quartzipisamment, mainly due to the short time of no-tillage implantation, and the degradation of the pasture (although of the implantation time was higher)

A mudança do uso da terra modifica os ciclos dos elementos no solo, com alterações nos fluxos dos gases do efeito estufa (GEE). O tempo de implantação do sistema plantio direto associado a uma planta de cobertura (SPD) pode recuperar o estoque de carbono (C) no solo e mitigar o aumento da temperatura global devido à elevação da concentração dos gases do efeito estufa. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as alterações nos estoques de C e N do solo com o tempo de implantação do SPD tomando como referência absoluta a condição original (Cerradão) e, também com referencia relativa áreas com mudança do uso da terra, uma sob pastagem, e outra sob plantio convencional. O estudo foi realizado em áreas situadas no município de Rio Verde-GO (17º50\' a 18º20\' S e 51º43\' a 50º19\' O), em um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico com teores de argila entre 50 e 70 %. O delineamento experimental empregado foi inteiramente casualisados com parcelas subdivididas, constando de doze áreas, estas divididas em três sub-áreas cada qual com seis pontos de amostragem e cinco profundidades (0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30 e 30-40 cm). As áreas amostradas foram três sob Cerradão (CE, 2CE e 3CE); uma sob pastagem (PA), uma sob plantio convencional (PC), e sete em SPD com uma área de conversão do plantio convencional para o SPD (PD 0) e áreas com 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 e 12 anos de implantação do sistema (PD 4, PD 5, PD 7, PD 8, PD 10, PD 12). As variáveis estudadas foram: os atributos físicos e químicos, os estoques de C e N e a composição isotópica do 13C/12C e 15N/14N. Os fluxos dos GEE (CO2, N2O e CH4) foram determinados no CE, PA PC e PD com 8, 10 e 12 anos, além das quantidades de N-inorgânico e C e N-microbiano. Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que o SPD promoveu melhoria nos atributos físicos como a redução da compactação do solo, e nos atributos químicos como o aumento do pH e da disponibilidade de K, P, Ca e magnésio nas camadas superficiais do solo. Os estoques de C e N foram maiores nas áreas sob Cerradão (80 e 4 Mg ha-1, respectivamente para o C e N). Os menores valores nos estoques de C foram reportados no PD 0, PC e PA (54; 62 e 64 Mg ha-1, respectivamente). O tempo de implantação do SPD aumentou o estoque de C no solo, de modo que no PD 12 foi encontrado estoque de C igual as áreas sob Cerradão. A taxa anual de acúmulo de C no SPD foi calculada em 1,26 Mg ha-1 ano-1 (0-40 cm). As quantidades médias de C e N-microbiano e N-inorgânico foram encontradas no CE, o Nnitrato correspondeu a 60 % do total em todas as áreas. A maior emissão total em Cequivalente foi observado na PA (160 kg ha-1 ano-1), no CE foi de 135 kg ha-1 ano-1, enquanto que para o PC e SPD as emissões foram de 121 e 129 kg ha-1 ano-1, respectivamente. O seqüestro de C no solo sob SPD para a situação avaliada foi de 1,13 Mg ha-1 ano-1. O SPD mostrou neste estudo, que é uma prática agrícola que melhora as condições do solo, promovendo o aumento no estoque de C sem o aumento nas emissões de N2O e CH4 podendo tornar-se uma alternativa para mitigar as emissões dos GEE, garantindo a sustentabilidade do sistema produtivo / The land-use change transforms the elements cycles in the soil, with alterations in the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The time of implementation of the no-tillage system associated with a cover crop (NT) can recover the carbon (C) stocks in the soil and thus mitigate the global temperature increase due increasing GHG concentration. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the alterations of the soil carbon and nitrogen stocks following implementation time of no-tillage (NT) system taking as absolute reference the original condition (Cerradão) and, also, as relative reference, areas with other land use change, one under pasture, and other under conventional tillage. The study was done in areas located at Rio Verde (Goias state, Brazil) (17°50\' to 18°20\' S and 51°43\' to 50°19\' W), in a Oxisol (very clayed Red Dystrofic typic Latosol) with clay contents in the range 50 - 70 %. At each site, samples were taken randomly with subdivided parcels; these sites were divided in three sub-areas with six sampling locations and five depths (0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 cm.). The sampled sites were three under ?Cerradão? (CE, 2CE and 3CE); one pasture (PA), one conventional tillage (CT), and seven situations under no-tillage system with an area recently converted from conventional tillage to no-tillage (NT 0), and areas with 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12 years of implementation of the no-tillage (NT-4, NT-5, NT-7, NT-8, NT-10 and NT- 12). The variables studied were: physical and chemical attributes, the C and N stocks and the isotopic composition of 13C/12C and 15N/14N. The GHG emissions (CO2, N2O and CH4) were measured in CE, PA, CT and NT with 8, 10, and 12 years together with the quantity of inorganic-N and microbial C and N. The results of this study showed that these no-tillage systems guaranteed the physical attribute improvement with the decrease of the soil compaction and in the chemical attributes with increase of pH and of the availability of K, P, Ca and magnesium in the soil superficial layers. The carbon and nitrogen stocks were higher in ?Cerradão? (80 and 4 Mg ha-1, respectively to C and N). The lowest values in the carbon stocks were reported in NT-0, CT and PA (54; 62 and 64 Mg ha-1, respectively). The implementation time of no-tillage (NT) system increased the carbon stock in the soil, leading to carbon stock in the NT-12 area in the same level of the ?Cerradão? areas. The annual soil C accumulation in the NT system was calculated in 1,26 Mg ha-1 yr?1 (0-30 cm). For all areas, the average quantities of C and microbial-N and inorganic-N were found in CE, nitrate-N corresponded 60 % of the total. The highest total emission in C-equivalent was observed in PA (160 kg ha-1 yr-1), in CE it was 135 kg ha-1 yr-1, and amounted 121 and 129 135 kg ha-1 yr-1 for the CT and NT respectively. The carbon sequestration in the soil under (NT) for the studied situations was 1,13 Mg ha-1 yr-1. The No-tillage (NT) system studied showed to be an agricultural practice that improves the soil condition, promoting the increase of carbon stock without the increase of N2O and CH4 emissions, being thus an alternative to diminish the GHG emissions, and guaranteeing the sustainability of the productive system

A mudança do uso da terra modifica os ciclos dos elementos no solo, com alterações nos fluxos dos gases do efeito estufa (GEE). O tempo de implantação do sistema plantio direto associado a uma planta de cobertura (SPD) pode recuperar o estoque de carbono (C) no solo e mitigar o aumento da temperatura global devido à elevação da concentração dos gases do efeito estufa. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as alterações nos estoques de C e N do solo com o tempo de implantação do SPD tomando como referência absoluta a condição original (Cerradão) e, também com referencia relativa áreas com mudança do uso da terra, uma sob pastagem, e outra sob plantio convencional. O estudo foi realizado em áreas situadas no município de Rio Verde-GO (17º50\' a 18º20\' S e 51º43\' a 50º19\' O), em um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico com teores de argila entre 50 e 70 %. O delineamento experimental empregado foi inteiramente casualisados com parcelas subdivididas, constando de doze áreas, estas divididas em três sub-áreas cada qual com seis pontos de amostragem e cinco profundidades (0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30 e 30-40 cm). As áreas amostradas foram três sob Cerradão (CE, 2CE e 3CE); uma sob pastagem (PA), uma sob plantio convencional (PC), e sete em SPD com uma área de conversão do plantio convencional para o SPD (PD 0) e áreas com 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 e 12 anos de implantação do sistema (PD 4, PD 5, PD 7, PD 8, PD 10, PD 12). As variáveis estudadas foram: os atributos físicos e químicos, os estoques de C e N e a composição isotópica do 13C/12C e 15N/14N. Os fluxos dos GEE (CO2, N2O e CH4) foram determinados no CE, PA PC e PD com 8, 10 e 12 anos, além das quantidades de N-inorgânico e C e N-microbiano. Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que o SPD promoveu melhoria nos atributos físicos como a redução da compactação do solo, e nos atributos químicos como o aumento do pH e da disponibilidade de K, P, Ca e magnésio nas camadas superficiais do solo. Os estoques de C e N foram maiores nas áreas sob Cerradão (80 e 4 Mg ha-1, respectivamente para o C e N). Os menores valores nos estoques de C foram reportados no PD 0, PC e PA (54; 62 e 64 Mg ha-1, respectivamente). O tempo de implantação do SPD aumentou o estoque de C no solo, de modo que no PD 12 foi encontrado estoque de C igual as áreas sob Cerradão. A taxa anual de acúmulo de C no SPD foi calculada em 1,26 Mg ha-1 ano-1 (0-40 cm). As quantidades médias de C e N-microbiano e N-inorgânico foram encontradas no CE, o Nnitrato correspondeu a 60 % do total em todas as áreas. A maior emissão total em Cequivalente foi observado na PA (160 kg ha-1 ano-1), no CE foi de 135 kg ha-1 ano-1, enquanto que para o PC e SPD as emissões foram de 121 e 129 kg ha-1 ano-1, respectivamente. O seqüestro de C no solo sob SPD para a situação avaliada foi de 1,13 Mg ha-1 ano-1. O SPD mostrou neste estudo, que é uma prática agrícola que melhora as condições do solo, promovendo o aumento no estoque de C sem o aumento nas emissões de N2O e CH4 podendo tornar-se uma alternativa para mitigar as emissões dos GEE, garantindo a sustentabilidade do sistema produtivo / The land-use change transforms the elements cycles in the soil, with alterations in the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The time of implementation of the no-tillage system associated with a cover crop (NT) can recover the carbon (C) stocks in the soil and thus mitigate the global temperature increase due increasing GHG concentration. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the alterations of the soil carbon and nitrogen stocks following implementation time of no-tillage (NT) system taking as absolute reference the original condition (Cerradão) and, also, as relative reference, areas with other land use change, one under pasture, and other under conventional tillage. The study was done in areas located at Rio Verde (Goias state, Brazil) (17°50\' to 18°20\' S and 51°43\' to 50°19\' W), in a Oxisol (very clayed Red Dystrofic typic Latosol) with clay contents in the range 50 - 70 %. At each site, samples were taken randomly with subdivided parcels; these sites were divided in three sub-areas with six sampling locations and five depths (0-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 cm.). The sampled sites were three under ?Cerradão? (CE, 2CE and 3CE); one pasture (PA), one conventional tillage (CT), and seven situations under no-tillage system with an area recently converted from conventional tillage to no-tillage (NT 0), and areas with 4, 5, 7, 8, 10 and 12 years of implementation of the no-tillage (NT-4, NT-5, NT-7, NT-8, NT-10 and NT- 12). The variables studied were: physical and chemical attributes, the C and N stocks and the isotopic composition of 13C/12C and 15N/14N. The GHG emissions (CO2, N2O and CH4) were measured in CE, PA, CT and NT with 8, 10, and 12 years together with the quantity of inorganic-N and microbial C and N. The results of this study showed that these no-tillage systems guaranteed the physical attribute improvement with the decrease of the soil compaction and in the chemical attributes with increase of pH and of the availability of K, P, Ca and magnesium in the soil superficial layers. The carbon and nitrogen stocks were higher in ?Cerradão? (80 and 4 Mg ha-1, respectively to C and N). The lowest values in the carbon stocks were reported in NT-0, CT and PA (54; 62 and 64 Mg ha-1, respectively). The implementation time of no-tillage (NT) system increased the carbon stock in the soil, leading to carbon stock in the NT-12 area in the same level of the ?Cerradão? areas. The annual soil C accumulation in the NT system was calculated in 1,26 Mg ha-1 yr?1 (0-30 cm). For all areas, the average quantities of C and microbial-N and inorganic-N were found in CE, nitrate-N corresponded 60 % of the total. The highest total emission in C-equivalent was observed in PA (160 kg ha-1 yr-1), in CE it was 135 kg ha-1 yr-1, and amounted 121 and 129 135 kg ha-1 yr-1 for the CT and NT respectively. The carbon sequestration in the soil under (NT) for the studied situations was 1,13 Mg ha-1 yr-1. The No-tillage (NT) system studied showed to be an agricultural practice that improves the soil condition, promoting the increase of carbon stock without the increase of N2O and CH4 emissions, being thus an alternative to diminish the GHG emissions, and guaranteeing the sustainability of the productive system

A mudança de uso da terra no Cerrado acarreta em alterações na dinâmica da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS). Práticas de manejo com revolvimento das camadas de solo aceleram a decomposição da MOS, favorecendo as emissões de gases do efeito estufa do solo para atmosfera. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar as mudanças na dinâmica da MOS de um Neossolo Quartzarênico submetido a diferentes usos e sistemas de manejo, utilizando como referência o sistema nativo (Cerrado). O presente estudo foi realizado no município de Comodoro - MT (13º50\'00\" a 13º50\'03\" S e 59º37\'18\" O). Foi empregado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com sete áreas de estudo. As coletas foram realizadas em julho de 2005 e fevereiro de 2006 e as áreas amostradas foram: Cerrado nativo (CER); pastagem (CAP22); plantio convencional com a cultura da soja (CS1), sucessão de culturas arroz-soja (CAS3) e sucessão arroz-soja-sorgo ou milheto (CAS/Sor3 e CAS/M3); e plantio direto (CAP13S/M5). Foram estudadas as seguintes variáveis: atributos físicos e químicos do solo, estoques de carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) do solo, teores de C e N nas frações granulométricas da MOS, quantidades de N inorgânico, C e N microbiano do solo, quociente metabólico (qCO2) e fluxos de gases do solo (CO2, N2O e CH4). Os resultados deste estudo indicaram que os sistemas com plantio convencional e plantio direto avaliados apresentaram melhoria nos atributos físicos e químicos do solo em relação a pastagem (CAP22), com menor compactação do solo e aumento na disponibilidade de fósforo, cálcio e magnésio. Foram obtidos maiores estoques de C e N em CAS/Sor3 e CAS/M3, áreas com maiores teores de argila. A área CAP13S/M5 também mostrou maiores teores de argila, porém baixos estoques de C e N, resultado atribuído ao uso da terra por treze anos com pastagem sem reforma e ao pouco tempo de implantação do sistema plantio direto. Analisando as frações granulométricas da MOS verificou-se maiores teores de C e N na fração menor que 50 \'mü\'m. As maiores quantidades de N inorgânico em relação ao CER foram observados na área CAS/M3, e com exceção desta área, a forma predominante de N inorgânico foi o amônio. Foram obtidas maiores quantidades de C e N microbiano na época úmida, quando todas as áreas estavam com cobertura vegetal. Entre as áreas de estudo, as maiores quantidades de C e N microbiano foram obtidos em CAP22. Os fluxos de C-CO2, com exceção da área CAS/Sor3, foram maiores na época úmida, enquanto que os fluxos de N-N2O e C-CH4 foram semelhantes entre as épocas de estudo. Os fluxos de gases em C equivalente não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre as áreas de estudo devido ao alto desvio padrão verificado para cada gás. A mudança de uso da terra promove alterações na dinâmica da MOS, porém neste estudo não foi possível distinguir qual o melhor sistema de uso para o Neossolo Quartzarênico devido ao pouco tempo de implantação dos sistemas plantio convencional e plantio direto, e a degradação da pastagem (apesar do maior tempo de implantação) / Land-use changes of Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) result in alterations of the soil organic matter (SOM). Managements practices with tillage accelerate the SOM decomposition, enhancing greenhouse gases emissions from the soil to the atmosphere. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the changes in the SOM dynamics of a Typic Quartzipisamment submitted to different uses and managements systems, using as reference the native system (Cerrado). The present study was conducted in areas located at Comodoro (Mato Grosso state, Brazil) (from 13º50\'00\" till 13º50\'03\" S and 59º37\'18\" W). At each site, samples were taken randomly within seven areas. Sampling activities were performed in July 2005 and February 2006 and the sample sites consist of an area of \"Cerrado\" (CER); pasture (CAP22); conventional tillage with soybean (CS1), rice-soybean succession (CAS3) and rice-soybean-sorghum or millet (CAS/Sor3 and CAS/M3) successions; and a field with no-tillage system (CAP13S/M5). Studied variables were: physical and chemical attributes, C and N stocks, isotopic composition of 13C/12C and 15N/14N, C and N content in the SOM fractions, quantity of inorganic N, microbial C and N biomass, metabolic quotient (qCO2), and the soil gases fluxes (CO2, N2O and CH4). The results of this study showed that all evaluated fields under conventional or no-tillage systems result in physical and chemical attribute improvement in relation to the pasture (CAP22), with soil compaction decrease, pH increase and improvement of the availability in phosphorus, calcium and magnesium. The C and N stocks were higher in areas CAS/Sor3 and CAS/M3, corresponding to the highest clay content. The area CAP13S/M5 showed similar clay content, but smaller C and N stocks, this result was attributed to the land-use: thirteen years as pastures without reform and also the short time of no-tillage implantation. Analyzing the SOM fractions, it was verified higher C and N contents in the 50 \'mü\'m fraction. The higher quantities of inorganic N in relation to the CER were found in area CAS/M3, and with exception of this area, ammonium was the predominant form of inorganic N. Higher quantities of the microbial C and N were obtained during the wet season, when all areas presented a cover crop. Among areas, the higher quantities of microbial C and N were obtained in CAP22. The fluxes of C-CO2, excepting area CAS/Sor3, were higher during the wet season, while the fluxes of N-N2O and C-CH4 were similar between seasons studied, because high standard deviations were calculated for each gas. The land use promoted alterations in SOM dynamic, however it was not possible to differentiate the best land use for this Typic Quartzipisamment, mainly due to the short time of no-tillage implantation, and the degradation of the pasture (although of the implantation time was higher)

Soil P fractionation was used to examine changes in soil inorganic and organic P under grazed irrigated pasture in a long-term field trial at Winchmore in Mid-Canterbury. The soil P fractionation scheme used involved sequential extractions of soil with O.5M NaHCO₃ @ pH 8.5 (NaHCO₃ P), 0.1M NaOH (NaOH I P), 1M HCl (HCl P) and 0.1M NaOH (NaOH II P). The Winchmore trial comprised 5 treatments: control (no P since 1952), 376R (376 kg superphosphate ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ 1952-1957, none since), 564R (564 kg superphosphate ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ 1952-1957, none since) 188PA (188 kg superphosphate ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ since 1952) and 376PA (376 kg superphosphate ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ since 1952: Topsoil (0-7.5cm) samples taken from the different treatments in 1958, 1961, 1965, 1968, 1971, 1974 and 1977 were used in this study. Changes in soil P with time showed that significant increases in soil inorganic P occurred in the annually fertilised treatments (l88PA, 376PA). As expected, the overall increase in total soil inorganic P between 1958 and 1977 was greater in the 376PA treatment (159 µg P g⁻¹) than that in the 188PA treatment (37 µg P g⁻¹). However, the chemical forms of inorganic P which accumulated in the annually fertilised treatments changed with time. Between 1958 and 1971 most of the increases in soil inorganic P in these treatments occurred in the NaHCO₃ and NaOH I P fractions. On the other hand, increases in soil inorganic P in the annually fertilised treatments between 1971 and 1977 were found mainly in the HCl and NaOH II P fractions. These changes in soil P forms were attributed to the combined effects of lime addition in 1972 and increased amounts of sparingly soluble apatite P and iron-aluminium P in the single superphosphate applied during the 1970's. In the residual fertiliser treatments (376R, 564R) significant decreases in all of the soil inorganic P fractions (i.e. NaHCO₃ P, NaOH I P, HCl P, NaOH II p) occurred between 1958 and 1977 following the cessation of P fertiliser inputs in 1957. This was attributed to continued plant uptake of P accumulated in the soil from earlier P fertiliser additions. However, levels of inorganic P in the different soil P fractions in the residual fertiliser treatments did not decline to those in the control which indicated that some of the inorganic P accumulated in the soil from P fertiliser applied between 1952 and 1957 was present in very stable forms. In all treatments, significant increases in soil organic P occurred between 1958 and 1971. The overall increases in total soil organic P were greater in the annually fertilised treatments (70-86 µg P g⁻¹) than those in the residual fertiliser (55-64 µg P g⁻¹) and control (34 µg P g⁻¹) treatments which reflected the respective levels of pasture production in the different treatments. These increases in soil organic P were attributed to the biological conversion of native and fertiliser inorganic P to organic P in the soil via plant, animal and microbial residues. The results also showed that annual rates of soil organic P accumulation between 1958 and 1971 decreased with time which indicated that steady-state conditions with regard to net 'organic P accumulation were being reached. In the residual fertiliser treatments, soil organic P continued to increase between 1958 and 1971 while levels of soil inorganic P and pasture production declined. This indicated that organic P which accumulated in soil from P fertiliser additions was more stable and less available to plants than inorganic forms of soil P. Between 1971 and 1974 small (10-38 µg P g⁻¹) but significant decreases in total soil organic P occurred in all treatments. This was attributed to increased mineralisation of soil organic P as a result of lime (4 t ha⁻¹) applied to the trial in 1972 and also to the observed cessation of further net soil organic P accumulation after 1971. Liming also appeared to affect the chemical nature of soil organic P as shown by the large decreases in NaOH I organic P(78-88 µg P g⁻¹) and concomitant smaller increases in NaOH II organic P (53-65 µg P g⁻¹) which occurred in all treatments between 1971 and 1974. The chemical nature of soil organic P in the Winchmore long-term trial was also investigated using 31p nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and gel filtration chromatography. This involved quantitative extraction of organic P from the soil by sequential extraction with 0.1M NaOH, 0.2M aqueous acetylacetone (pH 8.3) and 0.5M NaOH following which the extracts were concentrated by ultrafiltration. Soils (0-7.5cm) taken from the control and 376PA annually fertilised treatments in 1958, 1971 and 1983 were used in this study. 31p NMR analysis showed that most (88-94%) of the organic P in the Winchmore soils was present as orthophosphate monoester P while the remainder was found as orthophosphate diester and pyrophosphate P. Orthophosphate monoester P also made up almost all of the soil organic P which accumulated in the 376PA treatment between 1958 and 1971. This indicated that soil organic P in the 376PA and control treatments was very stable. The gel filtration studies using Sephadex G-100 showed that most (61-83%) of the soil organic P in the control and 376PA treatments was present in the low molecular weight forms (<100,000 MW), although the proportion of soil organic P in high molecular weight forms (>100,000 MW) increased from 17-19% in 1958 to 38-39% in 1983. The latter was attributed to the microbial humification of organic P and indicated a shift toward more complex and possibly more stable forms of organic P in the soil with time. Assuming that the difference in soil organic P between the control and 376PA soils sampled in 1971 and 1983 represented the organic P derived from P fertiliser additions, results showed that this soil organic P was evenly distributed between the high and low molecular weight fractions. An exhaustive pot trial was used to examine the relative availability to plants of different forms of soil inorganic and organic P in long-term fertilised pasture soils. This involved growing 3 successive crops of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in 3 Lismore silt loam (Udic Ustochrept) soils which had received different amounts of P fertiliser for many years. Two of the soils were taken from the annually fertilised treatments in the Winchmore long term trial (188PA, 376PA) and the third (Fairton) was taken from a pasture which had been irrigated with meatworks effluent for over 80 years (65 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Each soil was subjected to 3 treatments, namely control (no nutrients added), N100 and N200. The latter treatments involved adding complete nutrient solutions with different quantities of N at rates of 100kg N ha⁻¹ (N100) and 200kg N ha⁻¹ (N200) on an area basis. The soil P fractionation scheme used was the same as that used in the Winchmore long-term trial study (i.e. NaHCO₃ P, NaOH I P, HCl P, NaOH II p). Results obtained showed that the availability to plants of different extracted inorganic P fractions, as measured by decreases in P fractions before and after 3 successive crops, followed the order: NaHCO₃ P > NaOH I P > HCl P = NaOH II P. Overall decreases in the NaHCO₃ and NaOH I inorganic P fractions were 34% and 16% respectively, while corresponding decreases in the HCl and NaOH II inorganic P fractions were small «10%) and not significant. However, a significant decrease in HCl P (16%) was observed in one soil (Fairton-N200 treatment) which was attributed to the significant decrease in soil pH (from 6.2 to 5.1) which occurred after successive cropping. Successive cropping had little or no effect on the levels of P in the different soil organic P fractions. This indicated that net soil organic P mineralisation did not contribute significantly to plant P uptake over the short-term. A short-term field experiment was also conducted to examine the effects of different soil management practices on the availability of different forms of P to plants in the long-term fertilised pasture soils. The trial was sited on selected plots of the existing annually fertilised treatments in the Winchmore long-term trial (188PA, 376PA) and comprised 5 treatments: control, 2 rates of lime (2 and 4 t ha⁻¹ ) , urea fertiliser (400kg N ha⁻¹ ) and mechanical cultivation. The above ground herbage in the uncultivated treatments was harvested on 11 occasions over a 2 year period and at each harvest topsoil (0-7.5 cm) samples were taken from all of the treatments for P analysis. The soil P fractionation scheme used in this particular trial involved sequential extractions with 0.5M NaHCO₃ @ pH 8.5 (NaHCO₃ P), 0.1M NaOH (NaOH P), ultrasonification with 0.1M NaOH (sonicate-NaOH p) and 1M HCl (HCl P). In addition, amounts of microbial P in the soils were determined. The results showed that liming resulted in small (10-21 µg P g⁻¹) though significant decreases in the NaOH soil organic P fraction in the 188PA and 376PA plots. Levels of soil microbial P were also found to be greater in the limed treatments compared with those in the controls. These results indicated that liming increased the microbial mineralisation of soil organic P in the Winchmore soils. However, pasture dry matter yields and P uptake were not significantly affected. Although urea significantly increased dry matter yields and P uptake, it did not appear to significantly affect amounts of P in the different soil P fractions. Mechanical cultivation and the subsequent fallow period (18 months) resulted in significant increases in amounts of P in the NaHCO₃ and NaOH inorganic P fractions. This was attributed to P released from the microbial decomposition of plant residues, although the absence of plants significantly reduced levels of microbial P in the cultivated soils. Practical implications of the results obtained in the present study were presented and discussed.

Cereal rye (CR), the most common and effective nitrogen (N) scavenging cover crop option in the Midwest, is often utilized in cropping systems to reduce nitrate loss for environmental benefits. To increase environmental efficiency in Midwest corn cropping systems, we must increase the overall adoption of CR. However, due to the yield reduction potential (6%) for corn planted after CR termination, CR is primarily recommended before soybean. To increase CR adoption, we must develop adaptive fertilizer management practices that achieve competitive grain yields relative to cropping systems where CR is not adopted. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to determine (1) the effect of CR and starter nitrogen rate on corn growth and nitrogen content. (2) the optimum starter nitrogen rate to achieve agronomic optimum corn yield following CR. (3) the impact of phosphorus (P) at starter on plant growth, nitrogen content, and yield with the inclusion of CR. For our study, five starter N rates were applied in a 5x5 cm band to both CR and non-CR plots, concentrations ranged from 0-84 kg N ha^-1in 28 kg N ha^-1 intervals. Total N applied was the same for each treatment, relative to its location, and was split between starter N at planting and sidedress applied at growth stage V6 relatively. Although CR termination took place at least two weeks before planting, CR decreased corn grain yield at one of three locations by an average of 8%, nitrogen recovery efficiency (NRE) by 27%, and R6 total N content by 23%, relative to the conventional control (non-CR 0N), when no starter N was applied. At one of three locations, starter N rates of 56 kg N ha^-1, 56 kg N ha^-1plus 17 kg P ha^-1, and 84 kg N ha^-1 increased corn grain yield, in CR plots, and 56 kg N ha^-1 plus 17 kg P ha^-1 increased corn grain yield in non-CR plots. Phosphorus increased corn grain N content at growth stage R6 in one of three locations and did not impact corn grain yield at all locations. We conclude that the inclusion of starter N at planting has the potential to increase agronomic productivity in CR corn cropping systems in soil environments with a high capacity to mineralize soil N. However, further research is required to refine our starter N results to find an optimum starter N rate to apply before planting corn following CR.