Matéria orgânica do solo em plantios de Pinus taeda e P. elliottii em duas regiões do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

The soil quality monitoring in planted forests, through the efficient use of indicators, is important for the non degradation of the soil by management practices and assessment of possible increases / decreases in the amount of carbon stored. The objective was to assess changes in carbon and nitrogen content and storage in total fractions (COT and NT), particulate (COP and NP) and minerals associated (COAM and NAM) in four Pinus taeda L. stands in the Campos de Cima da Serra-RS (CCS) and four of Pinus elliottii Engelm., in Depressao Central-RS (DC) under different conditions of soil and forest management. Control plots like references treatments were evaluated: natural field burned annually (CNQA) and Araucaria angustifolia Forest (FOM) in CCS; natural field harvested and not burned (CN) and a Seasonal Deciduous Forest (FED) in DC. In each of these areas, twelve samples of litter and twelve soil samples (sub-samples: 0-10, 10-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm) were collected. In the laboratory, the physical fractionation and chemical analysis of soil was done, in relation to carbon and nitrogen in the different fractions obtained, pH and soil density, and C and N content in litter. In CCS, the areas with Pinus taeda reached the highest values of accumulated litter, proportional to time of the use area with the planting and also proportional of to the residues management adopted. The carbon accumulation in the litter was influenced by its biomass, with levels differed little between the areas with Pinus taeda and FOM, with minors in CNQA. The levels of N were higher in FOM and in the areas of Pinus taeda with original vegetation of FOM, for the CNQA and Pinus taeda in area originally CNQA. The carbon accumulation in the soil showed, for the total fraction, in areas where the predominance of biomass was burnt and withdrawal, the FOM and CNQA, respectively. The CNQA, in turn, showed the largest stockpiles of COP, along with the area of burning of biomass in the original area of FOM. The COAM was stored in greater quantity in the same areas of dominance of the TOC. The accumulation of carbon was associated with C-coal from burns and the litter additions, harvested collection and renewal of roots. The changes in the nitrogen levels was very similar to the carbon in depth and among treatments, occurring only a situation of consumption of N fraction of the mineral in the Pinus taeda. The Pinus taeda plantations in original area of FOM are predominant in the N accumulation as well as the FOM witness. Depending on their origin and constitution, the COP gives greater relations C/N. In the treatments studied in DC, the accumulation of litter was higher in areas with Pinus elliottii, but not proportional to plantations ages, according to differences in site quality. This aspect also influenced the low carbon content in the area of 24 years, even with greater accumulation of litter and average content of N. The potential for accumulation of carbon on the ground is higher in areas of forest plantations for witnesses. The pH values are higher in the surface layer of soil, for all treatments. Areas with Pinus elliottii cultivation, the pH are slightly smaller than the witnesses. In the soil of the areas in DC, the highest levels of carbon in both fractions, occurred in FED and the Pinus elliottii plantations, taking the ground the CN submitted the lowest levels. At the level of stocks, the FED went to conditions similar to other treatments (TOC), but was lower in the accumulation of COP. The levels of N in both fractions were higher in the soil of the FED, leaving the plantations of Pinus elliottii and CN levels with intermediaries. The CN and the FED accumulated more NT, and the area with 24 years old was showed the smaller stocks. The C / N relation showed higher values in the particulate fraction, mainly in areas with Pinus elliottii. In function of the small number of forest rotations in areas, in the two regions, the original soil characteristics of the soil still prevail, but already can see changes in terms of residues management and use of the natural vegetation.