Decomposition and nutrient release in leaves of Atlantic Rainforest tree species used in agroforestry systems

Aiming to support the use of native species from the Atlantic Rainforest in local agroforestry systems, we analysed chemical and biochemical components related to leaf decomposition of Inga subnuda, Senna macranthera, Erythrina verna, Luehea grandiflora, Zeyheria tuberculosa, Aegiphila sellowiana, and Persea americana. These tree species are native (except for P. americana) and commonly used in agroforestry systems in the Atlantic Rainforest. For the three first species (Fabaceae), we also analysed the remaining dry matter and released nutrients from leaves, using litter bags, and biological nitrogen fixation, using Bidens pilosa and Brachiariaplantaginea as references of non-N2-fixing plants. Leaves from I. subnuda, L. grandiflora, and P. americana had a lower decomposition rate than the other species, exhibiting negative correlations with lignin/N and (lignin+polyphenol)/N ratios. The percentages of remaining dry matter after 1 year were 69 % (I. subnuda), 26 % (S. macranthera) and 16 % (E. verna). Higher nutrient release was found in decreasing order from residues of E. verna, S. macranthera, and I. subnuda. The percentages of nitrogen fixation were 22.6 % (E. verna), 20.6 % (I. subnuda) and 16.6 % (S. macranthera). Diversification of tree species in agroforestry systems allows for input of diversified organic material and can contribute to maintaining and improving soil functions resulting in improvements of soil quality

Formas de fósforo no solo em sistemas de milho exclusivo e consorciado com feijão sob adubação orgânica e mineral Soil phosphorus forms under systems of sole corn and corn-bean intercrop under organic and mineral fertilizer

Os sistemas de manejo do solo modificam a dinâmica do fósforo alterando o conteúdo das diferentes formas de P. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de sistemas de cultivo em longo prazo (16 anos de plantio) sobre as diferentes formas de P no solo. Os tratamentos constaram de combinações entre dois sistemas de cultivo: milho exclusivo (M) e milho consorciado com feijão (MF), com duas doses (0 e 40 m³ ha-1 ano-1) de adubo orgânico (AO), e três doses (0, 250 e 500 kg ha-1) de N-P-K, 4-14-8 (AM). Solo sob um fragmento de Floresta Atlântica foi utilizado como referência de um estado em equilíbrio. Os valores de P orgânico total (Pot) variaram de 184,2 a 280,2 e de 147,9 a 282,9 mg kg-1, em amostras de solo das camadas de 0-10 e 10-20 cm, respectivamente, sendo os maiores valores observados para combinação 500 kg ha-1 + adubação orgânica, correspondendo, em média, a 26,4 % do P total no solo. Houve tendência da relação C/Pot manter-se constante, entre os tratamentos, constatando-se aumento dos valores de Pot com o aumento do teor de carbono orgânico total no solo. O adubo mineral promoveu incremento do P na biomassa microbiana (Pbm) apenas no sistema de milho exclusivo. Em média, o aumento do Pbm foi de 262 e 164 % para o sistema que recebeu o composto orgânico no sistema de milho exclusivo e consorciado com feijão, respectivamente. Em média, a fração de P orgânico solúvel em meio ácido correspondeu a 90 % do Pot predominando sobre a fração solúvel em base. Nos tratamentos com 500 kg ha-1 de 4-14-8 e 500 kg ha-1 + composto orgânico, no sistema de consórcio, foram obtidos aumentos nos valores de P total lábil de 53 e 157 %, respectivamente, comparados aos da testemunha. O P orgânico lábil (Pol) correspondeu, em média, a 3,7 % do Pot para os sistemas de cultivo, já para a Floresta Atlântica, esta relação foi de 10,7 %, nas duas profundidades. Os aumentos nos teores das formas mais lábeis de P, proporcionados pela adubação orgânica, evidenciam a importância deste sistema de manejo no favorecimento da ciclagem de P.<br>Soil management systems affect the P dynamics in content and forms. The aim of this work was to measure the effect of several cultivations systems in the long term (16 years) on the different soil P forms. The treatments consisted of combinations of the two cultivation systems: sole corn (C) and corn-bean intercrop (CB), with two levels (0 and 1) of organic fertilizer (OF), at rates of 0 and 40 m³ ha-1 year-1 and three levels (0, 1, 2) of mineral fertilizer (MF) N-P-K, in the doses 0, 250 and 500 kg ha-1 of the formula 4-14-8. An area under Atlantic Forest was used as reference of a balanced state. The values of total organic P (Pto) changed from 184.2 to 280.2 and from 184.4 to 282.9 mg kg-1 in 0-10 and 10-20 cm deep soil, respectively. The highest values were observed for 500 kg ha-1 of mineral fertilizer + organic fertilizer, corresponding on average to 26.4 % P in the soil. The C/Pto ratio of the treatments tended to be constant. An increase of the Pto values with the increase of the soil organic carbon content was observed. The mineral fertilizer promoted P increment in the microbial biomass (Pmb) in the sole corn crop system. The increase of Pmb was 262 and 164 % of the system that received the organic compost in the sole corn crop and corn-bean intercrop, respectively. On average, the fraction of organic soluble P corresponded to 90 % Pto, prevailing over the basic soluble fraction. The 500 kg ha-1 of mineral fertilizer and 500 kg ha-1 of mineral fertilizer + organic fertilizer treatments in the intercrop system caused increases in the total labile P (Plt) values of 53 and 157 %, respectively, compared to the reference. The labile organic P fraction (Plo) corresponded to 3.7 % of Pto for the cultivation systems; for the Atlantic Forest soil this relationship was 10.7 % at both depths. The increments in the contents of most labile P forms, owing to the organic manure, demonstrate the importance of this management system for an improvement of the P cycle