Nitrogen dynamics in soil management systems. I - flux of inorganic nitrogen (NH4+ and NO3-)

• Published in: Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 2011-10, Vol.35 (5), p.1641-1649
• Main Authors: Sá, João Carlos de Moraes, Cardoso, Eduardo Garcia, Briedis, Clever, Ferreira, Ademir de Oliveira, Borszowskei, Paulo Rogério, Santos, Josiane Burkner, Massinham, Aline, Ferreira, Carla Fernanda, Siuta Júnior, Darci, Baranek, Edemar José, Piccolo, Marisa de Cássia, Pavei, Mariana, Urquiaga, Segundo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: C, N; plantio convencional; plantio direto; sistemas conservacionistas; SOIL SCIENCE
• ISSN: 0100-0683; 1806-9657; 0100-0683
• DOI: 10.1590/S0100-06832011000500018

In agricultural systems the N-NH4+ and N-NO3- contents is significantly affected by soil management. This study investigated the dynamics of inorganic nitrogen (N; NH4+ and NO3-) in an experimental evaluation of soil management systems (SMSs) adopted in 1988 at the experimental station of the ABC Foundation in Ponta Grossa, in the Central South region of the State of Paraná. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in N-NH4+ and N-NO3- flux in the surface layer of a Red Latosol arising from SMSs over a 12-month period. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized block design in split plots, in three replications. The plots consisted of the following SMSs: 1) conventional tillage (CT); 2) minimum tillage (MT); 3) no-tillage with chisel plow every three years (NT CH); and 4) continuous no-tillage (CNT). To evaluate the dynamics of inorganic N, the subplots represented samplings (11 sampling times, T1 - T11). The ammonium N (N-NH4+) and nitric N (N-NO3-) contents were higher in systems with reduced tillage (MT and NT CH) and without tillage (CNT) than in the CT system. In the period from October 2003 to February 2004, the N-NH4+ was higher than the N-NO3- soil content. Conversely, in the period from May 2004 to July 2004, the N-NO3- was higher than the N-NH4+ content. The greatest fluctuation in the N-NH4+ and N-NO3- contents occurred in the 0-2.5 cm layer, and the highest peak in the N-NH4+ and N-NO3- concentrations occurred after the surface application of N. Both N-NH4+ and N-NO3- were strongly correlated with the soil organic C content, which indicated that these properties vary together in the system. Nos sistemas agrícolas o conteúdo de N-NH4+ e N-NO3- é significativamente afetado pelo manejo do solo. Estudou-se a dinâmica do nitrogênio (N) inorgânico (NH4+ e NO3-) em experimento com avaliação de sistemas de manejo do solo (SMS) implantado em 1988, na Estação Experimental da Fundação ABC, em Ponta Grossa, região Centro-Sul do Estado do Paraná. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar as alterações ocasionadas pelos SMS no fluxo do N-NH4+ e N-NO3- na camada superficial de um Latossolo Vermelho, em um período de 12 meses. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos completos ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas com três repetições. As parcelas foram constituídas pelos seguintes SMS: 1) preparo convencional (PC); 2) preparo mínimo (PM); 3) plantio direto com escarificação a cada três anos (PDE); e 4) plantio dir