Um dos benefícios esperados do uso do plantio direto é um maior sequestro de C. Contudo, nem sempre se observa maior retenção de C no solo quando esse sistema de preparo é utilizado, devido principalmente às diferenças em tipo de solo e conteúdo inicial de C, entre outras. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial do plantio direto para estocar C orgânico nos solos da Região do Pampa Argentino. Foram coletadas amostras de solo em 40 áreas sob plantio direto ou preparo convencional e em sete campos não cultivados por vários anos. Determinaram-se o C orgânico total, N total, suas frações lábeis, sua taxa de estratificação e a capacidade de estocar C dos solos sob diferentes manejos, na camada de 0-30 cm de profundidade, a qual foi dividida, para fins de amostragem, em três profundidades (0-5, 5-15 e 15-30 cm). Verificou-se diferença significativa (p < 0,05) para todos os pools de C entre os solos não cultivados e os cultivados. A diferença mais pronunciada foi verificada na camada superficial (0-5 cm), sendo determinado o maior teor de C lábil próximo da superfície do solo (não perturbado > plantio direto > preparo convencional). A taxa de estratificação do C lábil (0-5/5-15 cm) permitiu separar as áreas sob plantio direto daquelas sob preparo convencional. Boa parte da variação em C potencialmente mineralizável foi explicada pela fração lábil do C (R² = 0,61), assim como pelo C orgânico total (R² = 0,67). Os solos sob plantio direto não estocaram mais C orgânico do que os preparados de maneira convencional, na camada de 0-30 cm. Entretanto, houve substancial estratificação dos pools de C lábil nos locais sob plantio direto, indicando que, se a taxa de estratificação for realmente um indicador de qualidade de solos, as áreas sob plantio direto poderiam ter maior potencial de acúmulo de C, pelo menos nas camadas superficiais de solo, se comparada com as áreas sob preparo convencional. O C orgânico particulado e o C potencialmente mineralizável podem ser utilizados para avaliar variações na matéria orgânica da camada superficial do solo.

One of the expected benefits of no-tillage systems is a higher rate of soil C sequestration. However, higher C retention in soil is not always apparent when no-tillage is applied, due e.g., to substantial differences in soil type and initial C content. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of no-tillage management to increase the stock of total organic C in soils of the Pampas region in Argentina. Forty crop fields under no-tillage and conventional tillage systems and seven undisturbed soils were sampled. Total organic C, total N, their fractions and stratification ratios and the C storage capacity of the soils under different managements were assessed in samples to a depth of 30 cm, in three layers (0-5, 5-15 and 15-30 cm). The differences between the C pools of the undisturbed and cultivated soils were significant (p < 0.05) and most pronounced in the top (0-5 cm) soil layer, with more active C near the soil surface (undisturbed > no-tillage > conventional tillage). Based on the stratification ratio of the labile C pool (0-5/5-15 cm), the untilled were separated from conventionally tilled areas. Much of the variation in potentially mineralizable C was explained by this active C fraction (R² = 0.61) and by total organic C (R² = 0.67). No-till soils did not accumulate more organic C than conventionally tilled soils in the 0-30 cm layer, but there was substantial stratification of total and active C pools at no till sites. If the C stratification ratio is really an indicator of soil quality, then the C storage potential of no-tillage would be greater than in conventional tillage, at least in the surface layers. Particulate organic C and potentially mineralizable C may be useful to evaluate variations in topsoil organic matter.

No-tilled soils have higher penetration resistances and bulk density values than tilled soils. Shallow compaction may be alleviated using deep tillage practices. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of soil alleviation on: 1- soil physical properties at maize sowing and harvest, 2- root abundance, maize yield and its components. Three experiments were conducted during the 2004/05 growing season. The experiments had a complete block design, with 2 treatments (control and deep-tilled) and 3 replicates, and were located at Junín, San Gregorio and Chivilcoy. Soil bulk density, soil water content, soil penetration resistance and infiltration rate were determined at maize sowing and harvest. At flowering maize root abundance, intercepted photosynthetic active radiation and leaf greenness were determined. Additionally, yield and its components were measured. Soil alleviation increased infiltration rate at sowing (P<0,05), but there were no differences at harvest. Soil alleviation reduced penetration resistances at sowing by 54%, 28%, 42 % at Junin, San Gregorio and Chivilcoy, respectively (P<0,05). Deep tillage increased root abundance at flowering at Junin and Chivilcoy (P<0,05). Maize yield showed a positive and statistically significant increase with soil alleviation. However, its magnitude was only 6,5% more than control yield. This result was in accordance with a 3% increase in intercepted photosynthetic active radiation. Yield response to subsoiling was positively related with the original soil bulk density at each site. Although the measured changes might improve water use efficiency, little impact on yield was observed due to a relatively humid cropping season. More research is needed in order to establish crop response in a wide range of water availability and soil compaction conditions.

Los suelos manejados con siembra directa presentan valores de resistencia a la penetración y de densidad aparente en superficie mayores que los suelos laboreados. La utilización de descompactadores puede ser una alternativa para aliviar dicha compactación. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron: 1- evaluar el efecto de la descompactación en siembra directa sobre las algunas propiedades físicas del suelo a siembra y cosecha del cultivo de maíz; 2- determinar el efecto de la descompactación sobre el desarrollo de las raíces, el rendimiento del cultivo de maíz y sus componentes. Durante la campaña 2004/05 se llevaron a cabo tres experimentos en las localidades de Junín, San Gregorio y Chivilcoy. El diseño experimental fue de bloques completos con tres repeticiones. Los tratamientos evaluados fueron: testigo (siembra directa continua) y descompactado (pasaje de descompactador entre 36-42 cm de profundidad). A siembra y cosecha se determinó la densidad aparente, la humedad, la resistencia a la penetración y la infiltración. A floración se evaluó la abundancia radical, la radiación interceptada y el índice de verdor (SPAD). A cosecha se determinó el rendimiento y sus componentes. El tratamiento descompactado presentó un importante aumento de la tasa de infiltración a la siembra (P<0,05), sin embargo estas diferencias no fueron significativas a cosecha. La resistencia a la penetración a la siembra en el tratamiento descompactado respecto del testigo fue un 54%, 28% y 42% menor en Junín, San Gregorio y Chivilcoy, respectivamente (P<0,05). La abundancia radical presentó diferencias entre tratamientos en Junín y Chivilcoy (P<0,05). El rendimiento del tratamiento descompactado mostró un incremento relativo del 6,5% como promedio de todos los sitios (P<0,05). Esto coincidió con un 3% más de intercepción de radiación en floración (P<0,05). El incremento de rendimiento debido a la descompactación estuvo positivamente relacionado con la densidad aparente original de cada sitio. Si bien se observaron cambios que mejorarían la economía del agua, estos no tuvieron gran impacto sobre el rendimiento debido a la condición hídrica favorable durante la campaña evaluada. Es necesario realizar un mayor número de ensayos abarcando un rango más amplio de condiciones hídricas y de compactación de suelo.