Effect of compaction on microbial activity and carbon and nitrogen transformations in two oxisols with different mineralogy

Efeito da compactação sobre a atividade microbiana e transformações do carbono e nitrogênio em dois latossolos com distintas mineralogias

Abstracts

The use of machinery in agricultural and forest management activities frequently increases soil compaction, resulting in greater soil density and microporosity, which in turn reduces hydraulic conductivity and O2 and CO2 diffusion rates, among other negative effects. Thus, soil compaction has the potential to affect soil microbial activity and the processes involved in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. This study was carried out under controlled conditions to evaluate the effect of soil compaction on microbial activity and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization. Two Oxisols with different mineralogy were utilized: a clayey oxidic-gibbsitic Typic Acrustox and a clayey kaolinitic Xantic Haplustox (Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo ácrico - LVA, and Latossolo Amarelo distrófico - LA, respectively, in the Brazil Soil Classification System). Eight treatments (compaction levels) were assessed for each soil type in a complete block design, with six repetitions. The experimental unit consisted of PVC rings (height 6 cm, internal diameter 4.55 cm, volume 97.6 cm³). The PVC rings were filled with enough soil mass to reach a final density of 1.05 and 1.10 kg dm-3, respectively, in the LVA and LA. Then the soil samples were wetted (0.20 kg kg-1 = 80 % of field capacity) and compacted by a hydraulic press at pressures of 0, 60, 120, 240, 360, 540, 720 and 900 kPa. After soil compression the new bulk density was calculated according to the new volume occupied by the soil. Subsequently each PVC ring was placed within a 1 L plastic pot which was then tightly closed. The soils were incubated under aerobic conditions for 35 days and the basal respiration rate (CO2-C production) was estimated in the last two weeks. After the incubation period, the following soil chemical and microbiological properties were detremined: soil microbial biomass C (C MIC), total soil organic C (TOC), total N, and mineral N (NH4+-N and NO3--N). After that, mineral N, organic N and the rate of net N mineralization was calculated. Soil compaction increased NH4+-N and net N mineralization in both, LVA and LA, and NO3--N in the LVA; diminished the rate of TOC loss in both soils and the concentration of NO3--N in the LA and CO2-C in the LVA. It also decreased the C MIC at higher compaction levels in the LA. Thus, soil compaction decreases the TOC turnover probably due to increased physical protection of soil organic matter and lower aerobic microbial activity. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that under controlled conditions, the oxidic-gibbsitic Oxisol (LVA) was more susceptible to the effects of high compaction than the kaolinitic (LA) as far as organic matter cycling is concerned; and compaction pressures above 540 kPa reduced the total and organic nitrogen in the kaolinitic soil (LA), which was attributed to gaseous N losses.

soil bulk density; carbon mineralization; net N mineralization; microbial biomass carbon

A mecanização em atividades agrícolas e florestais tem incrementado a compactação do solo, o que resulta no aumento da densidade e microporosidade, bem como na redução da condutividade hidráulica e das taxas de difusão de O2 e CO2, entre outros efeitos negativos. Assim, a compactação do solo tem o potencial de alterar negativamente a atividade dos seus microrganismos e os processos envolvidos na decomposição da matéria orgânica e ciclagem de nutrientes. Este trabalho foi realizado sob condições controladas para avaliar os efeitos da compactação sobre a atividade microbiana e mineralização do carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) do solo. Foram utilizados dois Latossolos com distintas mineralogias: um oxídico-gibbsítico (Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo ácrico - LVA) e um caulinítico (Latossolo Amarelo distrófico - LA). Oito tratamentos (níveis de compactação) foram avaliados para cada tipo de solo em um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com seis repetições. A unidade experimental foi composta por anel de PVC com 6 cm de altura e 4,55 cm de diâmetro interno, com volume útil de 97,6 cm³. Os anéis de PVC foram preenchidos com uma massa de solo suficiente para alcançar a densidade final de 1,05 e 1,10 kg dm-3, no LVA e LA, respectivamente. A seguir, as amostras de solo foram umedecidas (0,20 kg kg-1 = 80 % da capacidade de campo) e compactadas em uma prensa hidráulica. As pressões de compactação foram de 0, 60, 120, 240, 360, 540, 720 e 900 kPa. Após a compactação dos solos, determinou-se a densidade resultante, por meio do novo volume ocupado pelo solo. Em seguida, cada vaso foi individualmente disposto no interior de um pote plástico de 1 L, que foi hermeticamente fechado. Procedeu-se a uma incubação aeróbia dos solos por um período de 35 dias, e a respiração basal (C-CO2 mineralizado) foi estimada nas duas últimas semanas. Depois do período de incubação, foram realizadas análises químicas e microbiológicas em amostras dos solos: C da biomassa microbiana (C MIC), C orgânico total (COT), N total e N mineral (N-NH4+ e N-NO3-). Depois disso, foram calculados o N mineral, o N orgânico e a taxa de mineralização líquida de N. A compactação ocasionou aumento do N-NH4+ e da taxa de mineralização líquida de N nos dois solos e do N-NO3- no LVA; e decréscimo da taxa de perda de COT nos dois solos, de N-NO3- no LA, de C-CO2 no LVA e de C MIC em maiores níveis de compactação no LA. Assim, a compactação reduziu a ciclagem de COT provavelmente devido ao aumento da proteção física da matéria orgânica do solo e à menor atividade microbiana. Portanto, é possível concluir que, sob condições controladas, o solo oxídico (LVA) foi mais suscetível aos efeitos de maiores níveis de compactação do que o caulinítico (LA), considerando a ciclagem de matéria orgânica; e que as pressões de compactação superiores a 540 kPa reduziram o nitrogênio total e orgânico do solo caulinítico (LA), o que foi atribuído às perdas gasosas de N.

densidade do solo; mineralização de carbono; mineralização líquida do nitrogênio; carbono da biomassa microbiana

DIVISION 2 - SOIL PROCESSES AND PROPERTIES

COMMISSION 2.1 - SOIL BIOLOGY

Effect of compaction on microbial activity and carbon and nitrogen transformations in two oxisols with different mineralogy¹

Efeito da compactação sobre a atividade microbiana e transformações do carbono e nitrogênio em dois latossolos com distintas mineralogias

Sérgio Ricardo Silva^I; Ivo Ribeiro da Silva^II; Nairam Félix de Barros^II; Eduardo de Sá Mendonça^III

^IForest Technology Department, Veracel Celulose S.A., PO Box 21, Zip Code 45820-970, Eunápolis (BA). E-mail: [e-mail]

^IIProfessor, Soil Science Departament, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa (MG). E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]

^IIIProfessor, Plant Production Department, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Alegre (ES). E-mail: [e-mail]

SUMMARY

The use of machinery in agricultural and forest management activities frequently increases soil compaction, resulting in greater soil density and microporosity, which in turn reduces hydraulic conductivity and O₂ and CO₂ diffusion rates, among other negative effects. Thus, soil compaction has the potential to affect soil microbial activity and the processes involved in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. This study was carried out under controlled conditions to evaluate the effect of soil compaction on microbial activity and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization. Two Oxisols with different mineralogy were utilized: a clayey oxidic-gibbsitic Typic Acrustox and a clayey kaolinitic Xantic Haplustox (Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo ácrico - LVA, and Latossolo Amarelo distrófico - LA, respectively, in the Brazil Soil Classification System). Eight treatments (compaction levels) were assessed for each soil type in a complete block design, with six repetitions. The experimental unit consisted of PVC rings (height 6 cm, internal diameter 4.55 cm, volume 97.6 cm³). The PVC rings were filled with enough soil mass to reach a final density of 1.05 and 1.10 kg dm^-3, respectively, in the LVA and LA. Then the soil samples were wetted (0.20 kg kg^-1 = 80 % of field capacity) and compacted by a hydraulic press at pressures of 0, 60, 120, 240, 360, 540, 720 and 900 kPa. After soil compression the new bulk density was calculated according to the new volume occupied by the soil. Subsequently each PVC ring was placed within a 1 L plastic pot which was then tightly closed. The soils were incubated under aerobic conditions for 35 days and the basal respiration rate (CO₂-C production) was estimated in the last two weeks. After the incubation period, the following soil chemical and microbiological properties were detremined: soil microbial biomass C (C_MIC), total soil organic C (TOC), total N, and mineral N (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N). After that, mineral N, organic N and the rate of net N mineralization was calculated. Soil compaction increased NH₄⁺-N and net N mineralization in both, LVA and LA, and NO₃^--N in the LVA; diminished the rate of TOC loss in both soils and the concentration of NO₃^--N in the LA and CO₂-C in the LVA. It also decreased the C_MIC at higher compaction levels in the LA. Thus, soil compaction decreases the TOC turnover probably due to increased physical protection of soil organic matter and lower aerobic microbial activity. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that under controlled conditions, the oxidic-gibbsitic Oxisol (LVA) was more susceptible to the effects of high compaction than the kaolinitic (LA) as far as organic matter cycling is concerned; and compaction pressures above 540 kPa reduced the total and organic nitrogen in the kaolinitic soil (LA), which was attributed to gaseous N losses.

Index terms: soil bulk density, carbon mineralization, net N mineralization, microbial biomass carbon.

RESUMO

A mecanização em atividades agrícolas e florestais tem incrementado a compactação do solo, o que resulta no aumento da densidade e microporosidade, bem como na redução da condutividade hidráulica e das taxas de difusão de O₂ e CO₂, entre outros efeitos negativos. Assim, a compactação do solo tem o potencial de alterar negativamente a atividade dos seus microrganismos e os processos envolvidos na decomposição da matéria orgânica e ciclagem de nutrientes. Este trabalho foi realizado sob condições controladas para avaliar os efeitos da compactação sobre a atividade microbiana e mineralização do carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) do solo. Foram utilizados dois Latossolos com distintas mineralogias: um oxídico-gibbsítico (Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo ácrico - LVA) e um caulinítico (Latossolo Amarelo distrófico - LA). Oito tratamentos (níveis de compactação) foram avaliados para cada tipo de solo em um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com seis repetições. A unidade experimental foi composta por anel de PVC com 6 cm de altura e 4,55 cm de diâmetro interno, com volume útil de 97,6 cm³. Os anéis de PVC foram preenchidos com uma massa de solo suficiente para alcançar a densidade final de 1,05 e 1,10 kg dm^-3, no LVA e LA, respectivamente. A seguir, as amostras de solo foram umedecidas (0,20 kg kg^-1 = 80 % da capacidade de campo) e compactadas em uma prensa hidráulica. As pressões de compactação foram de 0, 60, 120, 240, 360, 540, 720 e 900 kPa. Após a compactação dos solos, determinou-se a densidade resultante, por meio do novo volume ocupado pelo solo. Em seguida, cada vaso foi individualmente disposto no interior de um pote plástico de 1 L, que foi hermeticamente fechado. Procedeu-se a uma incubação aeróbia dos solos por um período de 35 dias, e a respiração basal (C-CO₂ mineralizado) foi estimada nas duas últimas semanas. Depois do período de incubação, foram realizadas análises químicas e microbiológicas em amostras dos solos: C da biomassa microbiana (C_MIC), C orgânico total (COT), N total e N mineral (N-NH⁴⁺ e N-NO^3-). Depois disso, foram calculados o N mineral, o N orgânico e a taxa de mineralização líquida de N. A compactação ocasionou aumento do N-NH⁴⁺ e da taxa de mineralização líquida de N nos dois solos e do N-NO^3- no LVA; e decréscimo da taxa de perda de COT nos dois solos, de N-NO^3- no LA, de C-CO₂ no LVA e de C_MIC em maiores níveis de compactação no LA. Assim, a compactação reduziu a ciclagem de COT provavelmente devido ao aumento da proteção física da matéria orgânica do solo e à menor atividade microbiana. Portanto, é possível concluir que, sob condições controladas, o solo oxídico (LVA) foi mais suscetível aos efeitos de maiores níveis de compactação do que o caulinítico (LA), considerando a ciclagem de matéria orgânica; e que as pressões de compactação superiores a 540 kPa reduziram o nitrogênio total e orgânico do solo caulinítico (LA), o que foi atribuído às perdas gasosas de N.

Termos de indexação: densidade do solo, mineralização de carbono, mineralização líquida do nitrogênio, carbono da biomassa microbiana.

INTRODUCTION

In recent years there has been a rapid expansion of mechanized silviculture and harvest operation in the forest sector and this has resulted in substantial increases in soil compaction (Wert & Thomas, 1981; Balbuena et al., 2000; Startsev & McNabb, 2000; Dias Junior et al., 2008; Silva et al., 2008). Given the short rotation period and high frequency of operations it can undermine the productivity of the stands in a near future, especially in eucalypt plantations.

The negative effects of soil compaction on plant growth have been attributed primarily to the restriction on root growth. However, there is some evidence that soil compaction also alters the size, diversity and activity of the microbial community. As result, there occur changes, for example, in nutrient cycling patterns and their availability to plants (Dick et al., 1988; Jensen et al., 1996a,b; Lee et al., 1996).

It has been shown that soil compaction plays an important role in microbial activity since the increase in soil density leads to altered pore size and distribution, lower O₂ and CO₂ diffusion rates and greater abundance of anaerobic microsites and consequent reduction in the aerobic microbial activity (Torbert & Wood, 1992; Jensen et al., 1996a; Tan et al., 2005). These adverse effects of soil compaction on microbial activity seem to result mainly from losses in biopores and other macropores connectivity (Whalley et al., 1995). Low O₂ concentration (< 2-5 %) (Parr & Reuszer, 1962) and low macroporosity (< 10 %) (Linn & Doran, 1984) cause a reduction in the aerobic microbial activity, and may favor N losses by denitrification (Breland & Hansen, 1996; Jensen et al., 1996a; Ruser et al., 2006). Accordingly, soil respiration (CO₂ production) is a useful indicator of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition (Hassink, 1994; Lee et al., 1996), by both aerobic and anaerobic microbes, which is a clear advantage over techniques based on O₂ uptake.

Despite the fact that the soil compaction may negatively affect the cycling of C and N by modifying soil aeration and, or, microbial community structure, there have been a few studies that have dealt with such subject (Torbert & Wood, 1992; Jensen et al., 1996b; Tan et al., 2005). Under field conditions the microbial biomass C (C_MIC) in the 10-20 cm soil layer under the tractor track was reduced by 38 % by soil compaction, in comparison to the control soil (Dick et al., 1988). In fact, the authors found a significant negative correlation between C_MIC and soil density.

The changes in microbial activity and denitrification rates in soils as affected by variations in pore space and moisture levels have been extensively researched (Craswell & Martin, 1974; Myers et al., 1982; Linn & Doran, 1984; Rodrigo et al., 1997; Franzluebbers, 1999; Ruser et al., 2006). Nonetheless, few studies have examined the effects of alterations in soil physical properties on N transformation

(Torbert & Wood, 1992; Tan et al., 2005; Ruser et al., 2006). Particularly, there is a lack of information about the consequences of soil compaction on N transformation. Although it seems reasonable to hypothesize that the effects of soil compaction on the microbial community are strong, the few available results indicate the opposite. Linn & Doran (1984) carried out a study under laboratory conditions and found that microbial activity decreased only slightly under soil compaction. Jensen et al. (1996b) observed that no indicator of microbial biomass was significantly affected when total soil porosity was reduced from 0.60 to 0.51 m³ m^-3 after 21 days of incubation. These findings were attributed to the fact that compaction only altered the larger pores and possibly had no substantial effect on the access of soil microbes to smaller diameter pores.

Under intense heavy machinery traffic soil compaction may be severe. Dias Junior et al. (2008) and Silva et al. (2008) found that, depending on the weight and the number of passes of a loaded forwarder, the soil density may increase to values as high as 32 %. Thus, it is likely that not only the soil macropores, but also the micropores are affected by mechanized operations in forest stands so that their impact on soil microbial activity and C and N cycling may be more pronounced than previously thought. The recent findings that a major portion of SOM is stabilized in the entrance of small pores in soils (Kaiser & Guggenberger, 2006) supports this hypothesis. Furthermore, the effects of compaction may be related to soil mineralogy, which influences aggregate type and stability (Silva et al., 2006), and soil minerals differ in their ability to bind and stabilize SOM molecules (Wattel-Koekkoek & Buurman, 2004; Mikuta et al., 2006).

This study was carried out to evaluate, under controlled conditions, the effects of soil compaction on microbial activity and mineralization of soil C and N in two Latosols (Oxisols), one with oxidic-gibbsitic and the other kaolinitic mineralogy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Two Oxisols with different mineralogy, sampled in Santa Maria de Itabira and Santana do Paraíso, in the state of Minas Gerais, were used in the study: a clayey oxidic-gibbsitic Typic Acrustox and a clayey kaolinitic Xantic Haplustox (Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo ácrico - LVA, and Latossolo Amarelo distrófico - LA, respectively, in the Brazilian Soil Classification System). Soil samples were collected in the 0-15 cm layer under short-rotation eucalypt stands that were seven- and six-year old, respectively. These soil samples were covered and stored under aerobic conditions, initially at the original moisture content at which they had been collected in the field, until the beginning of the experiment a few weeks later. They were air-dried, sieved through a 4 mm mesh and homogenized for subsequent chemical and physical analysis (Table 1).

It is important to remember that the natural structure of soils sieved through 4 mm mesh is disturbed. However, sieving was necessary for an accurate weighing prior to compression. Nevertheless, visual assessments confirmed that sieving caused only minor change in the natural soil aggregates, since both soils have oxidic aggregates that are highly resistant to defragmentation. Moreover, the small volume of the cylinder may have influenced the results in terms of representativeness of field conditions. However, under controlled conditions, this lab test is useful for understanding the effects of soil compaction on microbial activity, since its implementation under field conditions is difficult.

Eight treatments (compaction levels) were tested for each soil type. Treatments were arranged in a complete block design with six replications. The experimental units consisted of PVC rings (height 6 cm, internal diameter 4.55 cm, volume 97.6 cm³). The PVC rings were filled completely with enough soil mass to reach a final density of 1.05 and 1.10 kg dm^-3, respectively, in the LVA and LA. The weighed soils were removed from the PVC rings and moistened with deionized water to increase moisture to 80 % of field capacity (0.20 kg kg^-1); then, they were filled back into the PVC rings and subjected to increasing compaction in a hydraulic press equipped with a dynamometer. The compaction pressures applied to the soils were 0 (control), 60, 120, 240, 360, 540, 720, and 900 kPa. After compression, the new soil bulk density was calculated based on the new soil volume.

Subsequently, the PVC rings with the moist compacted soils were dried down in a forced air chamber at room temperature to reduce soil moisture to 56 % of the field capacity. Then, each PVC ring was placed in a separate 1 L-polyethylene pot that was hermetically closed. The PVC rings were incubated under aerobic conditions in these pots for 21 days. During this period, the pots were opened for 10 min once a week to allow air exchange. At these occasions the amount of water lost by the soils through evaporation, calculated by means of weighing, was reapplied to the soil surface, infiltrating later. After 21 days, when microbial activity had stabilized, the basal soil respiration was determined once a week during the following two weeks using a 1 mol L^-1 NaOH-trap to capture the C-CO₂ respired. The excess NaOH was titrated with HCl after precipitation of carbonate with BaCl₂ (Anderson, 1982). An important aspect to consider is whether the weekly frequency of opening the pots during the incubation period was sufficient for the soil aeration system, which may have become partially anaerobic, changing the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen. Thus, this fact should be considered when interpreting results, especially those related to the reduction of soil aeration due to soil compaction.

Following this incubation period, soil chemical and microbiological properties were determined immediately after the end of the experiment. The microbial biomass C (C_MIC) was evaluated based on the irradiation-extraction procedure (Islam & Weil, 1998) . The extractant used was 0.5 mol L^-1 K₂SO₄ (10 g soil: 30 mL) and the C in the extracts was quantified by wet oxidation in acid media (Yeomans & Bremner, 1988). A K_C value of 0.45 was adopted (Balota et al., 1998). The soil total organic carbon (TOC) was determined by wet oxidation with dichromate (Yeomans & Bremner, 1988). The TOC content at the end of the experiment (TOC final) was subtracted from that at the beginning (TOC initial), divided by the initial TOC and multiplied by 100 in order to obtain the relative amount of TOC lost during the incubation period (from the 1^st to the 35^th day).

Additionally, the following forms of nitrogen (N) were determined: total N, NH₄-N, NO₃-N, and mineral-N (NH₄-N + NO₃-N). Total-N was determined by sulfuric acid digestion and Kjeldahl distillation (Bremner & Mulvaney, 1982). Mineral-N was extracted with KCl 1 mol L^-1 (10 g soil : 50 mL extractant) during 10 min and the concentration of NO₃-N (Yang et al., 1998) and (NH₄-N) (Kempers & Zweers, 1986) were determined colorimetrically. The net nitrogen mineralization (μg g^-1 day^-1) corresponds to the amount of mineral N gained during the incubation period. Finally the organic-N was estimated by the difference, based on: [total-N - mineral-N].

The data for each soil type (LVA and LA), individually, were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and regression, using software SAEG (Euclydes, 1997). The coefficients of the adjusted equations were assessed by the F-test (at significance levels of 0.1, 1 and 5 %) considering the mean square error of ANOVA of the experiment. Finally, among two or more models with statistically significant coefficients, the one with the higher determination coefficient (R²) was chosen.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Soil density increased up to 22.8 and 21.8 % in the clayey oxidic-gibsitic Oxisol Typic Acrustox (LVA) and in the clayey kaolinitic Oxisol Xantic Haplustox (LA), respectively, in response to the compression applied (Figure 1a). Although the density curves were virtually parallel for both soils, the effect of compaction on soil respiration was very distinct. The C- CO₂ evolution during the two-week incubation period was greater in the LVA than in the LA under absence of compaction, but it was significantly reduced (20 %) as compaction pressure increased up to 500 kPa (soil density around 1.2 kg dm^-3) (Figure 1b). In the LVA, the effect of soil compaction on the reduction of C-CO₂ evolution was probably due to increased physical protection of soil organic matter (SOM) and also to a decrease of soil porosity and the consequent reduction of soil aeration, which are effects that could not be isolated in this study. Torbert & Wood (1992) also observed a 65 % reduction in soil respiration when soil density was increased. This effect was more pronounced than in the current study since soil compaction in their study was much greater (increased from 1.4 to 1.8 kg dm^-3). On the other hand, in the LA there was no significant effect of increasing soil compaction on C-CO 2 evolution (Figure 1b) . No conclusive explanation for the greater resilience of the LA in relation to C-CO₂ evolution from soil compaction can be given, but it is possible that the more labile C sources might have been mineralized during the pre-incubation period (day 1 to 21) at a greater proportion than in the LVA. The optimum moisture and temperature conditions during the incubation period may have favored microbial activity and, consequently, labile C sources were rapidly mineralized. In fact, C-CO₂ evolution from incubated soil samples is greater in the first couple of weeks (Araújo et al., 2001), and the more abundant Fe and Al oxides may have favored SOM stabilization (Spielvogel et al., 2008) to a greater extent in the LVA than the kaolinitic LA.

The soil total organic carbon (TOC) concentration, at the end of 35 day-incubation period, was increased linearly by the compaction pressure applied to both soils (Figure 2a). A reverse trend was observed for the rate of TOC lost through mineralization during the same period (Figure 2b). The smaller soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization in response to increased compaction can be attributed to greater physical protection of SOM. Breland & Hansen (1996) reported that compaction reduced total porosity and altered pore size distribution, favoring the contribution of smaller pores, which could physically protect organic materials from microbial degradation. In compacted soils the smaller pore size obstructs soil solution movement and aeration and thus the activity of decomposing organisms. Research results indicate that organic compounds that are sorbed to the entrance of small pores are resistant to chemical oxidation and will possibly resist biodegradation by enzymes of decomposing microbes (Kaiser & Guggenberger, 2006).

During the relatively short incubation period (35 days) there was high TOC losses (Figure 2b), especially in soils subjected to low compaction pressures (8.0 and 7.7 %, respectively, in the LVA and LA subjected to 60 kPa pressure), but it was reduced when compaction pressures were increased.

The C content in the microbial biomass (C_MIC) showed a quadratic response to the increasing compaction pressures (Figure 3). The highest C_MIC values were 20 and 18 μg g^-1 observed at the pressures 240 and 120 kPa, respectively, in the LVA and LA.

The closer contact between SOM with soil microorganisms under low to intermediate compaction pressures may have created more favorable conditions and, or, microsites for microbial growth. However, a substantial drop in the C_MIC (to a value of 7.2 μg g^-1) was observed when compaction pressure in the LA reached 900 kPa. This effect may have resulted from the unfavorable conditions for microbial growth under high soil compaction, as well as greater physical protection of SOM stabilized at the entrance of micropores, as discussed above. The lower response of C_MIC in the LVA (Figure 3) may reflect its oxidic mineralogy. In oxidic soils, especially Oxisols, microaggregation is stronger, which enables them to resist higher compaction pressures. Also, it has been recently shown that aggregation and organic C stabilization depend strongly on soil mineralogy (Paul et al., 2008). This is further supported by results of a field study where the C_MIC of a sandy-loam soil was not altered by tractor traffic, possibly because the porous space was not reduced enough to affect the microbial population (Lee et al., 1996).

In both soils, exchangeable ammonium-N (NH₄⁺- N) was several times higher than nitrate-N (NO₃^-- N), and about six time greater in the LVA than in the LA (Figure 4a,^b). Conversely, NO₃^--N was about four times greater in the LA than in the LVA, resulting in a much higher NH₄⁺-N:NO₃^--N ratio in the LVA. Ammonium-N showed a quadratic response to soil compaction in the LVA, whereas the response pattern was linear in the LA (Figure 4a). The highest increments observed for NH₄⁺-N were 11.8 and 16.6 % at 240 and 900 kPa, respectively, in the LVA and LA.Ammonium-N accumulation may be a result of anaerobic conditions caused by soil compaction, which can lead to NO₃^--N conversion by denitrifiers, although much of the NH₄⁺-N may have been formed by anaerobic decomposition of soil organic N (Abbasi & Adams, 1999).

Depending on the soil type, compaction had opposite effects on the NO₃^--N content. Maximum compression (900 kPa) resulted in a 28.6 % increment in NO₃^--N in the LVA and a 6.3 % reduction in the LA (^{Figure 4b}). The observed decrease in NO₃-N in the kaolinitic LA could be due to gaseous N losses through denitrification occurring in anaerobic microsites resulting from compaction, where microbial O₂ demand exceeds its supply by diffusion and prevents aerobic nitrification (Arah & Smith, 1989; Adams & Akhtar, 1994). These gaseous losses of NO₃^--N supposing had occured in LA only at higher levels of soil compaction, can be corroborated by corresponding decreases of organic N, at the same compaction levels (Figure 6b). In more oxidic and strongly aggregated LVA the effect of compaction was less severe and the increment in NO₃-N suggests that even under high compression there were still microsites under aerobic conditions that supported aerobic nitrification.

Soil mineral nitrogen (N_MIN = NO₃^--N + NH₄⁺-N) showed a quadratic response to compaction in the LVA and a linear increment in the LA (Figure 5a). The greatest increments reached 11.7 and 8.5 % at pressures of 240 and 900 kPa in the LVA and LA, respectively. The average N_MIN concentration was 4.95 times larger in the LVA than in the LA. In the LVA not only N_MIN availability was greater, but also the NH₄⁺-N:NO₃-N ratio, which may be favorable for eucalypt growth in view of its preference for NH₄⁺-N over NO₃-N (Locatelli et al., 1984).

Net N mineralization rates in the LVA were on average 8.3 times higher than in the LA. The response to soil compaction was greater in the LVA than in the LA, with a quadratic pattern in the former to LVA and a positive linear pattern in the last one (Figure 5b). Nitrogen net mineralization was greater at intermediate compaction pressures, and subsequently declined to lower values at higher pressures in the LVA. Although under high compression levels the established anaerobic conditions led to a greater reduction in N mineralization in the LVA, they still were greater than in the LA. These inequalities reflect differences not only in the SOM content, but also SOM quality and soil aeration (Broersma et al., 1996).

The response patterns of the two soil types in C and N mineralization as related to soil compaction were distinct (Figures 2b and 5b). Jensen et al. (1996b) attributed this difference to changes in denitrification as a response to less abundant macropores, and thus less aeration due to compaction.

Soil compaction showed no effect on total N and organic N in the LVA, but there was a quadratic response in the LA (Figure 6a,b). According to Hassink et al. (1993) and Breland (1994), N mineralization is more affected by physical protection than C mineralization. However, in the LA Oxisol, pressures above 540 kPa led to a decrease in organic N, suggesting that gaseous N losses through denitrification were favored under higher soil densities. In fact, a 286 % increase in loss of original soil N was observed by Torbert & Wood (1992) when soil density was increased from 1.4 to 1.8 kg dm^-3, a result attributed to gaseous N losses through denitrification by anaerobic microorganisms.

The fitted curves of total and organic nitrogen were very similar because organic N represents, on average, 93 and 98 % of total N, respectively, in the LVA and LA (Figure 6).

CONCLUSIONS

1. Under controlled conditions, organic matter cycling in the the oxidic-gibbsitic Oxisol (LVA) was more susceptible to the effects of high compaction than in the kaolinitic Oxisol (LA).

2. In this study, compaction pressures above 540 kPa reduced total and organic nitrogen in the kaolinitic soil (LA), which was attributed to gaseous N losses.

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1

Part of the Doctoral Thesis of first author, presented to Graduate Program in Soil and Plant Nutrition, Federal University of Viçosa (UFV). Scientific work presented at XXVI Reunião Brasileira de Fertilidade do Solo e Nutrição de Plantas, in Lajes (SC), in 2004. Study funded by CAPES. Received for publication in July 6, 2009 and approved in May 6, 2011.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  21 Oct 2011
• Date of issue
  Aug 2011

History

• Accepted
  06 May 2011
• Received
  06 July 2009