Conservational management systems increase the content of soil organic C and N. However, their effects on the light fractions of the soil organic matter (SOM) are not very well known, particularly under tropical climate conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of soil tillage systems on the distribution of light fraction (free and intra-aggregate) organic matter in a Red Latosol (Rhodic Haplustox) cultivated with vegetable crops. The study site was located in Paty do Alferes (Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil). The studied treatments were: conventional tillage (PC), contour tillage (PN), and minimum tillage (CM). Additionally, soil samples from two reference plots - one with grass coverage (GR) and the other under bare soil (SC) were collected. Soil samples were collected from the 0-5 and 5-10 cm deep layers in the 1998/99 summer. The light fraction distribution on a weight basis differed statistically among the soil tillage systems. The CM system showed higher content of light (70 %) and intra-aggregate (58 %) fractions when compared to the PC system. The total organic C and total N content of the light fractions were higher in the GR plot. Considering the evaluated soil attributes, PN and CM systems are recommended for vegetable crop cultivation under soil and environmental conditions in Paty do Alferes.
physical fractionation; light fractions; tillage systems
