Soil tillage is one of the agricultural practices that may contribute to increase the loss of carbon through emission of CO2 (FCO2). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of three soil tillage systems on FCO2, soil temperature and soil moisture in a sugarcane area under reform. The experimental area consisted of three tillage plots: conventional tillage (CT), conventional subsoiling (CS), and localized subsoiling (LS). FCO2, soil temperature and soil moisture were measured over a period of 17 days. FCO2 showed the highest value in CT (0.75 g CO2 m-2 h-1). Soil temperature presented no significant difference (p > 0.05) between LS (26.2 °C) and CS (25.9 °C). Soil moisture was higher in LS (24%), followed by CS (21.8%) and CT (18.3%). A significant correlation (r= ‒0.71; p < 0.05) between FCO2 and soil temperature was observed only in CT. The conventional tillage presented a total emission (2,864.3 kg CO2 ha-1) higher than the emissions observed in CS (1,970.9 kg CO2 ha-1) and LS (1,707.7 kg CO2 ha-1). The conversion from CT to LS decreased soil CO2 emissions, reducing the contribution of agriculture in increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
soil respiration; subsoiling; sugarcane; greenhouse gases
