Content and carbon stock in organic production systems in the Bahia semiarid

Abstract

The adoption of management practices that favor the reduction of losses of soil organic matter has become a key factor in the conservation of agricultural land. Thus, evaluating the performance of soil as issuer or carbon kidnapper into the atmosphere by comparing different land use systems can help indicate sustainable systems. This study aimed to evaluate the levels and carbon stocks in areas under different uses in organic system in Bahia's semiarid region. The study was conducted in Chacara Organic Bocaiúva, located in Humble district, Feira de Santana, Bahia. We evaluated four production systems in organic management, namely: (REF) reforestation area (PUP) peach palm cultivation (CAF) coffee growing in alley cropping system and (ACA) area under cultivation of açaí. For comparison it was also evaluated an area under native forest (NF). Soil sampling was conducted in four repetitions at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm. Total organic carbon was obtained by wet oxidation with an external source of heat. The results show that the different land use in organic production systems contribute to promoting changes in content and carbon storage in the soil. Among these production systems, the peach palm cultivation (PUP) kept the content and soil organic carbon stocks at levels equivalent to the native vegetation system (MN).

Keywords

• organic matter, soil quality, organic farming, reforestation