Sorghum residues and nitrogen mineralization in a "cerrado" Oxisol

Abstract

Management alterations induce significant modifications on organic matter quality and quantity, on N quantity and forms and on the mineralization process. The aim of this work was to study the influence of straw on the N mineralization rates of the N-NH4+ and N-NO3 forms during the decomposition of residues of two sorghum genotypes. The experimental design consisted of a 3x2x3 complete block outline, including two soil managements, three cultural residues and two nitrogen levels, with three replications. Percolation tubes were prepared with 20 g of soil mixed with 20 g of sand. Each tube with soil and sand received 0.1g residual straw from the two sorghum genotypes, with and without 50 mg N kg-1 in the form of ammonium nitrate. A control treatment was maintained without straw in the presence and absence of N. After an initial seven day incubation period, N was extracted weekly, over 49 days, using 100 mL of 0.01 mol L-1 CaCl2. The forms N-NH4+ and N-NO3- were determined spectroscoptically (UV/VIS) in the percolated extracts. N mineralization dependent on sorghum genotype and applied N. Sorghum straw influenced time and amount of N mineralized. The N-NH4+/ N-NO3- ratio showed variability during the incubation time as influenced by the incorporated residue. That ratio increased up to fifteen days of incubation time and decreased in subsequent periods. Without residues the mineralization potential was higher in the N-NO3 form.