Carbon in aggregate size classes in a Rhodic Eutrudox under different cropping systems

Soil productive capacity is related to levels of carbon (C) in aggregates of different sizes. The aim of this study was to assess total organic carbon levels in different size classes of water-stable aggregates in a Rhodic Eutrudox under different production systems. The cropping systems assessed were no-tillage (NT); no-tillage scarified every three years (NTS); disk plowing (DP) and heavy disking (HD). All systems were subjected to crop succession (S) (soybean - Glycine max / wheat - Triticum aestivum) and rotation (R) (soybean, maize (Zea mays), wheat) and cover and green manure (Lupinus albus, Raphanus sativus and Avena strigosa). Intact soil samples were collected in trenches at depths of 0–0.10; 0.10-0.20; 0.20–0.30 and 0.30-0.40 m. The highest levels of carbon were found under no-tillage, irrespective of the aggregate size class. In all treatments, the top layer (0.0–0,10 m) under crop succession showed the highest carbon content for all aggregate size classes. However, at depths below 0.10 m, crop rotation exhibited the highest carbon levels (between 12 and 20 g kg-1). After 29 years of trials, cropping systems with the lowest soil disturbance combined with crop rotation were found to contribute to raising the level of carbon in the soil and maintaining stable aggregates.