Litter decomposition and nutrient release from Brachiaria, Sorghum and soybean in no-tillage areas in the Cerrado region, Goiás

Abstract

The evaluation of plant litter decomposition added to the soil by cover crops provides a better understanding of nutrient supply to crops of commercial interest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the decomposition rate and dynamics of release of N, P and K in crop residues from crop of soybeans grown in Oxisol under no tillage. The residues used were Congo grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). The average production of Congo grass biomass + soybean was 6.1 Mg ha-1 and soybean + sorghum was 3.8 Mg ha-1. The dry matter decomposition and nutrient release were monitored at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 days using bags containing residues deposited on the soil surface. A mathematical model was used to describe the litter decomposition and N, P, K release and the decomposition constant (k) and half-life (T1/2) were calculated. The values of T1/2 for dry matter were 154 and 258 days for Brachiaria + soybean and soybean + sorghum, respectively, in the dry season and 99 and 119 days in the rainy season. The nutrient with the lowest T1/2 was P, followed by K and N in both litters and evaluated at different times.