Root development and soil carbon stocks of tropical pastures managed under different grazing intensities

Authors

  • Felipe M. Saraiva Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
  • José C.B. Dubeux Jr University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, Marianna, FL, USA.
  • Mário de A. Lira Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. CNPq fellow.
  • Alexandre C.L. de Mello Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. CNPq fellow.
  • Mércia V.F. dos Santos Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. CNPq fellow.
  • Felipe de A. Cabral Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
  • Vicente I. Teixeira Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(2)254-261
Abstract Authors How to Cite

Abstract

Grasslands may act as a carbon (C) sink or C source depending on how they are managed. Soil C stocks, root biomass, root length, root length density and soil organic C concentrations were assessed on pastures of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) managed under different post-grazing stubble heights and signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens) managed under different stocking rates. Soil samples were collected in 20-cm layers down to 1-m soil depth. Neither stubble height nor stocking rate had any significant effects on root parameters. Both the root system and C stocks declined in both pastures with increasing soil depth. Root biomass in the 0–20 cm layer contained 2.84 and 2.04 t C/ha, declining to 0.39 and 0.64 t C/ha at 80–100 cm for elephant grass and signal grass, respectively. Signal grass had greater root development deeper in the soil than elephant grass pastures, possibly due to its greater tolerance of Al toxicity and acidity. Total soil C stocks were greater for signal grass than for elephant grass (358 vs. 214 t C/ha, respectively).

Keywords: Carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, soil nutrients, stocking rate, tropical grass.

DOI: 10.17138/TGFT(2)254-261

Author Biographies

Felipe M. Saraiva, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.

PhD candidateDepartment of Animal Science - UFRPE

José C.B. Dubeux Jr, University of Florida, North Florida Research and Education Center, Marianna, FL, USA.

Jose C B Dubeux Jr.Assisstant Professor, PhDUniversity of FloridaNorth Florida Research and Education Center - Marianna

Mário de A. Lira, Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. CNPq fellow.

Professor and ResearcherCNPq scholar

Alexandre C.L. de Mello, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. CNPq fellow.

Associate ProfessorCNPq Scholar

Mércia V.F. dos Santos, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. CNPq fellow.

Associate ProfessorCNPq Scholar

Felipe de A. Cabral, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.

Graduate student

Vicente I. Teixeira, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.

Assistant Professor

How to Cite

Saraiva, F. M., Dubeux Jr, J. C., Lira, M. de A., Mello, A. C. de, Santos, M. V. dos, Cabral, F. de A., & Teixeira, V. I. (2014). Root development and soil carbon stocks of tropical pastures managed under different grazing intensities. Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales, 2(3), 254–261. https://doi.org/10.17138/tgft(2)254-261

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Published

2014-09-24

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 3: September 2014

Section

Research Papers