Stratification ratio of soil organic matter pools as an indicator of carbon sequestration in a tillage chronosequence on a Brazilian Oxisol

Abstract

This article examines temporal changes in the stratification ratio of soil organic matter (SOM) for diverse tillage methods. Using a Brazilian Oxisol, the researchers evaluate whether stratification ratio is an effective index tool for carbon sequestration in soil. Ideal conditions for carbon and nitrogen cycling in the soil can be created by continually replacing the crop residues on the surface, allowing for a permanent mulch cover. Tilling and mixing the surface soil and sub-surface soil exposes SOM to microbial attach and exacerbates erosion-induced soil degradation. Therefore, stratification ratio can be an effective tool for determining soil quality and carbon sequestration capacity because it measures the SOM concentrations present in each layer of the soil.