Organossolos: morfologia, atributos físicos, químicos e abundância natural de isótopos de carbono e nitrogênio

Abstract

According to the Brazilian Soil Classification System the Organossolos (Histosols) are characterized by horizons with high organic matter content and a given thickness. The carbon content is related to pedogenesis processes; however for the carbon addition and maintenance in the soil in such amount and thickness to meet the criteria of the classification system there are several factors working in conjunction, culminating in the soil genesis process. These soils can be formed by paludization or litter accumulation. The overall objective of the study was to characterize and classify Organossolos and to verify the influence of their genesis in the soil attributes, evaluating physical and chemical properties; in addition, the application of isotopic methods for analyzing natural abundance of carbon and nitrogen isotopes, relating the data with changes in vegetation and in soil evolution. The soils are under Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro. There were selected four profiles in different environments, one in the municipality of Magé in the plains neighboring the Guanabara Bay, the second in Campos dos Goytacazes municipality, near Lagoa Feia, both in hot and humid climate and lowland plain relief. Two other soil profiles were located in Itatiaia municipality, in the highland section of the Itatiaia National Park, under cold weather and humid and mountainous vegetation environment. A series of analytical procedures were made: description and morphological characterization, analysis of chemical and physical properties, determination of carbon and nitrogen, chemical fractionation of humic substances, mineral material (MM), density of organic matter (DOM), minimum residue (MR), solubility in sodium pyrophosphate (SSP), determination of fibers and Von Post decomposition scale; plus the quantification of natural abundance of carbon isotopes (12C and13C) and nitrogen (14N and 15N), and carbon dating by the method of C. The RJ-01 profile was classified as ORGANOSSOLO Tiomórfico Sáprico típico, the RJ-02 as ORGANOSSOLO Háplico Sáprico típico, the RJ-03 as ORGANOSSOLO Háplico Hêmico típico and RJ-04 as ORGANOSSOLO Fólico Sáprico cambissólico, equivalent to Sulfosaprists (RJ-01) Haplosaprists (RJ-02), Haplohemists (RJ-03) and Udifolists (RJ-04), in the Soil Taxonomy (USDA-NRCS). The RJ- 01 was significantly thicker and higher in carbon content in the subsurface. The RJ-02 profile was shallower, but had a higher organic matter deposition. The RJ-03 profile had the organic matter (OM) with the oldest C dating, in the range of 3351-3699 years at 40-50 cm. However, the RJ-04 profile stood out from the others because it had better soil drainage, higher degree of OM humification. Also, this profile had a variation of δ6 of 13C, indicating a change in local floristic composition with an increase of vegetation with C3 photosynthetic cycle, which is a hint of climate change.