Organic carbon and soil chemical properties in Pinus taeda.

Abstract

The demand for trees in the pulp and paper industry is very large and reforestation is the main source of this renewable resource. This study aimed to estimate the amount of soil organic carbon, soil chemical properties under Pinus taeda and evaluate the relationship of these parameters with dendrometric and productivity of Pinus taeda. The study was conducted at the Santa Catarina Plateau, on farms located in four sites across five cities The soil types were Red Nitosol, Litholic Neosol, Aluminic Humic Cambisol, Haplic Cambisol, Haplic Gleisol and Dystrophic Humic Cambisol. At each site were analyzed profiles to the bedrock or up to 2 m deep. Pedogenetic horizons were separated, and held a general description of the collected samples for chemical analysis, determination of density and soil organic carbon. Stocks of soil organic carbon in the different sites were different between sites. The largest amounts of organic carbon were found at 0-20 cm depth, decreasing the depth. Tree growth was affected by concentrations of K, Ca and Mg and sum of bases.