Organic C, N and P in size fractions of virgin and cultivated soils of the semi-arid pampa of Argentina

Nutrient and organic carbon (OC) losses are important components of the soil degradation processes produced by continuous agriculture. It was hypothesized that coarse textured soils will be more affected by cultivation than fine textured ones. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the status of OC, total nitrogen (Nt), and three phosphorous fractions (total inorganic, Pi; organic, Po; and available, Pa) in different textured virgin (under Prosopis caldenia forest) and cultivated soils of the semi-arid pampa of Argentina. Three virgin and non-fertilized cultivated soil pairs, representative from soils of the region, were selected for this study: two fine sandy loam Entic Haplustolls and a sandy Typic Ustipsamment. The element content of each soil was analysed from the <0•1-mm to 0•1–2-mm sized aggregates. Results indicated that cultivation decreased the OC, Po and Pi contents in fine aggregates of the fine textured soils, and in coarse aggregates of the coarse textured soil. Plant absorption and wind erosion were probably the main processes which decreased element contents in both textural soil types. It was speculated that in the sandy soil the elements lost from fine sized aggregates were restored by the break down of the weak coarse aggregates produced by tillage. The C/N ratios showed mostly small changes due to cultivation, indicating that no changes of organic matter quality occurred. Only the sandy soil showed C/N increases in the fine sized aggregates and decreases in the coarse sized aggregates. The C/Po quotients were not changed by cultivation, indicating that the qualitative composition of P organic compounds remained unchanged. Large OC decreases and Pa increases after cultivation detected in one of the fine textured soil were apparently linked to the occurrence of natural fires.