RESEARCH ARTICLE
Long-term application of different organic and inorganic fertilizers in no-tillage crops changes the soil microstructural viscoelasticity and shear resistance to transient stresses
Amanda Romeiro Alves,
Dörthe Holthusen,
Carina Marchezan,
Gustavo Brunetto,
Stephan Peth,
José Miguel Reichert,
Corresponding Author
Amanda Romeiro Alves
Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
Correspondence
Amanda Romeiro Alves, Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), 1000, prédio 42, Cidade Universitária, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP: 97105-900, Brazil.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorDörthe Holthusen
German Federal Institute of Hydrology, Koblenz, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorCarina Marchezan
Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorGustavo Brunetto
Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorStephan Peth
Institute of Soil Science, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJosé Miguel Reichert
Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorAmanda Romeiro Alves,
Dörthe Holthusen,
Carina Marchezan,
Gustavo Brunetto,
Stephan Peth,
José Miguel Reichert,
Corresponding Author
Amanda Romeiro Alves
Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
Correspondence
Amanda Romeiro Alves, Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), 1000, prédio 42, Cidade Universitária, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, CEP: 97105-900, Brazil.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorDörthe Holthusen
German Federal Institute of Hydrology, Koblenz, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorCarina Marchezan
Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorGustavo Brunetto
Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorStephan Peth
Institute of Soil Science, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorJosé Miguel Reichert
Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Brazil
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: 27 March 2024
Abstract
The processes involved in deformation, internal strength and stability of soils with long-term application of fertilizers (organic and inorganic sources) remain poorly investigated and hence understood, particularly in agricultural systems under subtropical climatic conditions. We investigated how long-term fertilizer management with organic and inorganic amendments in no-till crops affects the microstructural stability of a sandy Alfisol under oscillatory shear. The study was conducted in southern Brazil on a 17-year completely randomized block experiment with five fertilizer treatments: pig slurry (PS), cattle slurry (CS), pig deep litter (PDL), mineral fertilizer (MF) and control, i.e. unfertilized (CL). Soil samples were collected from two layers (0–5 and 5–15 cm) for physical and chemical analyses and evaluation of soil rheological properties under oscillatory shear at two matric potentials (0 and −10 kPa). Organic matter accumulation in soil provided by the PDL and CS fertilizers resulted in higher soil stability and elasticity under oscillatory shear, especially in the 0–5 cm layer. Conversely, MF and PS enhanced the soil susceptibility towards deformation under transient stresses, mainly in the 0–5 cm layer under saturated conditions. The PDL significantly increased soil shear resistance under low-shear strain conditions. Significant differences ceased under high-shear strain conditions, though PS and MF yielded at significantly lower strains. Hence, under subtropical conditions, long-term application of organic fertilizers with fibrous components promoted soil microstructure strengthening, reducing soil susceptibility to erosive processes and compaction.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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