Use of pasture in banana farming increase total organic carbon contents in the municipality of São Luís-MA

Abstract

Organic matter represents an important element in many soil and water biogeochemical processes and participates in the C / N ratio. The objective of this work was to compare the total carbon variation between banana intercropping system with pasture compared to native forest in the municipality of São Luís-MA. Samples were collected during the dry-rainy transition period in two systems located on the school farm of the State University of Maranhão. The area (SF1) had monoculture of banana with pasture undergrain between crop lines, in the other area was with native forest (SF2). Five composite samples (10 sub samples) were collected in each area, at a depth of 0-20 cm. The levels of total organic carbon differed statistically between the areas. In the area SF1 presented 8.28 g of total organic carbon per kg-1 of soil that was higher than SF2 area which presented 6.67 g.kg-1 of soil, the largest amount of carbon in the SF1 system can be given the cover with pasture (emerald grass). Therefore, the association of banana farming with pasture increases the contribution of total organic carbon and thus improves the physical-chemical quality of the soil.