Carbon and nitrogen stocks in different soil management practices

The transformation of natural ecosystems into agricultural systems involves the replacement of complex and stable biological systems with simple and unstable systems, thus causing changes in the stocks of organic components in the soil by altering the rates of addition and decomposition of organic matter. As a result, the balance of the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles is altered, and C inputs become lower than outputs, leading to a reduction in the quantity and modification of the quality of soil organic matter (SOM). The adoption of ecological practices in the sugarcane production sector is necessary, given that in recent years the sugarcane production sector has made significant advances throughout the country, with Brazil remaining the world’s largest producer of sugarcane and its derivatives. Understanding the changes in soil chemical properties resulting from continuous sugarcane cultivation can provide elements for sustainable production, given that the content and quality of organic matter are attributes that can be used to assess the sustainability of agricultural systems.