@article{fdi:010061911,
  title = {{C}onversion of forest to agriculture in {A}mazonia with the chop-and-mulch method : does it improve the soil carbon stock ?},
  author = {{P}errin, {A}. {S}. and {F}ujisaki, {K}enji and {P}etitjean, {C}. and {S}arrazin, {M}ax and {G}odet, {M}. and {G}arric, {B}. and {H}orth, {J}. {C}. and {B}albino, {L}. {C}. and {S}ilveira, {A}. and {M}achado, {P}lod and {B}rossard, {M}ichel},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{F}ire-free forest conversion with organic inputs as an alternative to slash-and-burn could improve agro-ecosystem sustainability. {W}e assessed soil carbon mass changes in a sandy-clayey and well-drained soil in {F}rench {G}uiana after forest clearing by the chop-and-mulch method and crop establishment. {A}t the experimental site of {C}ombi, native forest was cut down in {O}ctober 2008; woody biomass was chopped and incorporated into the top 20 cm of soil. {A}fter about one year of legume and grass cover, three forms of land management were compared: grassland ({U}rochloa ruziziensis), maize/soybean crop rotation with disk tillage and in direct seeding without tillage. {T}here were four replicates. {W}e measured 14.16 kg m(-2) of carbon in 2 mm-sieved soil down to 2 m depth for the initial forest. {F}orest clearing did not induce significant soil compaction; neither did any specific agricultural practice. {I}n converted soils, {C} stocks were measured in the 0-30 cm layer after each crop for three years. {C}arbon mass changes for soil fractions <2 mm (soil {C} stock) and >2 mm (soil {C} pool) in the 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm soil layers were assessed on an equivalent soil mass basis. {O}ne year and 1.5 years after deforestation, higher {C} stocks (+0.64 to 1.16 kg {C} m(-2) yr(-1)) and {C} pools (+0.52 to 0.90 kg {C} m(-2) yr(-1)) were measured in converted soils, compared to those of the forest into the top 30 cm of soil. {H}owever, the masses of carbon in these converted soils declined later. {T}he highest rates of carbon decrease were measured between 1.5 and 2 years after forest conversion in the <2 mm soil fraction, from 0.46 kg {C}m-2 yr(-1) (in grassland soils) to 0.71 kg {C} m(-2) yr(-1) (in cropland under no tillage). {T}he carbon pool declined during the third year at rates of 0.41 kg {C} m(-2) yr(-1) (cropland under disk tillage) to 0.76 kg {C} m(-2) yr(-1) (grassland soils). {T}hree years after forest conversion, {C} masses in the top 30 cm of soils for grassland showed similar values than for forest. {I}n comparison, the carbon stock in cropped soils managed under no tillage in direct seeding (without mulch) was significantly 17% and 16% lower than in forest and grassland soils, respectively. {N}one of the studied agricultural practices succeeded in accumulating carbon from the chopped forest biomass.},
  keywords = {{F}rench {G}uiana ; {F}ire-free ; {D}eforestation ; {A}nnual crops ; {B}rachiaria ; {N}o-tillage ; {GUYANE} {FRANCAISE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}griculture {E}cosystems and {E}nvironment},
  volume = {184},
  numero = {},
  pages = {101--114},
  ISSN = {0167-8809},
  year = {2014},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.agee.2013.11.009},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010061911},
}