The conversion of native vegetation in agricultural systems can change with over the years of growing levels of C and N as well as the isotopic signal of 13C and 15N of soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the contents of C and N and the natural abundance of δ13C and δ15N in the soil profile in a chronosequence of no-tillage agriculture (NT) in the Cerrado (tropical savanna) of Goias (GO), Brazil. For this purpose, areas under NT in Montividiu (GO) with the following characteristics were selected: three years under NT (NT3), fifteen years under NT (NT15), and 20 years under NT (NT20). They were compared to areas of native vegetation (CE) and pasture (PA). Soil samples were collected at depths of 0.00-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30, 0.30-0.40, 0.40-0.50, 0.50-0.60, 0.60-0.80, and 0.80-1.00 m. The soil of the studied area was classified as a Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico (Oxisol). Soil management in NT after 20 years increased the C and N contents in the surface soil layer (0.00-0.05 m) in relation to other areas assessed. In the other depths evaluated, there has been an increase in C and N contents according to the years since adoption of NT (3 to 15 years); however, these areas have not yet been able to recover the contents of these elements in relation to native vegetation (CE). From the δ13C, it can be seen that the origin of soil organic matter (SOM) in the NT areas is related to plants of the C4 photosynthetic pathway. However, it was found that up to 0.30 m depth, the δ13C have been decreasing over the years since adoption of NT. The lowest values of δ15N were found in the areas of CE and PA, and the highest values were found in NT3, while the NT15 and NT20 areas had intermediate values of δ15N compared to the other areas assessed.
soil organic matter; isotopic composition; soil management systems
