Carbon storage and its distribution in the profile of clayey Oxisols were studied to evaluate the role of the soil as a sink or source of atmospheric CO2 in the center of the cerrado region, Federal District, Brazil. Evaluations were carried out in six different management systems: a native cerrado type vegetation (CE), eucalypt reforestation (EU), introduced pasture (PA), heavy disk harrow tillage (GP), disk plow tillage (AD), no-tillage (PD), all of them having been established for more than twelve years. Organic carbon was analyzed in soil samples taken at a 100 cm depth. Carbon storage in all other five agroecosystems was compared to CE in order to analyze soil behavior as a source or sink of C-CO2. The main important dynamic features related to C, such as additions and losses, were observed in the upper soil layers. Compared with CE, the agroecosystems without soil disturbance like PD, PA and EU showed higher carbon accumulation, thus working as a soil sink for atmospheric C-CO2. Those with soil disturbance (AD and GP) showed lower carbon accumulation, thus working as a source of C to the atmosphere.
organic carbon; carbon storage; sink or source of CO2; clayey Dark-Red Latosol; savannas