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Title: Potencial de Seqüestro de Carbono Atmosférico entre Diferentes Cultivares de Milho (Zea mays L.) sob Condiç o de Déficit Hídrico

Author
item SANTOS, N - Universidade Federal Do Parana
item VALASKI, J - UNIV. FEDERAL DO PARANA
item Prior, Stephen - Steve
item MOTTA, A - UNIV. FEDERAL DO PARANA
item FERREIRA, N - UNIV. FEDERAL DO PARANA
item GABARDO, J - UNIV. FEDERAL DO PARANA

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2007
Publication Date: 8/5/2007
Citation: Santos, N.Z., Valaski, J.C., Prior, S., Motta, A.C.V., Ferreira Neto, A., and Gabardo, J. 2007. Potencial de Seqüestro de Carbono Atmosférico entre Diferentes Cultivares de Milho (Zea mays L.) sob Condiç o de Déficit Hídrico. In XXXI Congresso Brasileiro De Ciencia Do Solo: Conquistas & Desafios Da Ciencia Do Solo Brasileira. August 5-10, 2007, Gramado, Brazil. p. 5.

Interpretive Summary: Agricultural practices leading to return of crop residues to soil can influence carbon sequestration patterns and the mitigation process of the greenhouse effect. Our objective was to evaluate the sequestration potential of corn cultivars which represented five technological levels of genetic development used in Brazil: small hold variety (GI045); developed variety (BR106); double-cross hybrid (DKB979); triple-cross hybrid (AG5020); and single-cross hybrid (AG9010). The small hold variety (GI045) produced the most residue with 12,199 kg ha-1, contrasting with 7,807 kg ha-1 obtained by single-cross hybrid. However, single-cross hybrid had a carbon to nitrogen ratio which was 57.3% higher than the GI045 cultivar. The small hold variety (GI045) and developed variety (BR106), representative of low technological levels of genetic selection, showed similar potentials of carbon sequestration compared to the high technological levels such as double and triple-cross hybrids. However, the single-cross hybrid sequestered less carbon due to low residue production.

Technical Abstract: There is a question concerning the role of agricultural practices on carbon sequestration enhancement. By producing biomass with agricultural crops and adding this residue to soil, it should act on the mitigation process of the greenhouse effect, especially CO2. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the C sequestration potential of plant biomass, regarding grain yield and residue (stalk, leaf, tassel, husk, and cob) as well as the variability among corn cultivars (Zea mays L.). The field experiment was conducted in the 2005/2006 crop year under drought conditions. Corn cultivars evaluated represented five technological levels of genetic development: small hold variety (GI045); developed variety (BR106); double-cross hybrid (DKB979); triple-cross hybrid (AG5020); and single-cross hybrid (AG9010). Total C and N were determined for grain and residue. The amount of C sequestrated varied from 4.243 to 5.861 kg ha-1, and the total amount found in grain varied from 4.8 to 21.6%. The small hold variety (GI045) obtained the highest residue yield with 12,199 kg ha-1, contrasting with 7,807 kg ha-1 obtained by the single-cross hybrid. However, the single-cross hybrid had a C/N of 49.9 which was 57.3% higher than the GI045 cultivar. The small hold variety (GI045) and developed variety (BR106) which represented low technological levels of genetic selection showed similar potentials of C sequestration than the high technological level such as double and triple-cross hybrids. However, the single-cross hybrid sequestered the smallest amount of C which was associated with low total dry matter production and not with low C concentration in the biomass.