ABSTRACT Vermicomposted vegetal and animal residues are rich in nutrients and humic substances and thus can be applied to the soil as a source of functionalized organic matter (OM) and as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. In Southern Brazil, many animal and vegetal residues are easily accessible. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate alterations in soil chemical properties and OM chemical composition in response to the application of local vermicomposted residues. The vermicomposts of: cattle manure (CM), sheep manure (SM), […]

The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical nature of free (FLF) and intra-aggregate (ILF) light fraction of soil organic matter, using infrared spectroscopy as well as to determine whether these fractions are compositionally distinct pools of soil organic matter. Both FLF and ILF were isolated by flotation on NaI solution at a specific gravity of 1.8; for ILF extraction, the soil sample was sonicated after FLF isolation. Samples were collected from two Oxisols from contrasting regions of […]