Abstract

The effects of six crop-pasture rotations were evaluated on properties of soil aggregates in a volcanic soil (Humic Haploxerand) of south-central Chile. Rotations that included intensive cropping without pastures, and crops with short- or long-term pastures were maintained for 12 years after which soil samples were taken at 0–5 and 5–10 cm depths for analysis of the C, N and S contents in the different grades of water-stable aggregates. The mean weight diameter of the aggregates was also determined as an indicator of structural stability. The results showed that the rotations which included long-term pastures of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or white clover (Trifolium repens L.) had higher contents of C, N and S in soil and there was a higher concentration of these elements in macro-aggregates (>0.5 mm) than in micro-aggregates (<0.5 mm). Additionally, the rotations with pastures also produced greater structural stability of the soil aggregates. Consequently, crop rotations that included pastures, particularly those of longer duration, improved the soil and were therefore a more sustainable use of the soil resource compared to the more intensive rotations. Additionally, there was evidence of hierarchical organization of the soil structure, which is a previously non-described feature of volcanic soils.