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Carbohydrates represent 5–25% of the organic matter in soils. They constrain microbial activities and mineral nutrient production in soil and also reflect the whole microorganism community dynamic. The objective of this study was to determine the contents and composition of hydrolysable carbohydrates in soils collected in a forest–savanna mosaic landscape in the region of Lamto (Côte d’Ivoire). Capillary gas chromatography was used to identify and determine carbohydrates in soil profile under 4 tropical ecosystems: gallery and plateau forests, and grass and shrub tree savannas. Forest soils were higher in organic matter than savanna soils (0.50–2.96% C v. 0.53–1.22% C). The carbohydrate-C content of soils, expressed as percentage of total soil organic C, was low, a likely consequence of the tropical climate that promotes a rapid decomposition of surface plant debris. The carbohydrate-C content was higher under savanna soils (5–7%) than under forest soils (3–4%). Glucose, ribose, mannose, xylose, and galactose were the 5 most abundant extractable monosaccharides in all soils. Between them, only xylose and ribose are controlled by the vegetation type. The [(galactose + mannose) : (arabinose + xylose)] and [mannose : xylose] ratios suggested that most soil sugars derive from microbial biomass. The large abundance of microbial carbohydrates indicates intense microbial activities in the soil, and then rapid decomposition of soil organic matter favoured by the long wet season, with high temperatures and soil water availability at the site study. Results suggest clearly that the climate likely controls the amount and composition of carbohydrates in Lamto soils.

ResumoA matéria orgânica do solo é um importante componente da sustentabilidade dos sistemas agrícolas. Efetuouse o fracionamento granulométrico da matéria orgânica de um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico argiloso, do Norte do Paraná, sob pomar de citros manejado (por nove anos) com: a) cobertura de leguminosa (Arachis prostrata); b) vegetação espontânea, mantida por grade e roçadora; c) sem vegetação intercalar (capinado). O mesmo solo foi estudado também sob culturas anuais (preparo convencional) por vinte anos e floresta nativa. A cobertura com leguminosa e a manutenção da vegetação espontânea no solo do pomar aumentaram os estoques de C e N do solo em comparação ao sistema sem vegetação intercalar e ao solo sob culturas anuais. Nos sistemas de uso e manejo avaliados, as maiores proporções dos estoques de C e N do solo encontraram-se associadas à fração argila (0-2 µm), com 35 a 51 % do total, e à fração silte (2-20 µm), com 13 a 30 %. O estoque de carbono (em Mg C ha -1 ) na profundidade 0-10 cm foi reduzido em 33 %, com culturas anuais, e em 19 %, no pomar capinado, em relação à floresta nativa; e foi ligeiramente aumentado nas condições de pomar com cobertura vegetal. As maiores perdas de C e N ocorreram nas frações areia grossa + resíduos vegetais (50 -2.000 µm) e areia fina (50 -200 µm). No pomar com leguminosa, quando comparado com culturas anuais, a recuperação da matéria orgânica foi maior na fração areia muito fina (20-50µm). Palavras-chave: Carbono, nitrogênio, estoque, frações granulométricas, solos tropicais AbstractSoil organic matter (SOM) is an important component of agriculture sustainability. A clayey oxisol was studied by SOM particle size fractions in a citrus orchard managed (for a 9 year period) with a) Arachis prostrata ground cover; b) spontaneous vegetation controlled by mowing and tillage; c) bare soil. Also the same soil was studied under a 20 year period of annual crops (conventional tillage) and native forest. The orchard ground covers increased the soil C and N stocks when compared to orchard bare soil and annual crops. For all situations, the largest proportion of the SOM was found in the clay fraction (0-2 µm) (35 to 48 % of the total) followed by the silt fraction (2-20µm) (13 to 30 %). Soil C stock was reduced by 33 % with annual crops and by 19 % with bare soil orchard, and was slightly higher with orchard ground covers, when compared to native forest. The carbon losses in the layer 0-10 cm were 23 to 45% comparing the native forest to the crops, being larger with annual crops for 20 years and smaller at orchard with A. prostrata ground cover. The greatest SOM losses were in the 50-2,000 µm (vegetal debris + coarse sand), and fine sand (50-200µm) fractions. The greater recuperation of SOM in the orchard with leguminous cover was in the 20-50µm fraction when compared to annual crops.

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