In 1984, a field experiment was initiated in Coimbra, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, involving the combination of 3 levels of mineral fertilisers at control (0); 10 kg N/ha, 15 kg P/ha, and 17 kg K/ha (MF1); 20 kg N/ha, 30 kg P/ha, and 34 kg K/ha (MF2); and 2 levels of organic compost at control (0) and 40 [m.sup.3]/ha (OC) in a maize/common bean intercrop. Soil samples were collected (0-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m) in 2000 to evaluate the impact of mineral and organic compost on total carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (TN) stocks and on organic carbon pools of a Ferric Acrisol (Chromosol in the Australian Soil Classification). Additional soil samples were collected from an adjacent site covered by secondary Atlantic Forest as a reference. The conversion of forest to agriculture caused a reduction in most of TOC, TN, and microbial biomass carbon, free-light fraction carbon ([C.sub.LF]), and non-labile carbon. The carbon pools in cultivated plot were enhanced by the addition of compost alone. At both depths, TOC and TN stocks were higher (P < 0.05) in the MF2 + OC than MF2 treatment. Compared to soils that have received mineral fertiliser alone or combined with compost, the stocks of labile organic carbon, TN, and [C.sub.LF] were significantly affected (P < 0.05) by the sole application of compost.