Preparos e atributos físicos de solos para plantio de eucalipto

Abstract

With the expansion of cultivated forest in Rio Grande do Sul, there was an increase of the forest plantations, now occupying areas previously used for livestock and agricultural crops. The objective was to generate reccomendations for soil tillage, based on soil quality indicators. The study was conducted in three areas for the cultivation of clonal seedlings of Eucalyptus saligna Smith belonging to Celulose Riograndense in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The soils are classified as Planossolo Háplico Eutrófico gleissólico (SXe), Nitossolo Vermelho Distrófico típico (NVd) and Neossolo Regolítico Eutroúmbrico típico (RReh). Initially a pilot survey was done to quantify the spatial variability of texture and soil resistance to penetration (RP); subsequently, soil samples were taken at depths of 0-10, 10-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm. After the characterization and analysis of soil areas different soil tillages (subsoiling to 50 cm depth plus rotary hoe (S50), subsoiling to 50 cm depth with ridge (S50C), and subsoiling to 70 cm depth plusr rotary hoe (S70). Planting of Eucalyptus saligna Smith clones (3.5 x 2.6 m) was carried out. At 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after planting, the dendrometric evaluation of total height and diameter at breast height (dbh 1.30 m). The joint use of factor analysis and spatial variability of RP enabled us to identify locations with different compaction states. The least limiting water range (LLWR) was strongly affected by the penetration resistance and soil aeration in clayey soils. The bulk density values of Argissolos, in the larger states of soil compaction, were above the critical density based on the LLWR. The soil tillage with greater volume of soil disturbed (S50C), in SXe (1267.1 m3 ha- 1) and RReh (836.8 m3 ha-1), favored the initial development of Eucalyptus saligna Smith. In SXe at 24 months-old forest, the height was 10.38 cm and dbh of 9.90, whereas for the RReh the height was 10.15 m and dbh of 10.60 cm. In NVd, the highest growth was observed in the treatment S70, with an average height at 24 months of 9.77 m and dbh of 9.68 cm. The results of this study indicate that the choice of the best tillage depends on the texture, degree of compaction, critical density and penetration resistance of the soil. Thus, for Planossolo Háplico Eutrófico gleissólico and the Neossolo Regolítico Eutroúmbrico típico the best tillage was S50C, while for the Nitossolo Vermelho Distrófico típico was S70.