Estrutura e água em argissolo sob distintos preparos na cultura do milho

Abstract

The retention and availability of water in the soil are controlled by soil structure and its temporal variation is associated with the weather and the crops needs. Water also controls the aeration and soil penetration resistance, factors that are directly linked to root growth. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of management systems and soil compaction levels on soil physical properties to define the conditions that favor the retention, storage and availability of water to plants while maintaining aeration and soil resistance favorable to root growth. To meet these goals an experiment was set up in the experimental station of the Soils Department-UFSM. The area was under fallow and in 2002 year it was incorporated into the crop production under no-tillage. The treatments were: notillage (NT) no-tillage with compaction (NTC), subsoiling (Sub), chiseling (ESC) and conventional tillage (CT). The design was a randomized block design with four replications. Undisturbed soil samples were collected in the soil layers 0.0 to 0.05, 0.05 to 0.10 0.10 0,15; 0.15 to 0.20; 0.20 to 0.30, 0.30 to 0.40 and 0.40 to 0.50 m to determine the bulk density (BD), pore distribution, air permeability (Ka), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and the water retention curve. For the same layers, soil moisture (UV) was monitored continuously down to the layer of 0.30 m, using an automated TDR. In the other layers readings were taken weekly with a manual TDR. The penetration resistance (Rp) was determined at six points across the plant rows, under eight conditions of soil moisture. The maize parameters evaluated were the emergency, dry mass, root distribution at physiological maturity and yield. The NTC had a higher BD and lower total porosity (Pt) and macropores (Mac) down to 0.40 m depth. The ESC, Sub and the CT reduced the BD and increased Pt. The Ksat and Kl had little influence of the treatments, but showed positive correlation with Pt and negatively with Mac and Ds. The main benefit of tillage is the reduction of its resistance to penetration and improved soil aeration which allows for better root growth. No-tillage did not store more water for plants in relation to conventional tillage, subsoiling and chiseling. Soil compaction increased the water retention in densiest layer, but reduced the plant's ability to exploit the soil, by inhibiting root growth and reduce soil aeration. The compacted soil reached in less time and kept for longer time restrictive values of soil penetration resistance and air permeability. The dry matter production and grain yield of maize was not affected by managements and compaction levels, although some plant growth factors were outside the appropriate range indicated by the least limiting water range.