Relações físico-hídricas de um latossolo sob plantio direto

Abstract

Soil compaction is a process inherent in the no-tillage system and therefore, it will be always observed with varying intensity degrees. However, this system has features which can be maximized in order to reduce the compression process and its consequences. The objective of this study was evaluate soil hydro-physical properties as indicators of quality in an Oxisol, long time cultivated under no-tillage system. The specific objectives were determine the critical bulk density in which the soil resistance penetration and air porosity are restrictive to development of plants, using the methodology of least limiting water range (LLWR); evaluate the relationship between permeability air with macroporosity, total porosity and bulk density in different water tensions; determine the relationship between the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity and macroporosity, total porosity and bulk density. The soil was collected in a farmer located in Ibirubá (RS). The climate falls under the classification of Köppen in zones "Cfa" and "Cfb" (humid subtropical climate with hot summers or mild). The soil is classified as Oxisol. The area dedicated to collecting of samples has been cultivated under no-tillage since 1998 with soybeans, in the spring / summer, oats and rye or wheat in the fall / winter. Determinations of LLWR, texture, bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity and air permeability of soil (under different soil water tensions: 1, 6 33 and 100 kPa) was carried out. Soil samples with preserved structure were collected with metal cylinders (0.03 m height and 0.055 m internal diameter) at depths of 0.02 to 0.07 m and 0.12 to 0.18 m, at various points of the area in order to obtain a large variation in bulk density. The results indicated that the increase of bulk density influence the reduction of LLWR which is associated with effects of soil penetration resistance and aeration porosity. The lower the matric potential, the higher was the observations of soil air conductivity, especially on the superficial soil layer, where the frequency of macropores is bigger and its decrease by the increase in soil depth. The soil air conductivity and saturated soil hydraulic conductivity were highly correlated with macroporosity and total porosity and negatively with the bulk density in different soil water tensions.