The pressure applied by animal hooves can lead to soil surface compaction in a crop-livestock system (CLIS), with effects on soil physical quality. The hypothesis of this study was that the trampling of animals as a result of grazing on oat and ryegrass crops in a Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico (Oxisol) under no-tillage in a CLIS degrades soil physical quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different grazing heights on soil bulk density (BD), total porosity […]

Soil fertilization may be a sustainable strategy for the intensification of grazing, considering that the effects of cattle trampling that are deleterious for the soil physical quality do not affect the productivity and the sustainability of pasture production systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of grazing at different intensities of N-fertilized pasture on the soil physical quality and impact on forage and root yield of Panicum maximum cv. IPR-86 Milênio. The experiment was conducted in […]

The trampling of grazing animals can compact the surface layers and affect the physical quality of soils in crop-livestock systems (ICL). The hypothesis of this study is that increased trampling from animal grazing of oats and ryegrass reduces the soil physical quality of an Oxisol under no-tillage with ICL. The purpose of this study was to quantify bulk density (Bd), air-filled porosity (εa), soil air permeability (Ka), soil resistance to penetration (SR) and estimate an index of pore continuity from […]

Pasture productivity can drop due to soil compaction caused by animal trampling. Physical and mechanical alterations are therefore extremely important indicators for pasture management. The objective of this research was to: draw and evaluate the Mohr failure line of a Red Yellow Latossol under different pasture cycles and natural forest; calculate apparent cohesion; observe possible physical alterations in this soil; and propose a correction factor for stocking rates based on shear strength properties. This study was conducted between March/2006 and […]

Soil physical quality is essential to global sustainability of agroecosystems, once it is related to processes that are essential to agricultural crop development. This study aimed to evaluate physical attributes of a Yellow Latossol under different management systems in the savanna area in the state of Piaui. This study was developed in Uruçuí southwest of the state of Piauí. Three systems of soil management were studied: an area under conventional tillage (CT) with disk plowi and heavy harrow and soybean […]

The soil quality of a crop-livestock system can change according to the pasture and soil management. This research was carried out in Otacilio Costa, Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, on a Humic Cambisol previously used with native grass pasture for 9 years, desiccated in May 2003, for use with ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) pasture in the winter and corn in the summer. A split plot design was used, consisting of pasture management systems and soil tillage systems prior to the summer […]

Soil compaction is one of the most important reasons for decrease in crop yield. The impact of animal trampling on integrated beef cattle raising-crop production systems were studied to evaluate the changes in soil physical properties (bulk density, porosity, soil resistance to penetration and soil water infiltration). The field experiment was carried out in Jari, in the mid- plateau region of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Three management systems of winter pastures (black oat; Avena strigosa Schreber + ryegrass; […]

The integration between agriculture and cattle-raising in some areas can restrict the use of no-tillage system in clayey soils, due to soil surface compaction, which restricts root growth and limits crop yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in soil physical properties and maize parameters caused by animal trampling preceding the summer crop, under two tillage systems. The degree of degradation of the cultivated soil compared to the native forest was also evaluated. The experiment was […]

Farming and cattle-raising integrated system is an alternative to increase farmers’ yield in southern Brazil (29o 45´south and 53o 42´ west Greenwich). However, grazing and, or, soil tillage may cause soil compaction at levels that can affect root growth and crop yield. The effect of animal trampling in continuous grazing during winter/spring (cold season) and soil management system effects on soil compaction, chemical attributes and root distribution were studied. The soil used was a Red-Yellow Podzolic (Hapludalf), with a loam […]