ABSTRACT Reduced stability and structural resilience expose sandy soils to physical degradation under intensive production systems. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different cover crops (CC) under no-tillage system (NTS) cotton cropping, grown either individually or in combination, on the soil physical quality (SPQ) of a sandy loam Oxisol (Latossolo) in southeastern Brazil. To quantify the effects of CC on soil physical quality indicators, an experiment in randomized blocks design was implemented with the treatments: CC1: single cultivation […]

Unsuitable management practices have led to soil compaction and degradation of soil structure. Identifying properties that better represent these alterations are important for recovery of soil structure and for recommendation of practices to avoid damage to soil structure. The aim of this study was evaluate the effect of different soil uses on the structure and water properties of an Alfisol. The study was carried out in an Alfisol in the municipality of Butia in the “Serra do Sudeste” physiographic region […]

The least limiting water range (LLWR) is considered a modern indicator of soil physical quality for plant growth. The aim of this study was to determine the LLWR for assessing the soil physical quality of a dystroferric Red Latosol (Oxisol) under no-tillage in a crop-livestock integration system. In the crop-livestock integration system of the study area, soybean was planted in the summer and oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) plus ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) in the winter with different pasture heights during […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of soil tillage systems and methods of lime application on biological, physical and chemical attributes of a clayey aluminic Oxisol, and on soybean yield components. The experiment with tillage systems was installed in 1978 in Guarapuava, PR, southern Brazil, and liming methods began to be tested in 1987. The treatments were: conventional tillage (CT) without liming; CT with liming; no-tillage (NT) without liming; NT with surface liming and NT […]

A soil classification system is proposed, based on the aeration and hydration capacities of profiles. Hydration is measured by the available water (field capacity minus wilting point), and aeration evaluated by the connection of available air (total porosity minus field capacity) values and steady state infiltration rate. On this basis, 10 soil orders and 28 soil classes are defined. Input variables are: density of solids, bulk density, porosity, field capacity, wilting point, and steady state infiltration rate. The classification is based on […]

High phosphorus (P) sorption capacity is a typical feature of oxidic oxisols. P is mainly sorbed by inner-sphere complex affecting charge balance, particle dispersion and, consequently, water-soil relationship. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of P sorption on physical and hydric properties of samples of a Typic Hapludox, from Campos Mantiqueira Region (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples, from 0-0.03 and 0.27-0.30 m depth, were saturated in pure water or P solution to reach […]

The implications of soil water availability on the growth of Hamlin variety orange trees were studied in a tableland topsequence in Bahia State. The topsequence consisted of a Podzolic Yellow Latosol, a Yellow Podzolic, and a Gray Podzolic. Soil samples were analyzed for texture and selected soil chemical characteristics. Rainfall data were also collected during the period of the study. Soil water content was measured weekly using a neutron probe to estimate water storage and water availability. Average values of […]