Soil can be either source or sink of methane (CH4), depending on the balance between methanogenesis and methanotrophy, which are determined by pedological, climatic and management factors. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of drainage of a highland Haplic Histosol on CH4 fluxes. Field research was carried out in Ponta Grossa (Paraná, Brazil) based on the measurement of CH4 fluxes by the static chamber method in natural and drained Histosol, over one year (17 sampling events). […]

Soil resistance to root penetration is an important physical characteristic for defining soil management techniques. The purpose of this study was to estimate the mechanical soil penetration resistance of an Oxisol under perennial crop, at three gravimetrical moisture contents, based on bulk density, moisture, and soil clay and organic matter content. The soil penetration resistance was evaluated by an impact penetrometer and the impact data in dm-1 were converted into dynamic resistance (MPa). At the moment of the determination of […]

The structural modifications caused by the different management systems to the soil can result in greater or lower compaction, which may change bulk density, porosity, water infiltration in the soil and crop root development. The present work aims to study the effects of structure soil moisture and soil resistance in the distribution of the corn root system in clay soil and under field condition, using conventional system (plowing plus leveler grille) for over 10 years, and no-tillage for over 20 […]