Grass pastures, if well-established and managed, play an important environmental role as soil cover, for aggregate formation and stabilization and in the reduction of dense or compacted layers. The objectives of this study were to quantify the least limiting water range (LLWR) of a physically degraded Red-Yellow Latosol (Oxisol) on which bermudagrass (Cynodon spp., cultivar coastcross) was planted, and to use the LLWR as an indicator of changes in the soil structural quality. Undisturbed samples were collected in volumetric rings […]

Soil management strategies to improve and maintain soil physical quality (SPhQ) are essential for the sustainability of intensive agricultural systems. The least limiting water range (LLWR) is an indicator of SPhQ defined by the range of least restrictive soil water content to plants, i.e., a soil water content within the LLWR indicates an appropriate SPhQ for plants. In this context, soil mulching with crop residues can contribute to the SPhQ by increasing the frequency at which soil water availability is […]

Soil penetration resistance (PR) and the tensile strength of aggregates (TS) are commonly used to characterize the physical and structural conditions of agricultural soils. This study aimed to assess the functionality of a dynamometry apparatus by linear speed and position control automation of its mobile base to measure PR and TS. The proposed equipment was used for PR measurement in undisturbed samples of a clayey “Nitossolo Vermelho eutroférrico” (Kandiudalfic Eutrudox) under rubber trees sampled in two positions (within and between […]

Common bean yield was analyzed in relation to some physical properties of a dystroferric Red Latosol (Typic Acrustox), in the 2006/07 growing season, in Selviria, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The no-tillage crop under center-pivot irrigation was cultivated with a high technological management level. The objective of this work was to select the most representative soil properties to explain the variability in agricultural productivity. A geostatistical grid was installed for soil and plant sampling at 117 points, in […]

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 understanding and quantification of soil use and management on the soil physical quality are important to develop and select sustainable agricultural systems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the structural quality of a clayey Brazilian Oxisol under different production and soil tillage systems by measuring the tensile strength (TS) and to quantify aggregate friability (F). The study was conducted in Castro, Paraná state, in southern Brazil, using three production systems and seven soil tillage types, in a […]

Nowadays no-tillage soybean is widely used in crop-livestock farming systems in Brazil. The yield of no-tillage soybean was analysed in the county of Selvíria (latitudes from 20 ° 18 ‘ 05 ” S and 20 ° 18 ‘ 28 ” S and the longitudes de 52 ° 39 ‘ 02 ” W and 52 ° 40 ‘ 28 ” W (Mato Grosso do Sul State – Brazil), in the 2006/07 growing season, as affected by some physical properties of a local Typic Acrustox. The objective was to determine the soil property that could best explain the variability in the agricultural productivity. For this purpose, […]

The establishment of irrigation management has been based on the soil water potential (Ψ) as a limiting factor for plant growth. However, other variables can affect crop growth even when Ψ is not limiting. The least limiting water range (LLWR) is a concept of available water that take account the influence of aeration and soil resistance to penetration (SR) in addition to Ψ. The objective of this study was to quantify the LLWR in an irrigated Dystroferric Red Nitosol and […]

The estimate soil resistance to penetration curves (RPC) based on readily obtained variables such as water content, is a useful not only for the evaluation of soil compaction, but also to simplify the interpretation of soil resistance to penetration under different field conditions. The objective of this study was to estimate the RPC in soils of different textures and bulk densities based on data obtained with an impact penetrometer. The experiment was carried out at the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias […]

Soil resistance to penetration (PR) frequently reduces plant root growth. PR increases with soil bulk density (Bd) and decreases with soil moisture (θ), and the mathematical description of the relationships of PR with Bd and θ determines the soil penetration resistance curve (SRC). The objective of this study was to quantify the SRC of an Oxisol under different land use practices and to use it to describe soil physical degradation. Four areas were selected: (a) native forest; (b) pasture cultivated […]