The soil physical quality is one of the factors that determine the agronomic, economic and environmental sustainability in long-term no-tillage systems (NT). Soil compaction has been discussed as a factor that contributes to a reduction in physical quality under NT. However, the use of NT can increase soil organic matter and lead to a continuous and stable porous system that mitigates the negative impacts of compaction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical quality of an Oxisol […]

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 […]

Among the techniques for soil moisture evaluation, the use of Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) stands out, which consists of an indirect, non-destructive, fast and accurate method less dependent on environmental factors. However, works carried out after its applications suggest the influence of factors related to soils structural and mineralogical characteristics, which makes necessary the site calibration for the TDR proper functioning. The aim of this work was to study the influence of bulk density (Ds) on the volumetric soil water […]

Inadequate land use and large buildings in rural areas are causing damages to the soil-climate environment, reducing productivity and thus expanding degraded areas. In view of this problem, this study evaluated the recovery of an Oxisol that had been treated with green manure, soil amendment, gypsum and pasture in the last 17 years. The quality of the structure was used as an indicator of soil recovery. The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with nine treatments and four […]

In view of the different managements used in coffee production, this study aimed to quantify the changes of some physical properties of an Oxisol under four-year-old coffee, in southern Minas Gerais. Three management systems were compared to native forest. The following management systems were evaluated: mechanized coffee production (CCM), coffee without mechanization (CSM), dense coffee plantation (CA) and native forest (MN) as reference. Undisturbed samples were collected with an Uhland sampler and aluminum rings (diameter 6.35 cm, height 2.54 cm), […]

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 […]

Grazing intensities can influence soil aggregation, which can be temporarily and permanently affected. The objective of this study was to evaluate the aggregate stability in water at the end of a soybean cycle and during pasture development in a crop-livestock integration system under no-tillage and grazing intensities. The experiment was initiated in 2001, in a dystrophic Red Latosol, after soybean harvest. Treatments consisted of pasture (black oat + Italian ryegrass) at heights of 10, 20 and 40 cm, grazed by young […]

Soils play a fundamental role in the production of human foods. The Oxisols in the state of Paraná are among the richest and most productive soils in Brazil, but degradation and low porosity are frequently documented, due to intensive farming involving various management strategies and the application of high-tech solutions. This study aims to investigate changes in the porosity of two Red Oxisols (Latossolos Vermelhos), denoted LVef (eutroferric) and LVdf (dystroferric) under conventional and no-tillage soil management, with a succession […]

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 […]

Eucalyptus grandis and other clonal plantations cover about 3.5 million ha in Brazil. The impacts of intensively-managed short-rotation forestry on soil aggregate structure and Carbon (C) dynamics are largely undocumented in tropical ecosystems. Long-term sustainability of these systems is probably in part linked to maintenance of soil organic matter and good soil structure and aggregation, especially in areas with low-fertility soils. This study investigated soil aggregate dynamics on a clay soil and a sandy soil, each with a Eucalyptus plantation […]