Mechanical chiseling has been used to alleviate the effects of compaction in soils under no-tillage (NT). However, its effect on the soil physical properties does not seem to have a defined duration period. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the behavior of the bulk density (BD) and degree of compaction (DC) at different soil depths, after chiseling in no-tillage, for one year. The experiment was performed in Ponta Grossa, Paraná State, Brazil, using an Oxisol (Rhodic Hapludox). Bulk […]

This study had the objective of characterizing the main soil types cultivated with melon, based on physical features, in the Apodi Tableland, state of Rio Grande do Norte, to provide basic information for an adequate soil and crop management. Three soil types were studied, in September 2003: Cambissolo Háplico Ta eutrófico típico – CXve (Typic Haplocambids), Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo eutrófico típico – LVAe (Typic Eutrotorrox) e Argissolo Vermelho distrófico arênico – PVd (Arenic Kandiustults). A general analysis of the soil physical […]

As the time of adoption of no-tillage systems lengthens thee occur modification in soil physical attributes; however, these effects are not well quantified yet. The present study had the objective to evaluate the effect of time of adoption of a no-tillage system, compared to native forest and a conventional tillage system using physical attributes of a Dystroferric Red Nitosol. The evaluated systems were: PD1 (one year of adoption of no-tillage), PD4 (no-tillage for four years), PD5 (no-tillage for five years), […]

Knowledge on soil shear strength can actually be a very useful tool for the control of slope and gully erosion, as well as for the introduction of mechanical conservation practices in agricultural soils. In order to evaluate the shear strength of five soils in the region of Lavras (MG) and its relation with the weathering rate, an experiment was carried out, using a direct shear machine which allows the collection of undisturbed soil samples. These samples were collected at a […]

The direct consequences of inadequate soil management are erosion, reduction of productivity and loss of sustainability. The indicators of soil structure quality are important tools for evaluating sustainability of management systems. This study aimed to evaluate the aggregation of typic dystrophic Red Latosol (Oxisol) under different management systems at cerrado region in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Among the studied management systems, no-tillage presented higher percentage of aggregates in the > 2 mm class, smaller percentage in the < 2 mm and < 1 mm classes, […]

Tensiometers were installed in a 25 m2 area plot, every 15 cm, at depths varying from 30 to 240 cm, with three repetitions, to determine the matric potential (φm) of a “Terra Roxa Estruturada Latossólica” soil. Its volumetric water content was also indirectly measured by using the soil water retention curve. The θ-method (Libardi et al., 1980) fitted the soil redistribution profiles (θ vs t) with determination coefficients (R2) greater than 0.98. The hyphotesis of a unit hydraulic gradient was […]