To run a consolidation test, it is necessary to use a consolidometer. This equipment, however, had not been produced and sold in Brazil until some years ago. Non-automatic models available for import, although of low cost, are nevertheless rustic and need continuous calibration of pressure levels during the consolidation test. The exclusiveness and intervention of a technician throughout the test, associated with the precarious acquisition of data in these models, are still major factors that have made consolidation of this […]

Soil compaction is one of the processes responsible for soil physical degradation that may result in the loss of sustainability of agricultural production. Therefore, it is important to have instrumental strategies to quantify soil physical properties that are influenced by soil compression and used to assess soil quality. The objectives of this study were to: (i) develop an inexpensive pneumatic consolidometer, (ii) evaluate its functionality by the study of the compressive behaviour of a sandy clay Rhodic Hapludox under no-tillage, […]

The soil compaction, induced by different traffic intensities, can cause damage in the soil structure, reducing the coffee plantation production. The objectives of this study was to develop a model of load support capacity for a Red Latosol (Oxisol) under Cerrado and under coffee and to investigate the effect of coffee plantation management on soil pore distribution and soil water retention, in different sampling positions in the coffee plantation. The stud site is located at 18 º 59 ‘ 15 […]