ISSN 2375-088X
African Journal of Soil Science ISSN 2375-088X Vol. 4 (5), pp. 339-346, September, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Physical attributes of an ultisol under systems planting and crop successions after ten years
Valdinei Araújo Gonçalves1, Igor Rodrigues de Assis2, Lino Roberto Ferreira3, Matheus Ferreira França Teixeira4, Gustavo Antônio Mendes Pereira5, Matheus de Freitas Souza6 and Douglas Teixeira Saraiva7
1Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Plant Science Department, Graduate Program in Plant Science, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, ZIP 36570-900.
2Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Soil Department, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, ZIP 36570-900.
3Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Plant Science Department, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, ZIP 36570-900.
4Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Plant Science Department, Graduate Program in Plant Science, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, ZIP 36570-900.
5Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Plant Science Department, Graduate Program in Plant Science, Viçosa,Minas Gerais State, Brazil, ZIP 36570-900.
6Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Plant Science Department, Graduate Program in Plant Science, Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, ZIP 36570-900.
7Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Plant Science Department, Graduate Program in Plant Science, Viçosa Minas Gerais State, Brazil, ZIP 36570-900.
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
Received 06 July, 2016; Revised 05 August, 2016; Accepted 09 August, 2016; Published 29 August, 2016
Abstract
The physical quality of the soil is of great importance for a sustainable agricultural system. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the physical attributes of an Ultisol, after ten years under two different tillage systems - tillage and no-tillage, and two crops successions - corn-beans and soybean-wheat. It will determined the bulk density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity and the content of organic matter in depths 0-5; 10-15 and 20-25 cm and soil mechanical resistance to penetration to a depth of 60 cm. In the depth of 0-5 cm greater volume of micropores in soil with corn-beans succession at the no-tillage. The succession soybean-wheat under tillage resulted in the highest levels of organic matter. Higher density values were observed in the no-tillage system with corn-beans succession. Values critical for soil resistance to penetration were observed between 5 and 25 cm deep at the no-tillage/succession soybean-wheat. The bulk density is the physical attribute of Ultisol less influenced by the assessed management systems. The total porosity of Ultisol did not differ between no-tillage and tillage system, after ten years of crop succession. After ten years, no-tillage system and corn-beans succession were the least negatively affected of the evaluated physical attributes of Ultisol.
Keywords: Tillage, no-tillage, corn-bean, soybean-wheat, management, soil of degradation.