Physical properties of an Haplumbrept as affected by soil management

Abstract

Physical degradation of soils favors water erosion. Because of its intensity, conventional tillage usually acellerates the soil erosion process. Therefore, no-tillage is considered a soil conservation management system, because it preserves crop residues on soil surface. However, no-tillage may also increase bulk density and decrease surface soil total porosity. This study investigates the effects of soil management on a Haplumbrept, from May 1995 to November 1999, in the region of Lages, SC, Brazil. Three soil tillage treatments were used: conventional tillage (plowing plus disking), no-tillage and natural pasture. The crop sequences used were maize and vetch in the no-tillage system, and maize and fallow in the conventional tillage system. Soil strength and mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (MWD) were evaluated for soil layers of 0-2.5 cm, 2.5-5.0 cm, 5.0-10.0 cm and 10.0-15.0 cm. Soil water intake rate was also evaluated. The MWD did not differ betwen treatments for the 0-2.5 cm layer; in the other layers the soil presented higher values for the natural pasture and no-tillage treatments. Soil strength was higher for the no-tillage treatment in the 0-2.5 cm layer. The water intake rate was higher in the soil of the conventional tillage as compared to other management treatments.