Cover crops, lime and gypsum influence on soil physical attributes

Marcela Pacola Oliveira,Cassiano Garcia Roque,Cid Naudi Silva Campos,Paulo Eduardo Teodoro,Marco Antonio Camilo De Carvalho,Rita De Cassia Felix Alvarez,Gabriel Luis Piati

doi:10.14393/bj-v37n0a2021-48248

Abstract

Cover crops promote nutrient cycling, and lime and gypsum can alter the soil physical attributes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lime and gypsum rates applied to a no-tillage system with addition of residues of three cover crops on the soil physical attributes. This experiment was carried out in chapadão do sul-ms. The treatments were comprised of three cover crops (Urochloa ruziziensis, fallow, and Pennisetum glaucum), with gypsum (0, 2.3 and 4.6 Mg ha-1) and lime applied at a dose of 0, 2, 4, 6 Mg ha-1).The attributes evaluated were: soil density, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity and penetration resistance. The soil of the experiment was classified an Oxisol. Cover crops and lime and gypsum improved macroporosity, microporosity and total porosity at all depths, 0-0.2 m. Millet presented lower values for penetration resistance with the lime application and without gypsum application. No residual effect on soil density was detected for lime and gypsum application or cover crops in the 0.1-0.2 m layer. Brazilian Cerrado producers will have a well-defined management system to follow aiming at improving the soil physical attributes.

Highlights

Brazilian Cerrado soils are highly weathered and have been intensively used in agricultural production, leading to a high level of degradation (Ciotta et al 2004)
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lime and gypsum rates applied to a no-tillage system with addition of residues of three cover crops on the soil physical attributes
The treatments were comprised of three cover crops (Urochloa ruziziensis, fallow, and Pennisetum glaucum), with gypsum (0, 2.3 and 4.6 Mg ha-1) and lime applied at a dose of 0, 2, 4, 6

Summary

Introduction

Brazilian Cerrado soils are highly weathered and have been intensively used in agricultural production, leading to a high level of degradation (Ciotta et al 2004). With the intense use of the soil, crop residues should be allowed to remain in the field to avoid furthe degradation (Borges et al 2016). The No-tillage (NT) crop production practice effective strategy to improve the sustainability of agriculture in tropical and subtropical regions No tillage minimizing nutrient losses due to erosion (Rodrighero et al 2015). The ability of NT to maintain crop yields is related to the quality and quantity of mulching on the soil surface. Several studies have reported challenge of maintaining the plant residues in Cerrado soils since the region presents low rainfall in half of the year, increasing the decomposition dose of residues

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