Abstract
ABSTRACT The present study sought to evaluate gas exchange and biomass production in cover crops grown in soils with different levels of compaction, after soybean cultivation. Experimental design was completely randomized in 4 × 4 factorial scheme, with the factors being composed of four levels of soil density (1.0 ± 0.013; 1.15 ± 0.022; 1.30 ± 0.035 and 1.45 ± 0.040 Mg.m−3) and four cover crops (Avena strigosa Schreb.; Crotalaria juncea L.; Urochloa brizantha cv. Piatã and Crotalaria spectabilis Roth), with three repetitions. Net photosynthesis rate and the transpiration of cover plants were not influenced by soil compaction, unlike the SPAD index of U. brizantha, which improved performance in the photosynthetic process with increasing soil density. All cover plant species show a reduction in shoot dry biomass starting at a density of 1.00 Mg.m−3, as well as the dry biomass and root volume in the compacted layer and below the compacted layer for A. strigosa Schreb and U. brizantha and, with lower root volumes for C. juncea L. and C. spectabilis Roth in the layer below the compacted. U. brizantha showed the best root development in density of 1.45 Mg.m−3, and a greater number of roots per shoot dry biomass, being good alternatives for the preventive management of compaction in compacted soils. Root growth was higher above and below the compacted layer.
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