Soil resistance to penetration in cotton rows and interrows

Fábio H R Baio,Cassiano G Roque,Igor M Scarpin,Danilo C Neves

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v21n6p433-439

Fábio H R Baio, Cassiano G Roque + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v21n6p433-439

Copy DOI

Abstract

ABSTRACT The soil physical quality is one of the most determinant factors for the development of any crop. This study aimed to assess the sample representativeness in soil resistance to penetration mappings taken in rows and interrows of the cotton crop, under two soil moisture conditions. Thirty control points were sampled in a cotton field of 91 ha. Soil resistance to penetration and soil moisture were measured at these georeferenced points. Regardless of soil moisture, the sampling position of soil resistance to penetration is indifferent (row, interrow, or in both positions) when the analysed depth is greater than 0.20 m in the cotton crop. The decrease of soil moisture causes the increment of soil resistance to penetration, regardless of the sampling position.

Highlights

Monitoring soil compaction is extremely important, because of the high level of traffic of machines and implements employed in the modern cultivation systems
The soil mechanical resistance to penetration (RP) measures the resistance that the soil has against the penetration of a conic tip with standardized specifications
This study aimed to evaluate the sampling representativeness in the mappings of soil mechanical resistance to penetration in the rows and interrows of the cotton crop, under two moisture conditions

Summary

Introduction

Monitoring soil compaction is extremely important, because of the high level of traffic of machines and implements employed in the modern cultivation systems. Soil compaction negatively affects root growth and, decreases crop yield (Bastiani et al, 2012). According to Cardoso et al (2013), the increase in soil density, due to the traffic of machines, leads to the loss of stability of its aggregates and affects the development of the root system of the plants. In a study on the effect of the traffic on soil physical attributes, Roque et al (2011) concluded that mechanization decreases macroporosity and increases soil density, especially along the crop interrows. The higher its density, the higher the resistance to penetration as well, and the lower its macroporosity (Montanari et al, 2012). Molin et al (2006) observed that RP was influenced especially by water content, density and porous space of the soil

Objectives

Methods

Results