Spatial variability of soil physical properties in two management systems in sugarcane crop

Laércio A De Carvalho,Ismael Meurer,Carlos A Da Silva Junior,José F Centurion

doi:10.1590/s0100-69162012000100007

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize the spatial variability of soil bulk density (Bd), soil moisture content (θ) and total porosity (Tp) in two management systems of sugarcane harvesting, with or without burning, in a Haplustox soil, in the 0-0.20 m layer. The study area is located in Rio Brilhante, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, in Eldorado Sugar Mill. The plots have presented 180 m length, and 145.6 m width, totaling 90 points distributed in the form of a grid of nine rows by ten columns, with points spaced 20 m from its neighbor. Soil samples were collected at 0-0.20 m layer in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 crops. The harvest with burning system had a higher density compared to mechanized harvest, in the two study periods. The moisture content as well as the porosity increased proportionally with the decrease of the density of the harvest burning system compared to the mechanized.

Highlights

For the plant to be able to fully deploy its roots in the soil profile for water and nutrients, it is necessary that it presents a good condition of physical and chemical structure, allowing changes due to management applied, aiming higher productivity (FREDDI et al, 2006)
With the use of machines and implements of greater weight in the cultivation and management of sugarcane, it becomes necessary the development of researches that attempt to determine the impact of these practices in their physical and hybrid attributes (SOUZA et al, 2006a)
For determination of soil physical quality, different properties are analyzed related to the shape and structural stability, such as density, porosity, moisture content and soil resistance to root penetration (SILVA et al, 2005)

Summary

Introduction

Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (UNESP), Jaboticabal - SP, Brasil. Eng. Agríc., Jaboticabal, v.32, n.1, p.60-68, jan./fev. Spatial variability of soil physical properties in two management systems in sugarcane crop. For determination of soil physical quality, different properties are analyzed related to the shape and structural stability, such as density, porosity, moisture content and soil resistance to root penetration (SILVA et al, 2005). Soil compaction refers to the increase of density as a result of reducing its volume. This results in the expulsion of air from the pores and a particle rearrangement, reducing porosity and increasing the density (RALISCH et al, 2008)

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Conclusion