Abstract
The agricultural potential of Latosols of the Brazilian Cerrado region is high, but when intensively cultivated under inappropriate management systems, the porosity can be seriously reduced, leading to rapid soil degradation. Consequently, accelerated erosion and sedimentation of springs and creeks have been observed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate structural changes of Latosols in Rio Verde, Goiás, based on the Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR), and relationships between LLWR and other physical properties. Soil samples were collected from the B horizons of five oxidic Latosols representing the textural variability of the Latosols of the Cerrado biome. LLWR and other soil physical properties were determined at various soil compaction degrees induced by uniaxial compression. Soil compaction caused effects varying from enhanced plant growth due to higher water retention, to severe restriction of edaphic functions. Also, inverse relationships were observed between clay content and bulk density values (Bd) under different structural conditions. Bd values corresponding to critical soil macroporosity (BdcMAC) were more restrictive to a sustainable use of the studied Latosols than the critical Bd corresponding to LLWR (BdcLLWR). The high tolerable compression potential of these oxidic Latosols was related to the high aeration porosity associated to the granular structure.
Highlights
In the last few decades, Brazil has consolidated a leading position in the world’s agriculture
Due to the high weathering degree, the unit particles of Latosols are arranged in small grains (Vollant-Tuduri et al, 2005), which increased the level of porous space among aggregates and resulted in a naturally low bulk density (Ferreira et al, 1999b; Balbino et al, 2004; Oliveira et al, 2007)
There was an increase in macroporosity in more clayey soils (Table 3), which is in agreement with Ferreira et al (1999a), who demonstrated a positive correlation among these properties in oxidic Latosols
Summary
In the last few decades, Brazil has consolidated a leading position in the world’s agriculture. This is due to the incorporation of technological innovations, such as the use of inputs and farming machines that have allowed the expansion of the agricultural frontier to previously marginalized regions, for instance, the Cerrado region. The mechanical resistance is low (Leão et al, 2006; Ajayi et al, 2009), which, on the one hand, may favor root growth of plants; on the other hand, when such soils are incorporated into productive processes, these physical properties trigger compaction processes (Oliveira et al, 2007; Severiano et al, 2008; Borges et al, 2009)
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