Critical limits of soil physical attributes for corn and black oat in a Xanthic Hapludox

Abstract

Soil compaction can decrease potential crop yield and is frequently found in no-till cultivation systems, but there is little information on the critical limits of soil physical properties in these conditions, especially in subtropical soils. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the infl uence of tractor traffi c on soil physical properties and identifi es critical limits of soil bulk density, soil compaction degree, macro, and microporosity on crop yield of corn and black oat assessed in situ in a Xanthic Hapludox in Southern Brazil. Tractor machine traffi c (0, 2, 5 and 20 passes) was established in no-till soil to create different soil compaction levels. Undisturbed soil samples were collected at depths of 0.00-0.05, 0.07-0.12 and 0.17-0.22 m just after tractor traffi c in two moments: before corn cultivation, and then before black oat cultivation. Under the conditions of this experiment, the 10% higher yields of corn and black oats were obtained with macroporosity above 0.10 m 3 m -3 and 0.13 m 3 m -3 , respectively. Similarly, the soil compactness degrees of 90% and 86% were considered critical for the corn and black oat, respectively. In addition, soil compaction by machine traffi c reduced maize yield up to 33% and black oat biomass yield up to 44%. Our results demonstrate that growers should be aware of the consequences of machine traffi c on soil properties, as it can severely compromise crop yields, especially of corn and black oats cultivated in very clayey soil like the one evaluated in this study.

Spatial Variability and Correlation between Soil Physical Properties under No-Tillage with and without Agricultural Terraces

“…The Macro, in T and WT, was greater than 0.10 cm 3 cm -3 , which is considered a critical limit for crop development [55], since air-filled porosities < 10% are characteristic of deficient aeration [56,57]. However, the Macro was between 10-25% and in this range there may be a limitation to gas exchange under certain conditions, since an air-fílled porosity of 25% provides good aeration [56,57].…”

Evaluation of tractor traffic on soil physical properties and their relationship with white oat yield in no-tillage

“…According to BARETA JUNIOR et al (2022), microporosity is limited. When soil compaction overcomes this limit at the expense of the macropore volume, it can increase water retained in the soil, or pores become unavailable for water retention, reducing the water availability and aeration to the roots.…”

“…In this sense, even in the case of a crop with soil decompression potential, such as white oats, its growth and production can be influenced when the soil is compacted, and its physical quality is inadequate. The physical quality of soils in a no-tillage system is fundamental for the sustainability of agrosystems, and the study of this theme is even more important when soils susceptible to compaction are included in production systems where there is an increase in machine traffic (BARETA JUNIOR et al 2022).…”

Propriedades físicas de Latossolos cultivados com cafeeiro mecanizado na região do Alto Paranaíba-MG

“…Alguns fatores influenciam a produtividade do cafeeiro, tais como: a adaptação do material genético à região de cultivo (DOS SANTOS FERNANDES et al, 2020); as variações climáticas, afetando o desenvolvimento das fases fenológicas da cultura (SILVA et al, 2013); e o solo, tendo em vista a influência que exerce sobre o comportamento da água, a disponibilidade de nutrientes e o suporte ao desenvolvimento das plantas (BARETA JUNIOR, 2021). O café necessita de bons índices pluviométricos (MOAT et al, 2017) para se desenvolver e a deficiência hídrica é umas das maiores responsáveis por quebras de produção, ameaçando a sobrevivência da planta (SILVA; ALLAN, 2012).…”