Penetration resistance and density of a yellow oxissol under conventional management at different ages

Abstract

Brazilian agriculture has been highlighted in Savanna areas due to significant gains in production and productivity in this biome. However, the production model with intensive use of machines for several years causes drastic changes in soil physical quality. This study aimed to investigate the influence of conventional management adoption time in a Yellow Oxissol on soil physical properties. Soil density, particle density, total porosity and soil resistance to penetration were assessed in areas under conventional management, in different usage times, in comparison to a native Savanna, which was used as control. The areas under conventional management contributed to increase the density and reduce the porosity, which was intensified with time of soil use. In the 6 years area, the porosity showed values below 0.50 m³ m^-3   in the two measured layers. Higher penetration resistance values were observed to areas with higher use of time from 0.15 m depth, reaching values above 3.0 and 2.0 MPa in soils with 6 and 3 years of use, respectively, which is ranked as high. The native vegetation and the newly deforested area have provided less resistance to penetration along the profile, with values falling into low and moderate classes. Different time periods since the implementation of soil management were differentiated by the physical properties of studied soils.