Least limiting water range in Oxisol under two conservation tillage systems in sugarcane farming

Abstract

The Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR) is an indicator of soil physical quality, contributing in information to propose soil management systems in agricultural farming process. This work aimed to assess the usage of LLWR and critical soil bulk density for physical-water quality evaluations, as well as its effect on sugarcane farming under notillage and reduced-tillage, in Oxisol. Undisturbed soil samples were collected in 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m soil layers, to determine the following attributes: soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance (PR), volumetric water content at field capacity and permanent wilting point and minimum aeration porosity. The LLWR proved to be a good soil physical water quality indicator in sugarcane farming under conservation tillage system. No-tillage presented a greater range of the LLWR when compared to the reduced-tillage, regardless to the PR value adopted as restrictive for sugarcane roots development, increasing the yield of stalks and sugars contents. The critical soil bulk density under no-tillage is between 1.48 and 1.53 Mg m -3 at the RP of 2 and 4 MPa, while under reduced-tillage it is between 1.44 and 1.51 Mg m -3 .

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

“…Some of them were lower than this value; therefore, they are in a state considered non-restrictive to the development of the plants, showing satisfactory aeration conditions. It should be observed that, according to SILVA et al ( 2020), aeration porosities smaller than 0.10 m 3 m -3 did not cause a significant reduction in gas exchange values and corn growth and that values greater than 0.10 m 3 m -3 are more limiting for plants due to changes in soil attributes such as resistance to penetration and least limiting water range (SOUZA et al 2022).…”

Productivity and Quality Sugarcane Broth at Different Soil Management

“…Sá et al [24], evaluating soil compaction in sugarcane, stated 3.8 MPa of SPR limits plant root growth. However, Souza et al [15] found that critical root development is above 2 MPa.…”

“…Luz et al [7] found similar results, indicating traditional soil management does not benefit to alleviate compaction when compared to a conservationist system. According to Souza et al [15], soil preparation is a high-cost operation in sugarcane renovation fields, and results from soil preparation are not maintained during the crop cycle; this occurs due to heavy machine traffic and rearrangement of soil particles in wheel interaction (Marques Filho et al) [16] and weathering agents such as rain and wind [18].…”

“…In soil conservation management, the main types of soil preparation are no-tillage and minimum tillage [6,11,12]. No-tillage planting of sugarcane keeps harvest residues on the crop surface (Farhate et al) [5], thus reducing the greenhouse gases emission effect and improving soil temperature and humidity conditions [13][14][15].…”

“…This parameter is correlated with the plant's root system development. In the sugarcane crop, soil resistance values to penetration above 2 MPa can be considered limiting to full root development [15].…”