Hydrophysical Quality of an Oxisol and Sugarcane Yield in Chisel Plow-Based Sugarcane Ratoon Management

Abstract

Mechanical harvesting has increasingly been used in sugarcane production units, and it has often resulted in reduced structural quality of the soil due to soil compaction caused by machine traffic. Thus, sugarcane ratoon crops have often been chiseled to overcome such a problem. The aim of the current study is to assess some physical properties of a Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico (Rhodic Hapludox) that was chiseled after the third harvest in a sugarcane ratoon crop. The study was conducted in a commercial crop area throughout the 2011/2012 crop year. A randomized block experimental design was used, with five replications. The treatments consisted of five chiseling operations in sugarcane ratoon crops, namely: T1 -single-shank ripper with chiseling to a depth of 0.15 m; T2 -single-shank ripper with chiseling to a depth of 0.30 m; T3 -two-bar ripper with chiseling to a depth of 0.15 m, T4 -two-bar ripper with chiseling to a depth of 0.30 m; and T5 -control group, with no chiseling. Overall, soil chiseling is effective for improving the physical quality of the soil to a depth of 0.15 m, regardless of the equipment and the depth. Two-bar-ripper-based soil chiseling to a depth of 0.30 m provides increased sugarcane yield.

Structural Quality of a Latosol Cultivated with Oilseed in Succession to Corn

“…The soil water retention curve was statistically significant and influenced positively by Ds and negatively by Ψ. These findings corroborate those reported by Garbiate et al (2016). According to Blainski et al (2009;, at high matric potentials, pore sizes are changed.…”

“…These findings corroborate those of Pacheco and Cantalice (2011). In a study on a clayey Rhodic Hapludox, Garbiate et al (2016) found that the differences in σ p between samples with higher and lower soil densities decreased with increasing soil water content. Additionally, these authors found that the solid particles were covered with water, which reduces friction between them in denser soil and increases the proximity of σ p between treatments; similar results were observed in the present study using different crop successions.…”

“…The least limiting water range (LLWR) integrates physical-and water-related properties related to root growth, soil water availability, and plant development (Mishra et al, 2015). Studies have shown that LLWR is an effective indicator of change in the physical properties of the soil under different usage and management systems (Garbiate et al, 2016).…”

Optimum Water Range and Load-Bearing Capacity in Soil Management Systems, Straw Remaining, and Chiseling in Sugarcane

“…An increase in OWR was observed in all treatments with chiseling and a higher range in the treatment with 100% straw and chiseling, in which there was no critical soil density (Dsc), as the water content was available throughout the entire range. Similarly, Garbiate et al (2016) observed an improvement in OWR attributes with chiseling, which provided soil with physical attributes favorable to root growth.…”

“…All treatments had θPR as lower limits, except for 100% straw with chiseling (Figure 5F), in which θPWP limited close to the density of 1.2 g cm −3 . Similarly, Garbiate et al (2016) found an increase in OWR in treatments with straw maintenance associated with chiseling of ratoons, which was attributed to the mechanical action of the implement combined with the benefits of organic matter, as a consequence of the more significant mitigation of negative effects of compaction, reflected by relief of θPR and θAP. All adjusted curves of the LBC models presented significant coefficients of determination (R 2 ) at 1% (p<0.01) by the F-test.…”