Physical-Hydraulic Properties of an Ultisol Under No-Tillage and Crop-Livestock Integration in the Cerrado

Abstract

Light soils are more susceptible to degradation and need to be exploited in a conservational manner, thus avoiding rapid degradation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical-hydraulic properties of an Ultisol under no-tillage and crop-livestock integration in the Cerrado of eastern Maranhão state, Brazil. The evaluated managements were one area under no-tillage system for fourteen years (soybean/ millet) and three areas with different histories of adoption of the crop-livestock integration (CLI) system under no-tillage (soybean/millet), with the difference being: times of entry with CLI (2, 4 and 8 years), as well as a native Cerrado area, considered a control. Soil collection was carried out in June 2018 at depths of 0.00-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and 0.30-0.50 m. Disturbed and undisturbed samples were collected to determine the following variables: bulk density, porosity, resistance to penetration, retention curve and available water capacity. Data were subjected to the calculation of means and confidence intervals (95%). The area with a recent history of crop-livestock integration showed better density, porosity, resistance to penetration, water storage capacity and available water. No-tillage for fourteen years leads to high resistance to penetration, less porosity and low water storage capacity. The integrated system (CLI) improves the quality of the physical- hydraulic properties and the values found are similar to those observed in an area under native vegetation.

Performance of glyphosate-based products applied alone and in combination with herbicides in burndown

“…Adopting the no-tillage system (NTS) consists of a conservation practice that is governed by three basic pillars, which, when adopted jointly, contribute to a greater sustainability of agricultural production environments, especially in relation to soil protection (BARBOSA et al, 2022). The three pillars of the NTS are the adoption of crop rotation, maintenance of straw (crop residues) and absence of soil turning.…”