Soil compaction by machine traffic and least limiting water range related to soybean yield

Abstract

O estudo objetivou a avaliação do efeito do tráfego de máquinas sobre a compactação do solo, e a avaliação do intervalo hídrico ótimo e sua relação com a produtividade de cultivares de soja, durante dois anos, em Latossolo Vermelho. Os seis tratamentos foram relativos a passadas de trator (peso de 11 Mg) pelo mesmo local: T0, sem compactação; T1*, 1; T1, 1; T2, 2; T4, 4 e T6, 6. No tratamento T1*, a compactação foi realizada quando o solo estava seco, em 2003/2004, e com um trator mais leve - de 4 Mg - em 2004/2005. No primeiro ano, a soja [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar IAC Foscarim 31 foi cultivada sem irrigação e, no segundo ano, as cultivares IAC Foscarim 31 e MG/BR 46 (Conquista) foram cultivadas sem e com irrigação. O tráfego de máquinas compactou o solo e reduziu a produtividade de soja, a partir da resistência à penetração de 1,64 a 2,35 MPa e da densidade do solo de 1,50 a 1,53 Mg m-3. A densidade do solo a partir da qual a produtividade de soja decresceu foi menor do que a densidade do solo crítica, obtida no intervalo hídrico ótimo (LLWR =/0).

The research aimed to evaluate machine traffic effect on soil compaction and the least limiting water range related to soybean cultivar yields, during two years, in a Haplustox soil. The six treatments were related to tractor (11 Mg weight) passes by the same place: T0, no compaction; and T1*, 1; T1, 1; T2, 2; T4, 4 and T6, 6. In the treatment T1*, the compaction occurred when soil was dried, in 2003/2004, and with a 4 Mg tractor in 2004/2005. Soybean yield was evaluated in relation to soil compaction during two agricultural years in completely randomized design (compaction levels); however, in the second year, there was a factorial scheme (compaction levels, with and without irrigation), with four replicates represented by 9 m² plots. In the first year, soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar IAC Foscarim 31 was cultivated without irrigation; and in the second year, IAC Foscarim 31 and MG/BR 46 (Conquista) cultivars were cultivated with and without irrigation. Machine traffic causes compaction and reduces soybean yield for soil penetration resistance between 1.64 to 2.35 MPa, and bulk density between 1.50 to 1.53 Mg m-3. Soil bulk density from which soybean cultivar yields decrease is lower than the critical one reached at least limiting water range (LLWR =/ 0).