Saturday, March 5, 2016

Evaluation of the physical quality of soils in the pampas region: effect of management practices

Abstract

The adoption of no tillage (SD) has increased worldwide in recent decades and particularly in Argentina, although sometimes doubts have been raised about its effect on soil physical properties. The objective of this work was to evaluate changes due to management systems on some soil parameters associated with porosity and water storage. They were compared to those proposed as "ideal" or "critical", according to the literature, and with reference levels obtained under pristine conditions. The study sites are located in Bengolea, Monte Buey, Pergamino and Viale. At each site, two agricultural situations with different intensities of management (Good Practices and Poor Practices), and a natural situation (Natural Environment) were evaluated. Bulk density, total porosity, volume of different pore sizes (macropores, mesopores and micropores), and total organic carbon and its fractions were determined in soil samples (0-10 cm). The lower levels of total organic carbon due to agricultural practices caused a decrease in total porosity, mainly reflected by the lower volume of macropores, which decreased up to 23%. Agricultural use resulted in soil compaction, although not critical, due to a decrease of the macropores. Bulk density values were within the optimal range, although problems of compaction can occur when the values of index of structural stability are below 6.13. Total organic carbon and the index of structural stability were the only variables with values lower than optimal in agricultural soils, allowing to differentiate, at some sites, between good and poor practices.
Duval M.E., J.A. Galantini, J.M. Martínez. F.M. López, L.G. Wall. 2015. Evaluación de la calidad física de los suelos de la región pampeana: efecto de las prácticas de manejo. Ciencias Agronómicas RIFCA-UNR 25: 33-43.         ISSN Impreso: 1853-4333  ISSN On-Line: 2250-8872
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