Soil compaction test in an Oxisol as affected by maize crop managed by different soil tillages

Abstract

Due to the need for avoiding soil compaction, preliminary use of the proctor test is suggested to obtain reference values. For that purpose, the aim was to evaluate the effect of the systems and time periods of adoption of management techniques by means of maximum density and correlate relative density with maize yield and the others physical attributes of the soil. A completely randomized block design was used in split-plots with six replications and three soil layers (0-0.10, 0.10-0.20 and 0.20-0.30) and the treatments were: no-till planting for 6 years (NT6), NT8, NT10, respectively, conventional tillage system (CT) and an adjacent native forest area (NF). The results showed that the behavior of soil compaction curves was similar in all layers of all treatments. On the Red Oxisol under study, the mechanical operations required for the management systems can be performed in a moisture content 0.14-0.20 kg kg-1, without causing physical degradation.