Potential of cover plant species in reconditioning of physical and chemical properties of soil

Abstract

Soil cover crops may provide improvement and restructuring of chemical and physical soil properties, reduce the soil resistance to penetration and increase soil permeability, thus reducing water erosion. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the potential of cover crops in the reconditioning the chemical and physical properties of soil. The experiment was conducted in Lavras in the region south of Minas Gerais State, and the cover crops were planted on a distrophic Hapludult. The treatments consisted of Crotalaria juncea L. (sunn hemp), Canavalia ensiformis DC. (jack-bean) and Pennisetum sp Rich (pearl millet), grown in between-rows with spacings of 0.25 and 0.50 m. The chemical and physical properties analysed were pH, macronutrients, soil organic matter, bulk density, total porosity, microporosity, macroporosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil temperature and moisture, aggregate stability and soil penetration resistance. There was influence of cover crops on the potassium and phosphorus availability in soil, but other chemical properties were not modified. The bulk density, total porosity, micro and macroporosity were not changed after cultivation of cover crops, regardless of row length used. The cover crops reduced the soil penetration resistance values for nonrestrictive to root growth to 0.25 m depth.