Physical Atributes of a Oxisol from the Brazilian Cerrado under Different Management Systems

The tillage systems induce changes in soil structure; modify the porous space, and influence soil water and air dynamics. In this sense, it is important to evaluate these impacts on soil physical quality according to different tillage system with distinct years of implementation. The physical properties of a Oxisol at the Brazilian Cerrado with distinct tillage conditions (conventional, no-till, and a native Cerrado) with different years were compared. The study was conducted at Novo Horizonte farm, at the Cerrado region of southwest Piauí. Soil samples were collected at 0.0-0.10, 0.10-0.20 and 0.20-0.30 m depth in different management systems: no-till with three and five years of implantation (NT3 and NT5, respectively); conventional till with five and nine years (CC5 and CC9, respectively); and a native cerrado area. Were analyzed the aggregate stability in water, soil bulk density, particle density, macro and microporosity, total porosity and total organic carbon. The years of implementation of the tillage systems caused changes in the soil physical properties, which were more evident in the surface layer. Although improved soil physical attributes were observed in no-till after five years of implantation, a longer evaluation time is required for the studied conditions.