Abstract Soil quality is essential for maintaining the sustainability of agro-ecosystems and ecosystem services provided by this natural resource. The present study aimed to assess the physical quality of soil through the characterization of the physical properties in grain production systems in the Southwest region of Piauí State, Brazil. The study was carried out in the Cerrado region of Piauí in four cities in areas of expansion of the agricultural frontier of the state: Baixa Grande do Ribeiro, Sebastião Leal, Uruçuí and Bom Jesus. Soil samples were collected in April 2012, in areas of grain production under conventional and no-tillage systems. Adjacent areas with native vegetation were also sampled as reference. Bulk density, effective saturation, hydraulic conductivity, penetration resistance, porosity and aggregation were measured. Regardless of the type of soil management used, agricultural systems degrade soil physical quality. No-tillage showed higher bulk density, penetration resistance and aggregation, with lower total porosity, macroporosity and hydraulic conductivity. The physical quality of soil in the agricultural areas of the Cerrado region of Piauí was dependent on the soil texture, while silt, clay and organic matter were determinant for soil aggregation, mechanical resistance, total porosity and microporosity.

O uso racional do solo tem sido objeto de estudo e discussões em função da busca de alternativas tecnológicas que possibilitem o manejo correto do solo e, consequentemente, uma agricultura sustentável. Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, levantar dados sobre a qualidade físico-hídrica e sua relação com os impactos gerados pelo manejo do solo por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica, contribuindo para melhor conhecimento das informações disponíveis na literatura. O uso de indicadores de qualidade física do solo permite designar práticas adequadas de manejo do solo. Uma análise crítica dos indicadores de qualidade física do solo revela que o índice proposto por Reynolds et al. (2002) possui limitações quanto ao uso, o intervalo hídrico ótimo apresenta bons resultados e o índice S necessita de mais trabalhos com o uso de h (tensão de água no solo) como variável independente. Assim, os indicadores de qualidade física do solo são úteis para avaliação do estado de conservação do solo possibilitando a gestão segura dos recursos naturais; todavia, os indicadores existentes apresentam, como inconvenientes, a elevada complexidade de execução e os custos de obtenção, o que configura oportunidade para o desenvolvimento de novos indicadores de qualidade física do solo.

The rational use of the soil has been the subject of study and discussion due to search for technological alternatives that allow the adequate management of the soil and consequently, a sustainable agriculture. The objective of this study was to collect data about the hydro-physical quality and its relation to the impacts caused by soil management through a literature review, contributing to better understanding of existing information in the literature. The use of indicators of physical quality of soil permit the designation of most appropriate soil management practices, especially those exposed to intensive agriculture. A critical analysis of indicators of soil quality show that the index proposed by Reynolds et al. (2002) has limitations about its use, the optimal hydric interval presents good results, and the S index needs more works with the use of h (soil-water suction) as the independent variable. Thus, the indicators of physical quality of soil are useful for evaluating the state of soil conservation, to making possible the secure management of natural resources, however, the existing indicators present very high complexity of the implementation and acquisition costs, which configures opportunity for the development of new indicators of physical quality of soil.

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, avaliar o efeito de diferentes culturas de cobertura sobre os atributos químicos e a estabilidade de agregados de um Latossolo do cerrado, sob plantio direto. O estudo foi conduzido em área experimental na Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, em Santo Antônio de Goiás, GO. As culturas de cobertura avaliadas foram: braquiária, milho em consórcio com braquiária (integração lavoura-pecuária), guandu anão, milheto, capim mombaça, sorgo granífero, estilosantes e crotalária. As amostras foram coletadas em abril de 2005 e 2006. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completos ao acaso com quatro repetições e os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial 8 x 2, sendo oito culturas de cobertura e duas profundidades de amostragem do solo: 0-0,10 e 0,10-0,20 m. As culturas de cobertura influenciam, de forma diferenciada, os valores de pH e os teores de cálcio, magnésio, alumínio, fósforo, potássio, cobre, zinco e ferro do solo. O tratamento estilosantes tem maior poder em acidificar o solo. A agregação do solo varia com as culturas de cobertura e com a profundidade.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different cover crops on chemical properties and aggregate stability in a cerrado Oxisol under no-tillage. The study was carried out in Embrapa Rice and Beans, in Santo Antônio de Goiás, GO, Brazil. The cover crops evaluated were: Urochloa brizantha, Urochloa brizantha and corn in association (crop-livestock integrated), Cajanus cajan, Pennisetum glaucum, Panicum maximum, Sorghum bicolor, Stylosanthes guianensis and Crotalaria juncea. The soil samples were collected in April and September 2005 and April 2006. The experimental design was in completely randomized blocks with four replications and treatments arranged in factorial scheme 8 x 2, eight cover crops and two soil sampling depths, 0-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m. The different cover crops affect pH values and calcium, magnesium, aluminum, phosphorus, potassium, copper, zinc and iron contents of the soil. The Stylosanthes guianensis treatment caused more acidification. The soil aggregation varied with cover crops and depths.