Abstract Mechanized operations on soils with inadequate moisture cause compaction and are deleterious to soil quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different oilseed crop successions on the structural quality of a clayey Rhodic Hapludox. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), canola (Brassica napus L. and Brassica rapa), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst.), and niger (Guizotia abyssinica) were sown in autumn/winter in a no-tillage system in succession to corn grown in the summer and soybean/corn grown in summer/autumn-winter. When the autumn-winter crops began to grow, soil samples were collected in metallic cylinders at 0.0–0.05 m and 0.05–0.10 m depths. Analyses of the optimal water interval in each crop succession at the 0.0–0.05 m layer indicated that the corn/safflower and corn/crambe successions reduced the structural quality of the soil. The autumn-winter niger crop in succession to summer corn improved the soil structure at 0.0–0.05 m and 0.05–0.10 m when compared with the soil cultivated with the soybean/corn succession. The niger crop is an effective crop rotation alternative that improves the physical quality of the soil under no-tillage systems.

Resumen Las operaciones mecanizadas en suelos con humedad inadecuada causan compactación y son perjudiciales para la calidad del suelo. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la influencia de diferentes sucesiones de cultivos de semillas oleaginosas sobre la calidad estructural de un hapludo rubio arcilloso. Se sembraron girasol (Helianthus annuus L.), canola (Brassica napus L. y Brassica rapa), cártamo (Carthamus tinctorius L.), crambe (Crambe abyssinica Hochst.) Y niger (Guizotia abyssinica) en otoño/invierno Sistema de labranza cero en sucesión al maíz cultivado en verano y soja/maíz cultivado en verano/otoñoinvierno. Cuando comenzaron a crecer los cultivos de otoño-invierno, se recogieron muestras de suelo en cilindros metálicos de 0.0-0.05 m y 0.05-0.10 m de profundidad. Los análisis del intervalo óptimo de agua en cada sucesión de cultivos en la capa 0.0-0.05 m indicaron que las sucesiones de maíz/cártamo y maíz/crambe redujeron la calidad estructural del suelo. La cosecha niger de otoño-invierno en sucesión al maíz de verano mejoró la estructura del suelo a 0.0-0.05 m y 0.05-0.10 m en comparación con el suelo cultivado con la sucesión soja/maíz. El cultivo de níger es una alternativa eficaz de rotación de cultivos que mejora la calidad física del suelo bajo sistemas de labranza cero.

ABSTRACT Mechanical harvesting has increasingly been used in sugarcane production units, and it has often resulted in reduced structural quality of the soil due to soil compaction caused by machine traffic. Thus, sugarcane ratoon crops have often been chiseled to overcome such a problem. The aim of the current study is to assess some physical properties of a Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico (Rhodic Hapludox) that was chiseled after the third harvest in a sugarcane ratoon crop. The study was conducted in a commercial crop area throughout the 2011/2012 crop year. A randomized block experimental design was used, with five replications. The treatments consisted of five chiseling operations in sugarcane ratoon crops, namely: T1 - single-shank ripper with chiseling to a depth of 0.15 m; T2 - single-shank ripper with chiseling to a depth of 0.30 m; T3 - two-bar ripper with chiseling to a depth of 0.15 m, T4 - two-bar ripper with chiseling to a depth of 0.30 m; and T5 - control group, with no chiseling. Overall, soil chiseling is effective for improving the physical quality of the soil to a depth of 0.15 m, regardless of the equipment and the depth. Two-bar-ripper-based soil chiseling to a depth of 0.30 m provides increased sugarcane yield.

RESUMO A expansão do setor sucroenergético brasileiro intensificou a mecanização da lavoura com consequências na qualidade física dos solos. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o intervalo hídrico ótimo e a capacidade de suporte de carga de um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico típico, sob a influência de diferentes transbordos utilizados na colheita mecanizada de cana. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso com cinco repetições. Os tratamentos utilizados foram colheita de cana crua com: colhedora sem transbordo (T1); colhedora com dois transbordos com capacidade de 10 Mg cada (T2); colhedora com transbordo de capacidade de 20 Mg (T3); e colhedora e caminhão transbordo com capacidade de 20 Mg (10 Mg cada compartimento) (T4). Foram avaliados o intervalo hídrico ótimo e a capacidade de suporte de carga. Observou-se que os equipamentos de transporte para a retirada da cana colhida de dentro da área cultivada (transbordo) utilizados na colheita promovem diminuição do intervalo hídrico ótimo, reduzindo a qualidade estrutural do solo. O caminhão transbordo causou maior impacto nos atributos físicos do solo estudados. A capacidade de suporte de carga do solo não foi alterada pelos tratamentos, pois a pressão exercida pela colhedora (T1) é maior que a pressão de pré-consolidação do solo.

ABSTRACT The expansion of the sugarcane industry in Brazil has intensified the mechanization of agriculture and caused effects on the soil physical quality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the limiting water range and soil bearing capacity of a Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico típico (Rhodic Hapludox) under the influence of different tractor-trailers used in mechanical sugarcane harvesting. The experiment was arranged in a randomized block design with five replications. The treatments consisted of green sugarcane harvesting with: harvester without trailer (T1); harvester with two trailers with a capacity of 10 Mg each (T2); harvester with trailer with a capacity of 20 Mg (T3) and harvester and truck with trailer with a capacity of 20 Mg (10 Mg per compartment) (T4). The least limiting water range and soil bearing capacity were evaluated. The transport equipment to remove the harvested sugarcane from the field (trailer) at harvest decreased the least limiting water range, reducing the structural soil quality. The truck trailer caused the greatest impact on the soil physical properties studied. The soil load bearing capacity was unaffected by the treatments, since the pressure of the harvester (T1) exceeded the pre-consolidation pressure of the soil.