PHYSICAL-HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES OF AN ULTISOL UNDER NO-TILLAGE AND CROP-LIVESTOCK INTEGRATION IN THE CERRADO

ABSTRACT Light soils are more susceptible to degradation and need to be exploited in a conservational manner, thus avoiding rapid degradation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical-hydraulic properties of an Ultisol under no-tillage and crop-livestock integration in the Cerrado of eastern Maranhão state, Brazil. The evaluated managements were one area under no-tillage system for fourteen years (soybean/ millet) and three areas with different histories of adoption of the crop-livestock integration (CLI) system under no-tillage (soybean/millet), with the difference being: times of entry with CLI (2, 4 and 8 years), as well as a native Cerrado area, considered a control. Soil collection was carried out in June 2018 at depths of 0.00-0.10, 0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30 and 0.30-0.50 m. Disturbed and undisturbed samples were collected to determine the following variables: bulk density, porosity, resistance to penetration, retention curve and available water capacity. Data were subjected to the calculation of means and confidence intervals (95%). The area with a recent history of crop-livestock integration showed better density, porosity, resistance to penetration, water storage capacity and available water. No-tillage for fourteen years leads to high resistance to penetration, less porosity and low water storage capacity. The integrated system (CLI) improves the quality of the physical- hydraulic properties and the values found are similar to those observed in an area under native vegetation. RESUMO Os solos leves possuem maior suscetibilidade ao processo de degradação e necessitam ser explorados de forma conservacionista, evitando assim sua rápida degradação. Objetivou-se com o estudo avaliar as propriedades físico-hídricas de um Argissolo sob plantio direto e integração lavoura-pecuária no Cerrado da região leste do estado do Maranhão. Os manejos avaliados foram uma área sob sistema de plantio direto há quatorze anos (soja/milheto) e três áreas com diferentes históricos de adoção do sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (ILP) sob plantio direto (soja/milheto), sendo a diferença os tempos de entrada com ILP (2, 4 e 8 anos), além de uma área de cerrado nativo, considerado testemunha. A coleta do solo foi realizada em junho de 2018 nas profundidades de 0,00-0,10; 0,10-0,20; 0,20-0,30; 0,30-0,50 m. Foram coletadas amostras deformadas e indeformadas, para determinação das variáveis: densidade do solo, porosidade, resistência à penetração, curva de reten