Influence of no-till on hydrophysical properties of Argiudols of the center of Santa Fe - Argentina

MARANO, R.; MICHELOUD, H.; IMHOFF, S.

Filadelfia

Congreso; 18th World Congress of Soil Science; 2006

ASSS

In the last decade in the State of Santa Fe (Argentina) the substitution of agricultural-grass rotations for continuous crop (wheat - soy bean) production using the no till system has became very important. In many cases, this process has happened in soils with incipient physical and chemical degradation, as expressed by low values of organic matter and weak structural stability. In no-till systems, the superficial layer of vegetal residues reduces the crust formation by the rain-drop impact. However, in Santa Fe, when loamy soils have lower organic carbon content, the sequence wheat-soy bean seems to produce insufficient quantity of straw to avoid that problem. On the other hand, it is very frequent the formation of a superficial compacted layer (0-7 cm) with sheet structure. As consequence, soil densification, high mechanical resistance and low water infiltration continues being a problem in these soils, even when no-till is used. The objective of the work was to evaluate some soil properties of the A horizon and to verify the changes induced by the no-till system regarding to the natural condition.