Alterations in physical and chemical properties of a distrofic red latosol under different soil management systems in peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) - DOI: 10.4025/actasciagron.v27i4.1343

Abstract

Studies aiming to evaluate soil management systems in inter-rows of peach palm are still scarce in Brazil. This work was proposed to evaluate the effects of different soil management systems in peach palm inter rows on chemical and physical properties of a dystrophic Red Latosol. Treatments evaluated included weed control with herbicides (HB); soil covered with sugarcane bagasse (SB); alternate green manures with velvet bean and oats cropping as inter-row crops (VA); inter-row manual weed control (MC); inter-row slashing mechanical weed control (slashing) (MWC) and inter-rows cropping of pigeonpea (PG). The following physical properties of the soil were evaluated: bulk density, porosity, soil water content and soil resistance to root penetration and the chemical properties of the soil: pH, Al⁺³, Ca⁺², Mg⁺², P, K⁺, sum of bases, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and organic carbon. The soil samples were collected in the layers of 0-0.05 m, 0.05-0.10 m, 0.10-0.20 m and 0.20-0.40 m. Higher soil water contents were found at SB. For soil resistance to root penetration smaller values were detected in treatments, which accounted for higher soil water content (SB). Soil bulk density, soil porosity, carbon contents, sum of bases and CEC did not differ among treatments. Values of pH, Al⁺³, Ca⁺², Mg⁺², K⁺ and V% were influenced by treatments, with a positive increment in those treatments with specific weed control (HB and MWC), while for P, the treatments HB, MC and MWC stood out positively.