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| Author(s): |
Fernando Henrique Setti Gimenes
Total Authors: 1
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| Document type: | Master's Dissertation |
| Press: | Piracicaba. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) |
| Defense date: | 2013-01-22 |
| Examining board members: |
Paulo Leonel Libardi;
Neyde Fabiola Balarezo Giarola;
Sergio Oliveira Moraes
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| Advisor: | Paulo Leonel Libardi |
| Abstract | |
Soil is an important natural resource and its conservation is essential for sustainable production. The quality of a soil can be defined as its ability to exert its function in an ecosystem and can be described by means of physical, chemical and biological parameters. The soil physical attributes describe the organization of its structure, that is responsible for the moviment and availability of soil solution for plants and it depends on the size, shape and arrangement of its solid particles and pores. Therefore, the discussion of the mechanisms of soil water movement and retention is important in inferring its physical quality. The soil water retention curve is an important tool to evaluate soil quality, is the graph of soil water content as a function of soil water matric potential. In Brazil, the Oxisols are of great importance due to their extent and productive potential. These soils are highly weathered, with high aggregate stability and can originate from different materials, which interfer on the physical response. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the physical-hydric quality of the soil by means of the soil water retention curve of three Oxisols, by using two empirical adjustment models (BROOKS; COREY, 1964; VAN GENUCHTEN, 1980). Pore-size distribution frequency and the use of the S index as an indicator of physical soil quality were also evaluated. Undisturbed soil samples were collected from three areas to obtain the soil water retention curves: (1) Typic Hapludox (fallow land), (2) Rhodic Hapludox (sugarcane), (3) Rhodic Hapludox (sugarcane). The results showed that the soil water retention curve was influenced by the soil bulk density, soil porosity, soil texture and soil organic carbon content. The fitness of the soil water retention curve by the two models was similar, however the van Genuchten\'s model (1980) was slightly better than the model of Brooks and Corey (1964), especially in the points near saturation; the pore-size distribution frequency and the S index were sensitive in differentiating the structural quality of soil due to the texture and management. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 11/16356-3 - Retention curve on avaluation of soil physical quality |
| Grantee: | Fernando Henrique Setti Gimenes |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Master |