ATRIBUTOS FÍSICOS DO SOLO NA CULTURA DE SORGO CONSORCIADO EM SISTEMA DE PLANTIO DIRETO

Abstract

A favorable physical environment in the soil is necessary and of fundamental importance for the growth and root development of sorghum crops, in order to maximize crop productivity. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the intercropping of second-crop sorghum with Urochloa ruziziensis and Crotalaria spectabilis, as well as the physical aspects of the soil in a no-tillage system. The present study was conducted in the experimental field of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Chapadão do Sul Campus – MS. The design was in randomized blocks in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme (four types of cultivation: sorghum alone, sorghum + Urochloa ruziziensis, sorghum + Crotalaria spectabilis, sorghum + Urochloa ruziziensis + Crotalaria spectabilis; four soil depths: 0 - 0,10 m, 0,10 - 0,20 m, 0,20 - 0,30 m, 0,30 - 0,40 m), totaling 16 experimental units. For evaluations, trenches with dimensions of 0.50 m width, 0.50 m length, and 0.40 m depth were opened to collect soil samples at depths of 0.00 - 0.10 m, 0.10 - 0.20 m, 0.20 - 0.30 m, 0.30 - 0.40 m. The analyzed soil physical attributes included Soil Density (SD), Gravimetric Moisture (GM), Total Porosity (TP), Macroporosity (MACRO), and Microporosity (MICRO). The evaluated physical properties showed variations between cultivation types and depths. The depth 0 -10 m presented the highest DS value, being at an acceptable level for soil compaction levels and also showed the highest UG. The sorghum treatment intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis and Crotalaria spectabilis presented the highest UG. The sorghum treatment showed the highest PT, not differing from the sorghum intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis, which presented a higher value for MICRO. The sorghum treatment intercropped with Urochloa ruziziensis and Crotalaria spectabilis showed a higher value at a depth of 0.20 - 0.30 m for MACRO.