RESUMO
Soybean is one of the most widely grown crops in the world and technologies are increasingly needed to increase productivity without impacting environmental degradation. In this context, the aim was to evaluate the action of forage plants of the genus Brachiaria sp. in crop-livestock integration on physical soil, agronomic and environmental aspects of soybean cultivation. The experiment was conducted in a subdivided plot design with seven integrated systems corresponding to the previous cultivation of Paiaguas palisadegrass, Xaraes palisadegrass and Ruziziensis grass in monocropping and intercropped with maize, as well as maize in monocropping. In the subplots, two grass management systems were evaluated: free growth and a grazing simulation cut. The bulk density and least limiting water range were assessed using soil samples and, after the pastures were desiccated when the soybean crop was planted, straw decomposition and plantability. A soil physics diagnosis by the bulk density and least limiting water range showed that the Paiaguas palisadegrass and Xaraes palisadegrass improved the soil environment due to biological soil loosening. The remaining mulch biomass did not affect soybean sowing and the adoption of Brachiaria sp. grass in the off-season, in addition to contributing to the provision of environmental services, and did not compromise grain productivity in succession.
RESUMO
At critical levels, animal trampling can physically degrade soil, leading to the loss of sustainability of agricultural production. Therefore, it is becomes necessary to model and quantify the soil compaction potential. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the occurrence of soil compaction promoted by animal trampling in crop-livestock integration system (ICL). The study was conducted in a field at Centro Tecnológico da Comigo in the municipality of Rio Verde, Goias state, Brazil, during the agricultural off-season. The experimental area was composed of 1.97 ha, which was equally divided into eight paddocks. Soil was sampled before the grazing phase and after each of four grazing cycles. The compressive behavior of the soil was evaluated by determining the pre-consolidation and critical pressures. The results showed that only the first cycle of grazing showed additional compaction in 14.59% of samples. No critical compaction was observed in the evaluated area. Animal trampling under the studied conditions is not responsible for the dissemination of structural soil degradation in crop-livestock integration systems and may contribute to physical improvement resulting from biological soil loosening.(AU)
Em níveis críticos, o pisoteio animal podem degradar fisicamente o solo, levando à perda de sustentabilidade da produção agrícola. Portanto, torna-se necessário modelar e quantificar o potencial de compactação do solo. Neste contexto, objetivou-se avaliar a ocorrência da compactação do solo promovida pelo pisoteio animal em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (ILP). O estudo foi conduzido a campo no Centro Tecnológico da Comigo no município de Rio Verde, Goiás, Brasil durante o período da segunda safra da agricultura. A área experimental foi composta de 1,97 hectares, dividida igualmente em oito piquetes. O solo foi amostrado antes da fase de pastejo e após cada um dos quatro ciclos de pastejo. Foi avaliado o comportamento compressivo do solo, a partir da determinação da pressão de pré-consolidação e da pressão crítica. Os resultados mostraram que somente o primeiro ciclo de pastejo apresentou compactação adicional e em 4,59% das amostras. Não houve compactação crítica na área avaliada. O pisoteio animal nas condições estudadas não é responsável pela disseminação da degradação estrutural do solo em sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária, podendo contribuir eventualmente até com a melhoria física decorrente da descompactação biológica do solo.(AU)