Atributos físicos e mecânico em latossolo amarelo distrocoeso sob cultivo de cacau no Recôncavo Baiano

Abstract

Soils of the Coastal Trays cultivated with the cacao crop for a long period of time can present changes in the physical and mechanical attributes of the soil influencing its quality. Therefore, studies on these attributes are essential indicative in decision-making regarding the management to be employed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and mechanical attributes in Yellow Latosol Distrocoeso cultivated with cacao in the Recôncavo Baiano. Deformed and undeformed samples were collected at depths of 0-34 0.15; 0.15-0.30 and 0.30-0.45 m, in 50 points arranged in a regular mesh of 8 x 8 m, in an area of 0.5 ha cultivated with cacao. After the descriptive analysis it was verified that the soil density (Sd) was higher in the depth of 0-0.15m, with a gradual reduction in the other depths evaluated. The total porosity (TP) had higher values in the layer of 0.30-0.45 m, while the depth decreased the values of this attribute. For soil resistance to penetration, behavior similar to total porosity was found. The physical and mechanical attributes presented the following behaviors: soil density as well as soil resistance to root penetration reduced as soil depth increased, while for microporosity, macroporodity and total porosity 42 there was increase directly proportional to depth.