Abstract

ROLLAN, A.A del C  and  BACHMEIER, O. A. Compactación y retención hídrica en Haplustoles de la provincia de Córdoba (Argentina) bajo siembra directa. Agriscientia [online]. 2014, vol.31, n.1, pp.1-10. ISSN 1668-298X.

This aims of this study were to quantify the degree of surface and subsurface compaction in Mollisols of the north-central region of the province of Córdoba (Argentina), under no-tillage (NT) and to fnd the parameters for modeling, according to the equation of van Genuchten, the relationship between soil water content and soil matric potential. We worked with soil samples from plots with different agricultural history and soil management (crop and livestock), covering 10 sampling units. These were selected by location, considering as its origin the core central production of the province of Córdoba. The results obtained showed that NT exerts contrasting effect on the porous matrix of siltloam Haplustolls studied. On the other hand, the decrease in structural porosity caused by prolonged NT use is not compensated by the stratification of the organic carbon. Regarding the parameters of the equation of van Genutchen, these are representative of the changes induced by the NT, since the more compacted cases reflect a decrease in the total porosity and the water content at saturation. For most the analyzed situations any removal work tending to revert the existing compaction processes should be considered.

Keywords : No-tillage; Bulk density; Soil-moisture characteristic curve.