Abstract:
The objective of the present work was to evaluate the causes of hardness of the Casa do Gaiato soils and propose the mitigation measures. Four-layer soil samples (0-10, 10-20, 20-30 and 30-40 cm deep) were collected in triplicates in open profiles representative of agricultural (hard and non-hard) and non-agricultural fields. Data on the equipment used, agricultural crops frequently produced and water quality were obtained through interviews with semi-open questions. The completely randomized design with three treatments (hard, non-hard and non-cultivated fields) was considered for the purposes of soil data analysis, using the STATA 10 statistical package. The means of the parameters evaluated in the four layers were compared using the Tukey test at 5% level of significance. The results suggest that the hardness of the soil expressed in soil density is the result of the combined effect of the high salinity recorded in the fields and probably the use of heavy machinery. It is recommended to design and build a drainage system to allow the flow of salts. Additionally, it is recommended to study the occurrence of other potentially cementing agents such as carbonates, manganese oxides, iron and silica. (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)
