PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE SOIL IN AREA WITH BRIZANTHA AND RUZIZIENSIS GRASS

Abstract

Recognized by the performance of the root system, the forages Urochloa spp. are species that improve the physical attributes of the soil (total porosity, microporisity, macroporosity, density, weighted mean diameter, geometric mean diameter, percentage of aggregates, dry root weight and soil resistance to penetration). In this perspective, the objective of this work was to characterize the physical properties of an Oxisol under different forages of the genus Urochloa in Rio Verde - GO. The trial was conducted in the field, in the off-season, with planting in strips of the species Urochloa brizantha Paiaguás, Urochloa Ruzizziensis and Urochloa brizantha Marandú. At the end of the Urochloa cycle, soil samples were collected to evaluate density, porosity, texture, weighted and geometric mean diameter, aggregate stability index, resistance to penetration and soil moisture, in addition to root dry weight. The experimental model used was divided plots and principal component analysis. The Urochloas brizantas species (Paiaguás and Marandú) showed the greatest potential for soil aggregate formation, due to the root breaking capacity of these species. Root dry weight was the parameter that best explained the variance caused by different Urochloas.