Gypsum, Soil Scarification and Succession Planting as Alternatives to Mitigate Compaction of Dystrophic Red-Yellow Latosol

Understanding and quantifying the impact of soil management and use on its physical properties are essential to the development of sustainable agricultural systems. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of agricultural gypsum, soil scarification and succession planting on the physical attributes of dystrophic red-yellow latosol in Porto Velho, Rondônia state (RO), Brazil. The treatments used were absence and application of 2000 kg ha-1 of gypsum, absence and use of soil scarification, and three types of crop succession: SF (soybean/fallow), SMF (soybean/maize/fallow) and SMBF (soybean/maize/brachiaria/fallow). A randomized block design was used on eight blocks, for a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Soil parameters assessed were macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, soil density, moisture content and penetration resistance. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and means were compared by the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. The highest macroporosity and total porosity values were recorded in treatments with gypsum application and soil scarification. Penetration resistance was lower in the SMBF and SMF crop successions. There was no treatment effect on the soil density.