Abstract

BRAVO, Carlos et al. Efecto de diferentes especies de coberturas sobre las propiedades físicas  de un suelo de sabana con siembra directa de maíz. Bioagro [online]. 2004, vol.16, n.3, pp.163-172. ISSN 1316-3361.

The objective of this research was to asses the influence of different cover crops on the soil physical properties in a typical savanna corn cropped for two years, soil, at Guárico State, Venezuela. Corn was directly seeded on each of the following covers: 1) Brachiaria decumbens (CDD+Bdes), 2) Brachiaria dictyoneura (CDD+Bdy), 3) Centrosema macrocarpum (CDD+Cm), and 4) Natural vegetation (CDD+ Vn) as a control. Soil physical properties (bulk density, pore size distribution, mechanical resistance, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and water holding capacity) were evaluated throughout large plot sampling before establishing the experiment and during the crop growing period. After two years of evaluation, the structural indices were maintained or improved with cover crops which showed the feasibility of adoption of these management systems.

Keywords : Conservation tillage; structural conditions; legume.