The use of tomography to evaluate soil compaction in a Red Yellow Podzolic area of the brazilian Northeast.

Abstract

Petrolina/Juazeiro is an important fruit growing area. In this region some soils present compacted layers and there is no agreement whether this compaction is a natural process or if it is man induced. The presence of compacted layers, occurring down to a depth varying from 0.4 to 1.0 m, affects water distribution which occurs mostly in the horizontal direction. Thus long term irrigation can lead to soil saturation (ponding) causing poor root aeration. In this paper tomography was used to analyze soil density in a central pivot irrigated area and the results were compared to measurements made on a natural vegetation (caatinga) area, not submitted to human action. The area under central pivot were cultivated with corn and soy bean during 14 years.Trabalho apresentado no Workshop on Agricultural Tomography, 1999, Sao Carlos

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