The soil structural quality is important for plant emergence as well as for crop growth, development and yield. A wide range of soil tensile strength values indicates that soil structure conditions meet these requirements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the tensile strength and friability of an Oxisol (Acrudox) under no-tillage with crop rotation and crop succession. The soil management treatments consisted of: crop succession with wheat and soybean (SDS); crop rotation with corn-oats-soybean-oats-soybean-wheat (SDR) and SDR plus periodic soil chiseling (SDE). Ten soil blocks (0.15 x 0.20 x 0.10 m) were randomly collected from the 0-0.20 m layer for each treatment, on two sampling dates (October 2003 and April 2004). The soil tensile strength and soil friability was estimated in 450 soil aggregates from each treatment and sampling date. The soil organic carbon content of the aggregates was also measured. There was no effect of soil organic carbon on soil tensile strength and friability. Results showed lower tensile strength in SDE soil collected in 2003. Crop succession (SDS) temporarily changed the friability classification from very friable to friable. Crop rotation (SDR) was effective in maintaining the soil structure at the very friable class, resulting in a better structure and soil physical quality. The parameters tensile strength and friability proved sensitive enough to evaluate soil structural quality under the crop management systems studied.
soil quality; aggregates; crop rotation; no-tillage; chiseling
