The knowledge of the pressure levels that can be applied to the soil under different weed management system (WMS) is importante for coffee plantations management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different weed management systems on the susceptibility to compaction of a Red-Yellow Latossol (Oxisol) (LVA) using soil support capacity (CSC) models. This study was carried out at the Epamig Research Farm in Patrocínio, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, in a coffee plantation using Ruby 1192 coffee variety in a 3.8 x 0.7 m spacing, planted in February 1999. Four WMS were used and the soil samples were collected in-between the rows under the following management systems: (1) no weed control (SC); (2) hoe-weeded (CM); (3) weed control with post-emergence herbicide Glyphosate (HPÓS); (4) weed control with pre-emergence Oxyfluorfen (HPRÉ). Fifteen undisturbed soil samples from each system were collected (in the layers 0-3, 10-13 and 25-28 cm) in July 2004, totaling 180 samples. The undisturbed soil samples were equilibrated at different moisture contents and subjected to the uniaxial compression test to obtain the soil CSC models. Results suggested that the support capacity of the LVA decreases in the center of the inter rows in the following order: HPRÉ in the 0-3 cm layer > CM in the 10-13 cm layer > SC in the 0-3, 10-13, 25-28 cm layers = HPÓS in the 0-3, 10-13, 25-28 cm layers = CM at 0-3 and 25-28 cm layers = HPRÉ in the 10-13 cm layer > HPRÉ in the 25-28 cm layer. Weed control with HPRÉ in the 25-28 cm layer was most susceptible, while HPRÉ in the 0-3 cm layer was most resistant to soil compaction. The management systems SC and HPÓS in the 0-3, 10-13, 25-28 cm layers and the managements CM in the 0-3 and 25-28 cm layers and HPRÉ in the 10-13 cm layer were equally susceptible to soil compaction.
preconsolidation pressure; sustainability; support capacity models; susceptibility; Coffea arabica L
