Additional soil compaction occurs when the pressure applied on the soil is greater than the preconsolidation pressure, causing the soil to deform along the virgin compression line. The objectives of this study were: to validate the model proposed by Dias Junior (1994); to propose a model to quantify soil mechanical resistance and; to evaluate the effect of soil use and moisture on the virgin compression line and on the compression index of three Latosols under annual crop, natural forest and cultivated pasture, located in Lavras (MG). This study was conducted throughout 1996 and 1997. For annual crop, natural forest and pasture, five undisturbed soil samples were used with three replications, at depths of 0-0.03 and 0.27-0.30 m. Samples were analyzed by a uniaxial compression test. Disturbed soil samples with three replications under each condition were collected to determine the plasticity limit. As soil moisture increased, the virgin compression lines were shifted to the region of small pressures, increasing soil compaction susceptibility. At the same time, the mechanical resistance to be overcome by the roots system decreased. The compression index did not differ for the annual crop and natural forest in the surface layer, but differed for the cultivated pasture in both depths and for annual crop and natural forest in the 0.27-0.30 m depth. Final soil bulk density and compression index followed the Dias Junior (1994) models. In general, the soils under natural forest in the 0-0.03 m layer were more susceptible to soil compaction due to their greater values of maximum compression index.
soil compaction; modelling; Latosol; compression curves; preconsolidation pressure; compression index; mechanical resistance