As the time of adoption of no-tillage systems lengthens thee occur modification in soil physical attributes; however, these effects are not well quantified yet. The present study had the objective to evaluate the effect of time of adoption of a no-tillage system, compared to native forest and a conventional tillage system using physical attributes of a Dystroferric Red Nitosol. The evaluated systems were: PD1 (one year of adoption of no-tillage), PD4 (no-tillage for four years), PD5 (no-tillage for five years), PD12 (no-tillage for 12 years), one system under conventional tillage (PC for 18 years ) and another without use or intervention (native forest-MN). The increase in no-tillage adoption time led to a decrease in bulk density and compaction at the 0-5 cm depth, but cause no alterations at the 10-15 cm depth. The mean geometric diameter (DMG) of aggregates increased along the time of adoption of no-tillage at the 0-5 cm depth and the MN presented the largest DMG at both soil depths. The time of adoption of the no-tillage system caused no differentiation in total soil porosity. Penetration resistance presented no predominant trend of variation along the time of adoption of no-tillage. There was also no trend in relation to the other systems. PD12, at the depth of 0-5 cm, presented the largest macro and the smallest micro porosity. Soil water infiltration was faster and the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil was higher under the systems PD12 and MN.
adoption time; management systems; soil quality; structure
