Dissertations and Theses

SUBSOILING DEPTH VARIED BASED ON THE MAPPING OF AREAS OF SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT

Author: Lucas Aguilar Cortez

Keywords: Spatial variability, subsoiling located, soil compaction, sugar cane

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Summary

Soil compaction has emerged worldwide as one of the main limiting factors for crop production. Whereas subsoiling agricultural practice meant to counteract this problem has high operating costs in addition to causing high fossil fuel combustion, it is necessary studies to optimize this operation. Thus the aim of this study is to map the locations of compaction through indirect techniques such as magnetic susceptibility of the soil, proceeding to subsoiling only in areas where the degree of compaction is restrictive to root growth, thus evaluating the operational capacity and fuel consumption of this operation in relation to subsoiling in total area. The study area is located in the municipality of Guariba (SP), the soil is a oxisoil, and is under cultivation of sugar cane with mechanical harvesting six years ago. We assessed soil physical parameters such as penetration resistance, bulk density, moisture, texture and magnetic susceptibility. The subsoiling localized and varying depth provided an increase in operating capacity of up to 61.7% compared to conventional methods. As for the consumption and burning fuel was reduced by up to 57.1%. It is concluded that this technique can be used to aid in the development of effective strategies allowing the construction of sets for assisting in the management operation on the local sub soiling.