Short-term effects of Urochloa intercropped with corn on the structure properties of a soil under no-tillage

ABSTRACT The reduced crop diversity under no-tillage increases soil compaction and reduces soil quality. This study aimed to investigate whether intercropping corn and Urochloa has significant short-term effects on soil physical quality, as assessed by Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS), and...

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Main Authors: João de Andrade Bonetti, Helio Henrique Soares Franco, Rachel Muylaert Locks Guimarães, Cássio Antonio Tormena
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Ciência do Solo 2025-08-01
Series:Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-06832025000100605&lng=en&tlng=en
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author João de Andrade Bonetti
Helio Henrique Soares Franco
Rachel Muylaert Locks Guimarães
Cássio Antonio Tormena
author_facet João de Andrade Bonetti
Helio Henrique Soares Franco
Rachel Muylaert Locks Guimarães
Cássio Antonio Tormena
author_sort João de Andrade Bonetti
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT The reduced crop diversity under no-tillage increases soil compaction and reduces soil quality. This study aimed to investigate whether intercropping corn and Urochloa has significant short-term effects on soil physical quality, as assessed by Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS), and its correlations with physical properties. Soil physical quality was assessed after corn and Urochloa intercropping and corn without Urochloa. The VESS, penetration resistance, bulk density, air-filled porosity, air permeability, pore continuity index, and water storage capacity were determined from 0.00 to 0.25 m depth in the Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico. Intercropping of Urochloa and corn resulted in lower VESS values and favorable soil physical properties. For Urochloa and corn, the VESS score was improved (score 1 to 2.9). In the absence of the Urochloa, a moderate VESS score was observed (3 to 3.9). The results showed significant relationships between VESS scores and soil physical properties. Our findings suggest that the cultivation of Urochloa intercropped with corn improves the physical quality of Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico, even in the short-term, 83 days after sowing, in a no-tillage system in a subtropical climate.
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spelling doaj-art-324035c9aa68436dbcb58e1717070e1d2025-08-20T03:45:07ZengSociedade Brasileira de Ciência do SoloRevista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo1806-96572025-08-014910.36783/18069657rbcs20240036Short-term effects of Urochloa intercropped with corn on the structure properties of a soil under no-tillageJoão de Andrade Bonettihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6083-2448Helio Henrique Soares Francohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4492-3443Rachel Muylaert Locks Guimarãeshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4669-8486Cássio Antonio Tormenahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2351-9289ABSTRACT The reduced crop diversity under no-tillage increases soil compaction and reduces soil quality. This study aimed to investigate whether intercropping corn and Urochloa has significant short-term effects on soil physical quality, as assessed by Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS), and its correlations with physical properties. Soil physical quality was assessed after corn and Urochloa intercropping and corn without Urochloa. The VESS, penetration resistance, bulk density, air-filled porosity, air permeability, pore continuity index, and water storage capacity were determined from 0.00 to 0.25 m depth in the Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico. Intercropping of Urochloa and corn resulted in lower VESS values and favorable soil physical properties. For Urochloa and corn, the VESS score was improved (score 1 to 2.9). In the absence of the Urochloa, a moderate VESS score was observed (3 to 3.9). The results showed significant relationships between VESS scores and soil physical properties. Our findings suggest that the cultivation of Urochloa intercropped with corn improves the physical quality of Latossolo Vermelho Distroférrico, even in the short-term, 83 days after sowing, in a no-tillage system in a subtropical climate.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-06832025000100605&lng=en&tlng=encrop diversificationsoil physicalsoil structuresoil visual assessment
spellingShingle João de Andrade Bonetti
Helio Henrique Soares Franco
Rachel Muylaert Locks Guimarães
Cássio Antonio Tormena
Short-term effects of Urochloa intercropped with corn on the structure properties of a soil under no-tillage
Revista Brasileira de Ciência do Solo
crop diversification
soil physical
soil structure
soil visual assessment
title Short-term effects of Urochloa intercropped with corn on the structure properties of a soil under no-tillage
title_full Short-term effects of Urochloa intercropped with corn on the structure properties of a soil under no-tillage
title_fullStr Short-term effects of Urochloa intercropped with corn on the structure properties of a soil under no-tillage
title_full_unstemmed Short-term effects of Urochloa intercropped with corn on the structure properties of a soil under no-tillage
title_short Short-term effects of Urochloa intercropped with corn on the structure properties of a soil under no-tillage
title_sort short term effects of urochloa intercropped with corn on the structure properties of a soil under no tillage
topic crop diversification
soil physical
soil structure
soil visual assessment
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-06832025000100605&lng=en&tlng=en
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