Dirvožemio fizikinės savybės yra svarbios dirvožemio drėgmės ir oro režimui, augalų apsirūpinimui maisto medžiagomis. Jos daro įtaką augalų biologinio potencialo formavimuisi, taigi ir derlingumui. Iki šiol Lietuvoje išlieka vyraujanti tradicinė žemės dirbimo sistema, paremta rudeniniu giliu dirvų arimu verstuviniais plūgais. Pastaraisiais metais Lietuvoje pastebimas vis didėjantis susidomėjimas supaprastintu žemės dirbimu. Daugiau nei 50 šalies ūkio subjektų jau taiko praktikoje supaprastintą žemės dirbimą ir, tikėtina, kad ateityje šis skaičius dar didės. Todėl moksliniai tyrimai, kuriuose būtų tiriamos alternatyvios įprastiniam žemės dirbimui sistemos, yra aktualūs. Naudojant vis intensyvesnes žemės dirbimo ir tręšimo technologijas dirvožemyje ima stigti organinių medžiagų, todėl sparčiai vyksta dirvožemio degradacija. Organinės medžiagos lėtina ir stabdo dirvožemyje vykstančius neigiamus procesus, todėl moksliniai tyrimai, susiję su žaliąja trąša bei šiaudų įterpimu į dirvą, tampa vis aktualesnė žemdirbių tarpe. Stacionarus dviejų faktorių lauko eksperimentas įrengtas LŽŪU bandymų stotyje. Bandymų vietos dirvožemis – giliau karbonatingas glėjiškas išplautžemis (Endocarcalic Endohipogleyc Luvisol), vidutinio sunkumo priemolis ant smėlingo lengvo priemolio. Bandymų metu tirta supaprastinto žemės dirbimo, šiaudų bei žaliosios trąšos įterpimo ir tiesioginės sėjos į neįdirbtą dirvą įtaka dirvos fizikinėms savybėms ir sliekų kiekiui. Gauti bandymų rezultatai patvirtina, kad... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Soil physical properties are significant for soil moisture and air movement treatment, providing nutrients for plants. They affect the biological potential formation of plants, and therefore fertility. So far, the traditional tillage system, based on deep mouldboard ploughing in autumn, is predominant in Lithuania. In these latter years, the interest in reduced soil tillage is increasing in Lithuania. More than 50 national agriculture subjects are already practising reduced soil tillage and it seems likely that this number would increase. So that scientific inquiries in alternatives of conventional tillage system are relevant. While using intensive soil tillage and fertilization technologies, begins the deficiency of organic matters and the degradation of soil is occuring rapidly. Organic matter slows down and stops the ongoing negative processes in the soil and therefore research related to green manure and straw incorporation becomes more and more important among farmers. Stationary two-factor field experiment is located at the Experimental Station of Lithuanian University of Agriculture. The soil of the experimental area (Endocarcalic Endohipogleyc Luvisol), medium weight loam over light sandy loam. The influence of reduced soil tillage systems or no-tillage (direct drilling) systems on soil physical properties and quantity of earthworms is analyzed in the experiment. The test results confirm that reduced soil tillage or no-tillage (direct drilling) systems are not... [to full text]

Some chosen physical properties have been observed in the field experiment on the land of Stagra, s. r. o., Studená in 2009. There have been compared two technologies "minimum tillage" (MT) and "conventional tillage" (CT). There was evaluated especially bulk density (Or), porosity and soil compaction. Bulk density was statistical significantly higher under conservation tillage than under ploughing in soil profil at the depth to 0,2 m. But at the depth more than 0,25 m bulk density was higher (it means less favourable) under CT than under MT. It can be concluded, that the minimum tillage doesn´t deteriorate the compaction in the subsoil. The average values were not higher than critical levels of damaged compaction for sandy-loam soil. The soil compaction measurement confirmed this trend. The values of total porosity (Pc) show nearly the same conclusions as Or. The most favourable values of Pc occur in topsoil, which is tilled.

Environmental concerns are becoming increasingly relevant during a period of hemorrhaging ecosystem goods and services. Restoring these would result in positive outcomes for public health and economic benefit. This thesis seeks to address two environmental concerns: (1) accurate soil mapping and (2) treatment of nitrogen to affect water quality change.The current method of soil mapping, SSURGO (USDA‐NRCS Soil survey), is often erroneous and misleading. Two studies in this dissertation are conducted to evaluate the potential that different resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) have to distribute soil characteristics successfully. These studies are conducted in southwest Virginia and western Vermont. The aforementioned studies evaluated 36 and 59 soil samples, respectively. Spatial characteristics, including slope, catchment area, and topographic wetness, are derived from several DEMs. In chapter 2, these characteristics are spatially compared, and we found that small resolution rasters result in narrow flow paths relative to coarser rasters. In chapter 3, we isolate the analysis to focus on resolution size, instead of a mix of both resolution size and generation method. This is done by recursively coarsening small rasters, deriving spatial attributes from said rasters and evaluating their potential to fit the soil characteristics of interest. Here we found that slopes generated from resolutions smaller than 11m were poor predictors of soil characteristics. Both chapters are finished by proposing and evaluating a soil map. Proposed regressions beat SSURGO in all investigated properties. Furthermore, proposed maps consistently beat out uninformed smallest resolution derived maps.Chesapeake bay water quality managers are struggling to achieve targets for nitrogen loading. This is in part due to the widespread presence of legacy nitrogen. Legacy nitrogen is an emerging issue, and springs exporting high levels of nitrogen are not uncommon in northern Virginia. This thesis explores, in part, a novel concept of treating large loads of nitrogen exported from a spring with a bioreactor. Bioreactors are a young science that most typically pair carbon heavy subterranean receptacles to agricultural drainage. This provides a location for nitrogen fixing bacteria to consume nitrate/nitrite, turning these into inert nitrogen gas. A spring fed bioreactor is studied for 10 months, and bioreactor conditions including influent and effluent nitrogen concentrations, bioreactor flow, and temperature are collected. A model driven by first order reaction equations is found to be most accurate with inputs of temperature and bioreactor age. The resulting marginal effects of these inputs were consistent with previously reported studies. / Doctor of Philosophy / Centuries of industrialization have resulted in widespread human progress but have, at times, adversely impacted the environment. Constituents rely heavily on environmental services, such as clean air and water, to subsist. Environmental degradation has resulted in detrimental effects to public health, and remediation is currently economically viable. As such, there are strong incentives for researchers to understand environmental processes at a fundamental level. One such process is soil characteristic distribution. The distribution of soil characteristics, such as soil texture or organic matter, is especially important for agriculturalists, hydrologists and geotechnicians. Soil texture and organic matter distribution can affect crop yield, nitrogen export to surface waters, and structural stability of soils. Thus, accurate characterization of measured soil properties is paramount to multiple fields. The most typically used soil map is USDA‐NRCS Soil survey (commonly referred to as SSURGO). Currently, the SSURGO database is a poor predictor of soil characteristics. There is an opportunity to improve soil characteristic distribution using digital elevation models (DEMs). As DEMs become cheaper to develop, they are typically available in multiple resolutions and generation methods. In this research, several DEMs are used to better soil maps for watersheds in Southwest Virginia and Western Vermont. Both studies showed that DEMs can better distribute soils when compared to the current SSURGO maps. Additionally, we showed that the finest resolution dataset was not always best, and mixed resolution topographic wetness indices to be most advantageous for distributing soils.Another such process is remediation of surface waters from high loads of nitrogen and phosphorus. The Haber-Bosch method of producing nitrogen fertilizer is one of the most important human innovations in recent history. This method is likely responsible for the aversion of widespread famine in the early 1900s. However, residents of multiple river systems, including the Chesapeake Bay and the Mississippi River, are suffering from the adverse effects of widespread hypoxic/anoxic (with little/no oxygen, respectively) zones within water. These have partially been responsible for the decline of commercial ventures such as fisheries and tourism. These zones are caused by eutrophication, a process of unsustainable plant growth in the presence of nitrogen and phosphorus. Water quality managers typically target agricultural runoff and point source polluters when trying to eliminate anthropogenic nitrogen. However, legacy nitrogen (nitrogen stored in groundwater in excess of a year) has become an emerging concern for water quality. It is not uncommon for springs in karst areas to be contaminated with high concentrations of nitrogen. These springs present a point source that can be treated by an emerging technology: bioreactors. Bioreactors are subterranean, woodchip filled basins that provide a location for microbes to exchange water soluble nitrogen for inert nitrogen gas. The consistency in nitrogen loading and constant flow provide stability relative to more traditional bioreactor installations. Most typically, bioreactors are installed downstream of agricultural drainage systems, and influent flow and nitrogen load depend wholly on precipitation/irrigation and nitrogen application. In this thesis, a novel spring fed bioreactor is studied. Removal rates of nitrogen are quantified using a regression driven by reaction kinetics. The analysis showed bioreactor efficiency was intimately related to hydraulic residence time, nitrogen loading, bioreactor bed temperature, and bioreactor age. The spring fed bioreactor is found to be advantageous because of its consistency, and disadvantages because springs are colder and thus less efficient than typical irrigated runoff.

La tesis presentada se enfoca en un estudio experimental que busca establecer correlaciones entre tres ensayos realizados en suelo cohesivo: Ensayo de Penetración Estándar (SPT), Corte Directo y Triaxial. Las pruebas se realizaron en un terreno de 3 hectáreas denominado AA.HH. Sol naciente, llegando hasta una profundidad de 3.50 metros debido a características geotécnicas del suelo. A continuación, llevaron a cabo un estudio sobre las propiedades físicas del suelo utilizando varias pruebas estándar, incluyendo granulometría, límites de Atterberg, contenido de humedad y gravedad específica. Con base en la recopilación de datos existentes y las correlaciones de los ensayos, que fueron un total de 7 pruebas de cada ensayo en el terreno, con la ayuda de equipos y operadores locales. El propósito final del estudio es proponer correlaciones entre los resultados obtenidos de los tres tipos de ensayos. Esta investigación proporciona un aporte significativo al campo de la geotecnia y la ingeniería civil, ya que los hallazgos podrían mejorar el entendimiento de las propiedades del suelo y permitir cálculos más precisos en cuanto a resistencia y comportamiento del suelo bajo diversas condiciones de carga y presión. En última instancia, estos resultados pueden aumentar la seguridad y estabilidad de las construcciones futuras en estos suelos, proporcionando un enfoque más sólidoy fiable para el análisis de suelos y la planificación de proyectos de construcción. / The presented thesis focuses on an experimental study aiming to establish correlations among three tests performed on cohesive soil: Standard Penetration Test (SPT), Direct Shear, and Triaxial. The tests were carried out on a 3-hectare land plot called AA.HH. Sol Naciente, reaching a depth of 3.50 meters due to the soil's geotechnical characteristics. Subsequently, they conducted a study on the soil's physical properties using various standard tests, including particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, moisture content, and specific gravity. Based on the existing data compilation and the tests' correlations, a total of 7 tests of each were performed on the field, with the assistance of local equipment and operators. The final purpose of the study is to propose correlations among the results obtained from the three types of tests. This research provides a significant contribution to the field of geotechnical and civil engineering, as the findings could enhance the understanding of soil properties and allow more precise calculations regarding soil strength and behavior under various load and pressure conditions. Ultimately,these results may increase the safety and stability of future constructions on these soils, providing a more robust and reliable approach for soil analysis and construction project planning.

In the long-term fertilization experiment on the light sandy loam over moraine clay (Calc(ar)i-Epihypogleyic Luvisols) there were the integrated evaluation of the changes in arable layer done and the estimation of the tendencies and consistent patterns in the productivity of crop plants performed. The obtained research results of the organic, organic-mineral and mineral fertilization impact on the Gleyic Luvisols bulk density, porosity and composition of aggregates, the changes in qualitative composition of organic matter and humus, the phosphorus and it fractions, the soil nitrogen accumulation, the potassium and also the productivity of crop plants in 4-year crop rotation are novel. The performed research also gained the knowledge on the main properties and productivity of the Gleyic Luvisols and on the technology patterns within the soil-fertilisers-plant systems evaluation. The mentioned aspects are actual in the agriculture within the tendencies of decreasing in the extent of fertile soil sources. On the bases of the long-term researches in the Calc(ar)i-Epihypogleyic Luvisols there were either determined the proper fertilisation systems not only for the obtaining of the consistent crop plant productivity but also for the estimating the certain stabilisation and improving of soil use and productivity parameters. The estimated consistents could be further used in performing the fertilisation recommendations, thus, the fertilisation then could correspond the requirements... [to full text] / Daugiamečiame tręšimo bandyme, karbonatingame sekliau glėjiškame išplautžemyje, taikant skirtingas tręšimo sistemas, kompleksiškai ištirti armens pokyčiai bei sėjomainos augalų derlingumo tendencijos bei dėsningumai. Gauti nauji tyrimų duomenys apie organinių, organinių-mineralinių ir mineralinių trąšų poveikį glėjiškųjų išplautžemių tankiui, poringumui ir struktūriniams agregatams, organinės medžiagos ir humuso kokybinės sudėties pokyčiams, fosforo ir jo frakcijų pasiskirstymui, o taip pat jo azotingumui, kalingumui, bei augalų derlingumui keturlaukėje sėjomainoje. Šiais moksliniais tyrimais pagilintos žinios apie glėjiškųjų išplautžemių pagrindines savybes bei našumą, išsiaiškintos technologinių grandžių reikšmė apytakos procesų cikle dirvožemis-trąšos-augalas, kas yra aktualu mažėjant žemės ūkio paskirties derlingos žemės ištekliams. Karbonatingajame sekliau glėjiškame išplautžemyje daugiamečių tyrimų pagrindu išaiškintos tinkamiausios tręšimo sistemos ne tik pastoviam žemės ūkio augalų derliui gauti, bet ir užtikrinančios racionalų šio dirvožemio naudojimą bei jo našumo parametrų stabilizavimą ir gerinimą. Nustatytus dėsningumus galima taikyti rengiant rekomendacijas tręšimui, kurios atitiktų keliamus reikalavimus siekiant užtikrinti taršos mažinimą iš žemės ūkio šaltinių bei palaikytų ir gerintų glėjiškųjų išplautžemių derlingumą.

Tikslas – įvertinti tiesioginės sėjos, supaprastinto žemės dirbimo ir augalinių liekanų įtaką kai kuriems vasarinių rapsų agroekosistemos komponentams. Stacionarus dviejų veiksnių lauko eksperimentas įrengtas 1999 m. Aleksandro Stulginskio universiteto Bandymų stotyje. A veiksnys − šiaudų panaudojimas: šiaudai pašalinti (-Š); šiaudai susmulkinti ir paskleisti (+Š). B veiksnys − žemės dirbimos sistemos: įprastas gilus arimas 23–25 cm gyliu rudenį (GA), kontrolinis variantas; seklus arimas 10–12 cm gyliu rudenį (SA); seklus purenimas kultivatoriumi strėliniais noragėliais ir lėkštiniais padargais 8–10 cm gyliu rudenį (KL); seklus purenimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (RK); seklus žaliosios trąšos įterpimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (ŽTRK) ir tiesioginė sėja į neįdirbtą ražieną (ND). Vienoje bandymo dalyje šiaudai pašalinti, o kitoje dalyje susmulkinti ir paskleisti. Tiek fone be šiaudų, tiek fone su paskleistais šiaudais buvo tiriamos visos žemės dirbimo sistemos. Šiaudų įterpimas (+Š) neturėjo esminės įtakos tirtiems vasarinių rapsų agroekosistemos komponentams. Seklus purenimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (RK) ir seklus žaliosios trąšos įterpimas rotoriniu kultivatoriumi 5–6 cm gyliu prieš sėją (ŽTRK) esmingai padidino vasarinių rapsų daigų skaičių. Dirvožemio kietį armenyje didino visos neariminio žemės dirbimo sistemos. Šlyties pasipriešinimą didino taip pat visos neariminio žemės dirbimo sistemos tiek 0–10 cm... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of investigation – to evaluate effect of reduced soil tillage and plant residue on some rape agroecosystem components. Stationary two – factor field experiment was estab-lished in Aleksandras Stulginskis University at the Experimental station in 1999. Factor A – the use of straw: straw removed (-Š); straw chopped and spread (+Š). Factor B – tillage sys-tems: conventional deep ploughing at 23–25 cm depth in autumn (GA), control; shallow ploughing at 10–12 cm depth in autumn (SA); shallow loosening with tine coulter and disk implements at 8–10 cm depth in autumn (KL); shallow loosening with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (RK); shallow incorporation of green manure with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (ŽTRK) and no tillage, direct sowing (ND). In one field experiment part straw removed, and the other part chopped and spread. Both the background without straw and spread at the background of the straw was investigated all tillage systems. Straw incorporation (+Š) had no significant effect on studied rape agroecosystem components. Shallow loosening with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (RK) and shallow incorporation of green manure with rotary cultivator at 5–6 cm depth before sowing (ŽTRK) signitificantly increased the number of rape seedlings. All tillage systems in the soil plow layer increased the penetration resistence. All tillage systems significantly inc-reased shear strenght at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm and depth. The... [to full text]

Nos últimos anos o interesse pelo estudo da Terra Preta de Índio (TPI) tem aumentado em razão das suas características únicas em relação aos solos normalmente encontrados na região, como sua maior fertilidade natural. Diversos estudos relatam que a presença do chamado carbono pirogênico na composição das TPIs é a responsável por esta superioridade, entretanto ainda não se sabe se este afeta as propriedades físicas dos solos de TPI. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo comparar o comportamento de propriedades físico-hídricas de solos antrópicos (Terra Preta de Índio) com um solo adjacente por meio da determinação de suas propriedades físicas, e verificar a distribuição do carbono pirogênico entre os diferentes compartimentos da matéria orgânica em solos de TPI e adjacentes. Para este estudo foram coletadas amostras indeformadas em anéis volumétricos e blocos em uma área de TPI e adjacente. As áreas estão localizadas na Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, estado do Pará. As propriedades físicas analisadas foram textura, porosidade total, macro e microporosidade, curva de retenção da água no solo, condutividade hidráulica saturada, permeabilidade do solo ao ar e estabilidade de agregados. Para verificar o comportamento da matéria orgânica foi realizado o fracionamento físico, onde foram analisados a distribuição do carbono total e pirogênico nas diferentes frações da matéria orgânica. Verificou-se diferença nas duas áreas quanto às propriedades físicas porosidade total, macro e microporosidade, condutividade hidráulica do solo (Ksat), permeabilidade do solo ao ar (Ka), e retenção de água no solo, entretanto não foi possível verificar diferenças na estabilidade de agregados entre as duas áreas. A distribuição da matéria orgânica nas diferentes frações do solo foi distinta nas duas áreas, onde verificou-se que na área de TPI o C no solo foi predominante na fração macroagregados, enquanto que na área adjacente o carbono se localizou em maior quantidade na fração microagregados. Os valores de carbono pirogênico foram maiores na área de TPI do que na área adjacente, demostrando que a matéria orgânica das TPIs apresenta uma composição diferenciada, modificando o comportamento das propriedades físicas dos solos. / In recent years the interest in the study of Terra Preta de Indio or Amazonian Dark Earths (TPI) has increased, especially because of its unique characteristics when related to typical soils of the region, as its higher natural fertility. Several studies have reported that the presence of so-called pyrogenic carbon in its composition is responsible for this superiority, however it is not known if it affects the physical properties of TPI soils. This research aims to compare the behavior of physical and hydraulic properties of anthropic soils (Terra Preta de Indio) to an adjacent soil by determining its physical properties, and evaluating the distribution of the pyrogenic carbon between the different compartments of organic matter for both soils. For this study, undisturbed soil samples were collected in volumetric cylinders and blocks from a TPI and adjacent area. The areas are located in Caxiuanã National Forest, state of Pará, Brazil. The analyzed physical properties were texture, porosity, macro and microporosity, soil water retention curve, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil permeability to air and aggregate stability. A physical fractionation was performed to verify the behavior of organic matter, which analyzed the distribution of the total and pyrogenic carbon in the different fractions of organic matter. There were difference in the two areas regarding the physical properties as total porosity, macro and microporosity, soil hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), air permeability to soil (Ka), and soil water retention, however it was not possible to see differences in stability aggregates between the two areas. The distribution of organic matter in different soil fractions was different in the two areas, where it was found that in the TPI area, soil carbon was prevalent in the macroaggregates fraction, while the adjacent area had larger amounts in the microaggregates fraction. The values for pyrogenic carbon were higher in the TPI area, showing that the organic matter of TPIs has a different composition which modifies the behavior of physical properties in the soil.

Os movimentos de massa fazem parte da dinâmica da paisagem e se destacam como um dos principais processos geomorfológicos responsáveis pela evolução do relevo. Estes são condicionados por uma relação complexa de fatores naturais: geomorfológicos, geológicos e geotécnicos e hidrológicos. Tais tipos de movimentos de massa ficaram registrados em 17 e 18 de março de 1967 nas encostas da escarpa da Serra do Mar no município de Caraguatatuba, quando ocorreram de modo generalizado, causando um grande impacto ambiental, culminando em 120 mortes e 400 casas destruídas, mais concentrados em uma área de aproximadamente 180km2 em torno do município. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é investigar algumas propriedades físicas do solo a fim de analisar a influência destas na distribuição e na deflagração dos escorregamentos translacionais rasos. As amostras de solo foram coletadas em três pontos, em diferentes profundidades (lateral, superior e interior) de três cicatrizes de escorregamentos rasos de 1967. As seguintes propriedades foram analisadas: distribuição granulométrica, limites de Atterberg, porosidade, densidade, curvas de retenção de água e resistência ao cisalhamento. As amostras apresentaram valores altos para as frações de areia, cerca de 80%, com uma composição granulométrica variável, destacando a existência de areias siltosas e pouco argilosas e siltes pouco argilosos, com os horizontes de solos mais profundos formados predominantemente por materiais siltosos e/ou arenosos, enquanto os horizontes superficiais apresentaram-se mais argilosos. Ainda que com baixos índices de atividade e por muitas vezes inatividades, não apresentaram significativa variabilidade quanto aos índices físicos onde os corpos de prova não atingiram a saturação total, alcançando uma média percentual de 70% de umidade e valores para densidade e índices de vazios muito próximos, de 2,55 g/cm3 e 1,151 g/cm3, respectivamente quanto aos parâmetros de resistência. Os ângulos de atrito foram menores para os horizontes superficiais (29,1º e 25,8º) em detrimento das camadas subjacentes, 1,75m e 2,00m, (31,9º e 36,8º). É importante ressaltar que boa parte dos estudos já desenvolvidos sobre a temática Serra do Mar Paulista focam o mapeamento destes processos na paisagem e o papel dos parâmetros topográficos, sobretudo da declividade, na distribuição dos mesmos. Entretanto, são escassas as informações sobre a tipologia e as propriedades dos solos, em escala de detalhe que possam efetivamente influenciar a estabilidade das encostas da Serra do Mar. Espera-se, portanto, que este estudo possa subsidiar em melhor entendimento dos mecanismos de ruptura dos escorregamentos rasos neste compartimento geomorfológico. / Mass movements are part of the landscape dynamics and stand out as major geomorphological processes responsible for the evolution of relief. These are determined by a complex of natural factors: geomorphological, geological and geotechnical and hydrological. These types of mass movements were recorded on 17 and 18 March 1967 on the slopes of the escarpment of the Serra do Mar in the city of Caraguatatuba, when there were so widespread, causing a major environmental impact, resulting in 120 deaths and 400 homes destroyed more concentrated in an area of approximately 180km2 around the county. Therefore, the objective of this work is to investigate some physical properties of the soil in order to analyze their influence on the distribution and outbreak of shallow translational landsliding. Soil samples were collected at three points at different depths (side, top and interior) of three shallow landslide scars from 1967. The following properties were analyzed: size distribution, Atterberg limits, porosity, density, water retention curves and shear strength. The samples had high values for the sand fractions, about 80%, with a variable grain size composition, highlighting the existence of silty sands and silts and clay little bit clay, with deeper soil horizons formed predominantly silty materials and / or sandy, while the surface horizons were more clay. Even with low levels of activity and often outages, showed no significant variation between the physical indexes where the samples have not reached full saturation, reaching an average percentage of 70% moisture content and density values for indices and very empty next, at 2.55 g/cm3 and 1.151 g/cm3, respectively for the parameters of resistance. The friction angles were smaller in surface horizons (29.1 º and 25.8 º) over the underlying layers, 1.75 m and 2.00 m (31.9 º and 36.8 º). Importantly, many of the studies already undertaken on the subject Serra do Mar Paulista focus on the mapping of these processes in the landscape and the role of topographic parameters, especially the slope in their distribution. However, there is little information about the types and properties of soils in detail scale that can effectively influence the stability of the slopes of the Serra do Mar. It is hoped, therefore, that this study may support better understanding of failure mechanisms of shallow landslides in geomorphological compartment.

A compactação do solo tem sido objeto de estudo devido a utilização mais freqüente e intensa da mecanização e devido a sua influência negativa na qualidade física do solo às culturas. Os efeitos da compactação sobre a deterioração da estrutura do solo dependem de vários fatores, como, a textura, o conteúdo de carbono orgânico, o conteúdo de água no solo durante as operações de campo e a freqüência e intensidade da carga aplicada pelas máquinas e implementos utilizados no campo. Estes fatores são os responsáveis pelos diferentes níveis de compactação encontrados nos solos agrícolas, sendo que a influência destes é de importância fundamental para o desenvolvimento de estratégias que evitem ou pelo menos amenizem a compactação no perfil do solo. Neste sentido, este trabalho teve por objetivos (i) analisar os efeitos de diferentes níveis de carga de máquinas aplicados no solo sobre as propriedades físicas do solo; (ii) determinar propriedades físicas do solo em camadas superficiais e subsuperficiais de um solo cultivado por longo prazo em sistema de plantio direto; (iii) avaliar a qualidade física do solo através do parâmetro S; (iv) comparar as predições da pressão de preconsolidação estimada por diferentes métodos de ajuste com uma ampla variação textural do solo. Para isso, foi realizado um estudo de campo, conduzido em quatro experimentos na Suécia com tráfego de máquinas, onde diferentes pressões foram detectadas por sensores colocados em diferentes profundidades no solo, assim como a análise da densidade do solo e da resistência à penetração. Em outro estudo, propriedades dinâmicas e estáticas foram determinadas em diferentes camadas de um solo cultivado sob sistema de plantio direto há 14 anos, analisando a qualidade física do solo. E por final, a análise comparando diferentes métodos de ajuste para pressão de preconsolidação foi realizada. As propriedades físicas do solo refletiram os efeitos das cargas aplicadas no solo, demonstrando aumento da densidade do solo e da resistência à penetração. As propriedades estáticas do solo demonstraram a existência de uma camada mais densa no perfil do solo, porém as propriedades dinâmicas apresentaram resultados satisfatórios na mesma camada. A qualidade do solo avaliada pelo parâmetro S indicou que o solo possui boa estrutura física em todas as camadas estudadas. As comparações entre métodos de ajuste para a pressão de preconsolidação indicaram que superestimativas e subestimativas podem ocorrer quando se usa métodos diferentes, tornando difícil o uso de um valor absoluto de pressão de preconsolidação como um limite para as pressões exercidas no solo a fim de evitar a compactação do mesmo. / Soil compaction has been the subject of study for many years due to its implications for crop yield. Its effect on the deterioration of the soil structure depend on several factors, such as, soil texture, organic carbon content, water content during the field operations as well, the frequency and intensity of the load applied by the machines and implements used in the field. These factors are the responsible for the different levels of compaction found in the soil agricultural, and their effects are very importance for the development of strategies to avoid or to ameliorate the soil compaction in the soil profile. In this sense, this work took as objectives (i) to analyse the effects of different levels of load machines applied on the soil physical properties; (ii) to determine soil physical properties on topsoil and subsoil layers cultivated under no-tillage system; (iii) to evaluate the soil physical quality by S parameter; (iv) to compare the predictions of the precompression stress fitted by different methods ranging several soil textural classes. Then, it was carried out a field study, performed in four experiments in Sweden with machine traffic. Different load pressures were detected by sensors put in different depths in the soil, and also the bulk density and penetration resistance were determined. Another study, dynamic and static properties were determined in different soil layers under no-tillage. Besides that the soil physical quality was verified. Finally, comparisons between precompression stress fitted by different methods was done. The soil physical properties reflected the effects of loads applied on soil, demonstrating increase of the soil bulk density and of the penetration resistance. The soil static properties demonstrated to exist a denser layer in the soil profile, however the dynamic properties presented satisfactory results in the same layer. Soil physcal quality evaluated by the S parameter indicated a good soil physical structure in all the studied layers. The comparisons showed that the choice of method had a significant influence on the precompression stress values, becoming difficult the use of an absolute value of it, as a limit for the load pressures applied on soil to avoid the soil compaction.

A região amazônica possui extensas áreas que foram desmatadas e convertidas em sistemas de pastagens. A falta de técnicas na implantação e no manejo destes sistemas resultou em inúmeras áreas de pastagens degradadas. A condução de experimentos de campo visando a reversão deste quadro está sendo avaliada no presente estudo. A área em estudo está localizada na Fazenda Nova Vida, município de Ariquemes, Estado de Rondônia/RO. O solo da fazenda foi classificado como Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo. Os tratamentos utilizados consistiram em dois sistemas de plantio direto (arroz e soja), aplicação de herbicida no controle de invasoras, operação de gradagem e a pastagem controle. O Intervalo Hídrico Ótimo (IHO), a densidade do solo, resistência à penetração, macroporosidade, microporosidade, porosidade total e permeabilidade do solo ao ar foram determinadas. Não foi verificada diferença significativa entre os tratamentos utilizados. O solo estudado não apresentou restrições físicas ao crescimento de plantas. As variações na estrutura do solo são melhor avaliadas quando os fatores que afetam diretamente o crescimento de plantas são integrados em um único parâmetro. As propriedades físicas determinadas foram menos sensíveis que o IHO às alterações provocadas pelos sistemas de manejo. O IHO possui um grande potencial como índice de qualidade física do solo na avaliação de experimentos que visam a recuperação de pastagens degradadas, pois integra em um único parâmetro os fatores diretamente relacionados ao crescimento de plantas. / The Brazilian Amazon region has extensive areas that had been deforested and converted into pasture systems. The absence of adequate techniques in implementation and management of these pastures resulted in pasture degradation in several areas. Field experiments with objective of reverting the degradation process are being evaluated in this study. The field site was located at the Nova Vida farm, Ariquemes county, Rondonia State, Brazil. The soil at the farm was classified as "Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo" in agreement with Brazilian classification system. The treatments consisted of two no-tillage systems (rice and soybeans), weed control using herbicides, harrowing and control pasture. The Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR), soil bulk density, soil penetration resistance, macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity and soil air permeability were also evaluated. There was no significant difference between treatments under evaluation. The soil estudied did not show physical restrictions to plants growth. Soil structure variations are better evaluated when the factors that affect directly plant growth are integrated in a single parameter. The soil physical properties evaluated were less sensitive than the LLWR to alterations caused by the management systems. The LLWR has a great potential as a soil physical quality index in the evaluation of experiments designed to recover degraded pastures because it integrates in a single parameter the factors directly related to plant growth.