Desenvolvimento teorico - prático de um novo índice para avaliação conservacionista do preparo do solo.

Abstract

The physical properties of the soil are attributes that allow to evaluate the capacity that the soil can withstand tension, without generating fault in its structure, causing its degradation. With the variation of the physical parameters of the soil after a cultivation operation it is possible to evaluate the damages originating from the use of agricultural machines. Most of the effects of the mechanical requests of the agricultural machines generate soil compaction, by the type of management performed. In order to contribute to the evaluation of soil management, a study was carried out with a methodology of dimensional analysis applied to the physical parameters: soil density, soil water content, porosity, dry weighted diameter, cone index and roughness index related to soil preparation in two configurations (deep plowing and subsoiling). Pi-terms were obtained that related the phenomenon studied. Through the use of Buckinghan 's Theorem, non - dimensional equations were defined that defined a new index of soil conservation. With the value of this index it was possible to determine a range of variation for soil preparation where it can be concluded by its effect being a conservationist or not before the system of preparation of the soil.