Cattle trampling and penetration resistance of Oxisol in riparian forest

Abstract

Animal trampling without adequate humidity is one of the factors that causes plastic and non-recoverable deformations of the soil. The present work evaluated the physical properties and mechanical resistance of soil to penetration on the Oxisol of a forest fragment in Tremembé (SP). Soil samples with preserved structure were collected in the 0-20 cm and 20‑40 cm layers at trampled sites and forest sites. Soil use did not cause changes in mean values of soil density (1.25 kg dm^-3 on the trail and 1.22 kg dm^-3 in the forest) nor in soil moisture (293.15 g kg^-1 on the 301.5 g kg^-1 trail in the forest), but caused a change in penetration resistance in the 0-20 cm layer (8.15 MPa on the trail and 3.85 MPa in the forest). As for pH, potential acidity (H + Al), OM, base sum (SB) and base saturation (V), there were no significant differences between the trampled areas and the forest tracks. It was concluded that cattle trampling promoted resistance to penetration in the most superficial layer of the soil.