Effect of soil compaction on shoot and root growth of maize cultivars

The objective of this study was to evaluate shoot and root development of two cultivars of maize (Zea mays L.) (the hybrid AG-5011 and the variety Sol da Manha), in soil submitted to four different levels of compaction. Plants were grown in pots with a medium texture distroferric Red Latosol. The pots were built with three rings of PVC superposed, with 14.5 cm internal diameter and 35 cm high, and the bulk density of the subsoil layer was adjusted for 1.28, 1.42, 1.56 and 1.69 Mg m(-3). Forty days after plant emergence, plants were assessed for the amount of shoot and root dry matter, root length density and root mean diameter. Soil compaction compromised both hybrid and variety, at the same intensity. In spite of altering the root system distribution along the soil profile, the subsoil physical impediment did not reduce total maize root production. Root mean diameter showed high correlation with root growth within the compaction soil layer. Roots of maize are not able to break compacted soil layer with 1.4 MPa of penetrometer resistance.