WATER INFILTRATION IN SOIL AS INFLUENCED BY CHISELING AND CROP ROTATIONS

In soils with physical and/or physical hydric restrictions for root growth, it may be a viable strategy to increase crop productivity by increasing water storage potential through improvements in water infiltration. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to determine water infiltration in a Hapludult in three crop rotations under no-tillage, with and without initial chiseling. Crop rotations consisted of: millet / soybean / sorghum / maize / sorghum; millet / soybean / Brachiaria ruziziensis / corn / Brachiaria ruziziensis; and millet / soybean / Brachiaria ruziziensis + castor bean / corn / Brachiaria ruziziensis + castor bean. Water infiltration in soil was evaluated in the field, using concentric discs at the soil surface and at depths of 0.10 and 0.20 m, in 2006 and 2007. After the first year, chiseling led to increased infiltration of water into the soil. Water infiltration was greatest in the crop rotation system with Brachiaria ruziziensis + castor bean. The activity of root systems of crops in the plots without chiseling increased the rate of water infiltration into the soil.