STRUCTURE AND WATER STORAGE IN AN ALFISOL UNDER CULTIVATED PASTURE, NATIVE FOREST AND EUCALYPTUS IN THE STATE OF RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Unsuitable management practices have led to soil compaction and degradation of soil structure. Identifying properties that better represent these alterations are important for recovery of soil structure and for recommendation of practices to avoid damage to soil structure. The aim of this study was evaluate the effect of different soil uses on the structure and water properties of an Alfisol. The study was carried out in an Alfisol in the municipality of Butia in the "Serra do Sudeste" physiographic region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The areas analyzed were anthropic forest consisting of species of trees and bushes (Forest); 5-year-old pasture, consisting of Brachiaria brizantha associated with Paspalum lourai and Trifolium sp. (Pasture); 20-year-old Eucalyptus saligna plantation (Eucalyptus 20); and 4.5-year-old, second rotation Eucalyptus saligna plantation (Eucalyptus 4.5). The following factors were evaluated in these areas: soil texture, water conductivity, soil porosity, bulk density, mean weight-diameter of aggregates (MWD), water retention curve, pore size distribution and S parameter. The following conclusions were drawn: up to 0.10 m depth in Pasture and 0.40 m depth in Eucalyptus 4.5, the aggregates are formed by the action of the texture and organic matter, and by the compressive effect from cows (in Pasture) and eucalyptus harvesting (in Eucalyptus 4.5), respectively. As depth increases, the MWD of aggregates decreases because of the reduction in organic matter and the increase in gravel and, especially in the Pasture and Eucalyptus 4.5 areas, because of the lesser effect of soil compression. Soil texture (sand, silt and clay) and organic matter have a significant influence on soil aggregation and, even in a small amount, gravel decreases the DMP of the aggregates because its low reactivity and greater diameter hinder the formation of stable aggregates. For soil water parameters, the forest and pasture areas have greater water availability, while a greater S parameter is related to greater water storage.