AGGREGATE STABILITY IN A DYSTROPHIC COHESIVE YELLOW LATOSOL OF A COSTAL PLAIN UNDER DIFFERENT SUGARCANE RESIDUE APPLICATION

The potential yield of sugarcane depends on factors related to climate, soil and the plant variety. Management systems that provide the addition of organic waste to the soil can cause changes in physical attributes of the soil, enhancing the growth of the root system and sugarcane yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different management systems at several levels of organic residue addition on the distribution and indices of aggregate stability of dystrophic cohesive Yellow Latosol of coastal plains, in the State of Alagoas. Plots were selected in the following sugarcane-growing areas: area under irrigation management system, area fertigated with vinasse, and an area under application of vinasse + filter cake. These management systems were compared to each other and to a control (native forest.). To evaluate the distribution and stability indices of soil aggregates, soil samples were randomly collected in the different areas, at the depths 0-0.20; 0.20-0.40 and 0.40-0.60 m, at points between two neighboring sugarcane rows. The results were subjected to analysis of variance and the mean compared by the Tukey test at 5 % significance. Simple correlation analysis was performed between some measured variables. Results showed that the different management systems induced changes in the aggregate distribution and that the stabilization of soil aggregates in the surface layer dependeds on the organic matter content and the action of successive cycles of soil wetting and drying. The studies of simple correlations showed that total organic C and aggregate stability indices were significantly and positively correlated.