Agricultural management influences the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the soil, affecting soil quality, the productivity capacity of the agricultural system and its vulnerability to erosion process, frequently increasing it. The purpose of this work was to study the influence of two agricultural management systems on physical soil quality of a Rhodic Hapludox occurring in Campinas, State of São Paulo, and their effects not only on corn crop development and yield, but also on soil and nutrient loss by erosion. Two management systems were compared, named direct drilling system (DDS) and conventional system (CS), by applying them in experimental plots having runoff collectors to assess soil and nutrient losses by erosion. Soil physical and chemical attributes were also analyzed, as well as biometrical and yield data of the corn crop. The results indicate that agricultural management has differently influenced soil quality, and that soil physical indicators were better under the conventional system (CS). However, biometrical indicators, especially plant height, were superior under direct drilling system (DDS). There was also influence of agricultural management on erosion control, occurring greater soil losses and particularly larger phosphorous and organic matter losses from plots under conventional system (CS).
Direct drilling system; conventional system; soil compaction; quality indicators
