The soil management should be aimed at providing optimal conditions for plant growth and development. No-tillage is a quintessential conservative system; however, it has caused compaction, thus affecting crop development and yield. Sporadic soil chiseling in these areas has been used as an alternative to minimize the negative effects of an increase in bulk density. The soil bulk density, total porosity, air-filled porosity, maximum density, relative density, and wheat grain yield of an oxisol were assessed in two areas: under no-tillage for 6 years and under no tillage chiseled. Soil water potential was monitored throughout the wheat crop cycle by using electronic sensors and a datalogger. Results show that sporadic chiseling of the soil under no-tillage reduced soil density and relative density by 5%, increased total porosity and changed the soil water dynamics, resulting in a higher volume of water-free pores (7.6%) throughout the wheat crop cycle, remarkably increasing grain yield (682kg ha-1).
soil compaction; no-tillage; chiseling; relative bulk density
