The objetive of the work was to evaluate effects of bovine stepping on the physical proprieties of a lowland soil where a mixture of winter pastures were grown. The plant species were italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), white clover (Trifolium repens) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). The soil is classified as an albaqualf, previously leveled with a 0,06% gradient. The experimental design was a randomized block in which each plot measured 0,5ha forming six experimental units under continuous grazzing. The soil treatments were the occasions in which the samplimg were taken; T1 = just before entrance of the animals, T2 = immediately after their exit and T3 = six months later. The animals were 8-10 months old calves with an initial load of 480kg/ha-1 of live load and the residual pasture mass was about 1000kg/ha-1. Animal stepping caused an increase on soil density and a reduction in total porosity. An increase on soil density occurred at the first 5cm soil depth. Six months with no stepping were not sufficient for plant roots to decrease soil compactation.
soil compaction; soil density; soil porosity; lowland management
