Understanding and quantifying the impact of land use and soil management on soil organic carbon (SOC) levels and physical properties is essential for the development of a sustainable agriculture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate some physical properties and SOC of an Oxisol in the Northwest of the state of Paraná, under different use and soil management systems, i.e., under native forest, pasture, cassava, and sugarcane. Disturbed soil samples were collected for particle size, particle density, proctor and organic carbon analyses and undisturbed samples (rings) to determine bulk density (Ds) and soil porosity. Results indicated that the land use and management systems induced changes in the soil physical properties in comparison to native forest. This was inferred from the higher values of soil Ds, maximum bulk density, and relative bulk density, and the lower values of macroporosity, total porosity, SOC and soil carbon stock, in the following growing order: pasture, cassava and sugarcane. However, the areas are not considered physically degraded.
proctor test; porosity; bulk density; soil degradation
