For increasing agricultural production, Brazil opted to enlarge the cultivated area, and indiscriminate mechanization was efficient at the first moment, although it altered adversely the soil properties with the passage of time. At the same time, conservation practices, like the direct sowing under the straw (No Tillage) were adopted which is a reality in Southern Brazil. Considering this, the susceptibility for compaction of two classes of soil was evaluated under no tillage system, with and without free organic matter. The Proctor test was used to measure the degree of compaction. The results of a medium texture Cambissol showed there was no difference in susceptibility for compaction. The clay textured Red Latossol, showed no difference in the maximum apparent density, although there was significant difference in water content at maximum density. The values altered from 0.249 g g-1, at a maximum compaction point without free organic matter to 0.283 g g-1 with free organic matter.
Proctor; no tillage; organic matter
