Soil physical characteristics were evaluated, after seven years (1995 to 2001), on a typical Dystrophic Red Latosol located in Coxilha, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Six systems integrating crop production with livestock and a subtropical forest were evaluated. Both winter and summer crops were seeded under no-tillage. Cropping systems and soil of different sampling depths were compared using the contrast procedure. In the I and II sistems and in the forest, the soil density and the resistance to penetration increased in the top layer (0-0,05m) concerning the deeper layer (0,10-0,15m). In the II system, total porosity and microporosity decreased in the surface. In the subtropical forest, the some was observed in relation to total porosity and microporosity. The forest showed decrease on soil density and resistance to penetration, compared to most crop systems studied, from 0-0,05m layer to 0,10-0,15m layer. Soil degradation in the systems could not be considered severe.
production systems; lay farming; soil bulk density
