In areas of eucalyptus regrowth, field operations such as harvesting, pesticides spraying, fertilization and manuring contribute to soil compaction. In two areas of eucalypt (Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden) regrowth, with soil of different textures, belonging to Cia. Suzano of Paper and Cellulose, thirty planting rows were selected to evaluate eucalyptus productivity at seven years of age and soil physical characteristics. Undisturbed soil samples were obtained at three depths: 0 - 10; 10 - 20 and 20 - 30 cm; and soil resistance at 60 cm, using a penetrometer SC - 60. Negative correlation between soil density and eucalypt yield was obtained at 10 - 20 cm (r² = 0,86) depth in sandy soil and, at 20 - 30 cm in clayey soil (r² = 0,77). At same depths and textures, correlation coefficients between soil penetrometer resistance and eucalyptus productivity were 0,29 and 0,93, respectively. Correlation coefficients between soil bulk density and soil penetrometer resistance were 0,84, in sandy soil and 0,68 in clayey soil. In traffic lanes, eucalyptus productivity was reduced up to 66% compared to non-traffic lanes due to soil compaction. Soil surface layer seems to recover its original soil bulk density values seven years after harvesting, and soil compaction reached its maximum at 10 - 20 cm depth on clayey soil and, 20 - 30 cm on sandy soil. There was negative correlation (r²= 0,86) between soil bulk density (10-20 cm layer), and eucalyptus wood volume on sandy soil. On clayey soil, this negative correlation (r² = 0,77) occurred at 20-30 cm depth.
soil physical characteristics; eucalypt harvesting; soil penetrometer resistance
