The objective of this work was to characterize the growing systems related to the structural soil quality for plants development by the Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR). The study was developed using soil samples with preserved structure of a Distroferric Red Latossol under the conventional, no tillage and integrated growing systems in de county of Dourados-MS, Brazil. In each system 28 points were sampled, in 0-0.05, 0.05-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m deep layers, ending up with 84 samples by system which was used to adjust the water retention curve in the soil, soil resistance to penetration curve and porosity determination, all of them necessary to the LLWR determination. In the conventional and no-tillage systems the smallest restriction to de roots development was in the 0-0.05 m layer, while in the integration system the smallest limiting was in 0.10-0.20 m layer. In the conventional system, in the 0-0.05 m layer, the LLWR was equal to the available water capacity, in the direct and integrated systems the resistance to penetration was the limiting factor. The resistance to penetration was the major limiting factor in most of the studied situations.
integration; no-tillage system; water in soil
