As human population and demand for food grow, new technologies have emerged to increase productivity and reduce production costs. If these technologies on the one hand have increased production and reduced costs, on the other hand the intense traffic of machinery and tractors have modified the soil structure, causing compaction and compromising agricultural productivity. In this study we relate soil moisture to soil resistance to penetration in four soil types under four moisture conditions, using a hydraulic-electronic penetrometer containing a DGPS navigation system. The results showed there were changes in the friction conditions between the cone and the soil as moisture increased, facilitating rod penetration and making the soil more plastic due to the lubricating action among its particles. The highest values of soil resistance to penetration were detected around the soil shrinkage limit. There was a negative correlation between cone index and moisture. The best fit for all soils was provided by a decreasing linear function, with high coefficients of determination. Under higher soil moisture conditions, soil resistance to penetration values can be considered not to prevent root growth. Soil type also had a significant impact on cone index results.
soil density; cone index; consistency limits
