Soil compaction limits grain yields. Among others factors, soil amendment with agricultural lime can contribute to micro-aggregate dispersion and the formation of compacted layers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lime on soil physical attributes related to soil compaction. The experiment was carried out in PVC columns, in a glass house, during 18 months. Sterilized and non-sterilized samples of a dystrophic Red Latosol (Hapludox) were incubated with 0, 1.9, 3.8, 5.7, 7.6 and 15.2 Mg ha-1. After the incubation period, the micro and macro porosity, soil density, clay dispersion, hydraulic conductivity and concentration of exchangeable Al, Ca and Mg and soil organic matter were evaluated. Soil density, clay dispersion, pH and Ca and Mg concentration increased with lime application, while macro porosity, hydraulic conductivity, soil organic matter, and Al decreased. The increase of pH and hydraulic conductivity were higher in the sterilized soil. Liming effects were more evident at a rate of 3.8 Mg ha-1. Soil sterilization increased the pH value and decreased the organic matter content and Ca, besides the hydraulic conductivity. Micro- aggregate dispersion in limed soils can, at least partially, contribute to soil compaction.
Aggregate stability; oxisol; iluviation; soil chemical attributes; physical attributes
