The soil compaction, induced by different traffic intensities, can cause damage in the soil structure, reducing the coffee plantation production. The objectives of this study was to develop a model of load support capacity for a Red Latosol (Oxisol) under Cerrado and under coffee and to investigate the effect of coffee plantation management on soil pore distribution and soil water retention, in different sampling positions in the coffee plantation. The stud site is located at 18 º 59 ' 15 '' S and to 46 º 56 ' 47 '' W Patrocínio county, Minas Gerais State, and has been cultivated with coffee (Coffea arabica L.), at a 4 x 1 m spacing, since 1995. The different sampling positions in the coffee plantation were: under canopy (PS), cart track (LT) and in the middle of the interrows (EL). Besides, samples were also collected in a native cerrado vegetation (MN) to obtain the soil load capacity models. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected at each sampling point at a depth of 10-13 cm to assess the following physical-hydric attributes: preconsolidation pressure (σp), gravimetric moisture content (U), bulk density (Ds), total porosity (PT), macropores (Ma), micropores (Mi), soil water retention curve, organic matter (MO), texture, particle density and liquid, plastic, and contraction limits. The results obtained suggest that the load support capacity of the soil decreases in the following order: LT > MN = PS > EL. The EL position was most susceptible to soil compaction due to lower load support capacity associated with subsoiling just before sampling, decreasing the soil mechanical resistance. The soil load support capacity under MN and PS was homogeneous, indicating a soil structure favorable to the development of the coffee root system. The available water in the soil was higher in EL and PS and lower in LT and MN positions. The micropores of soil under LT were larger than in the EL, which was disturbed by the subsoiling.
uniaxial compression test; preconsolidation pressure; soil structure; soil porosity; soil water; Coffea arabica L.
