Soil pans caused by tillage operation may restrict root growth thus reducing yield. Physical properties of soil such as bulk density and soil strength have been used as parameters for management decision in order to promote root growth. This work was carried out to evaluate the relationship among these soil parameters and root growth, in a 7 year field experiment with five soil tillage systems and soybean (Glycine Max L.). The tillage systems combined summer and autumn tillage with disk harrow, chisel plow and no-tillage treatments. Higher soil strength and bulk density were observed in no-tillage system in the 0-0.3 m layer and in conventional tillage in the 0.1-0.2 m layer. Root density was higher in no-tillage treatment compared with disk harrow treatment. Root concentration in the upper 0.1 m were of 50% at the disk harrow, 30% at the chisel plow and 40% in the no-tillage. Below 0.3 m there was no significant difference among the tillage systems for all parameters. Reduction on root growth was found when bulk density and soil strength were higher in the 0.1-0.2 m layer and the rate between 0.1-0.2 and 0-0.1 m layers were high.
tillage systems; compaction; root density; penetration resistance; bulk density