This study aimed to identify a set of soil attributes correlated to upland rice yield in order to establish the most adequate soil conditions to cultivate this cereal under no-tillage system. In Santo Antônio de Goiás, GO, in areas cropped with upland rice under no-tillage system for one, two or three years, respectively, rice yield was determined and soil samples were collected from soil layer of 0-0.10 m of an Acric Red Latosol (Oxisol) to determine physical, chemical and biological attributes of soil. Grain yield showed positive linear correlation with total nitrogen, copper, iron, manganese, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (MBN) contents, total enzymatic and acid phosphatase activities, microbial quotient and MBN:total N relationship, and negative with the microporosity and metabolic quotient. Based on multiple regression analysis, copper, iron and MBN contents and acid phosphatase activity were the soil attributes that together better explained rice yield.
Oryza sativa L. ; physical attributes; chemical attributes; biological attributes; soil quality