The continuous cultivation of the sugar cane for long-term under different management systems in soils of Coastal Tablelands can cause alterations in the organic matter and in the physical properties of the soil. The effects of different management systems with sugar cane on the properties of a Cohesive Yellow Argisol, in the Triunfo Sugar Cane Mill, in the State of Alagoas, Brazil, were studied. The management systems consisted of an irrigated area, an area not irrigated, an area with vinasse application and an area under native forest in original condition. Samples were collected from each area at 0-0.2, 0.2-0.4 and 0.4-0.8 m depths to determine the modification in the consistence limits, compaction parameters, stability of aggregates and physical fractions of the organic matter of the soil. The results indicated that the cultivation of sugar cane under not irrigated and irrigated systems promoted a more expressive reduction in the plasticity limit, optimum moisture for compaction and aggregate mean weight diameter, in relation to soil under native forest, due to reduction in the contents of total organic carbon and of particulate organic matter. The management system with vinasse application promoted smaller degradation in physical and chemical properties of the soil in relation to soil under native forest.
particulate organic matter; soil compaction; standard Proctor test; coastal tablelands
