The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of management system employing soil conservation practices in the coffee root system distribution and in the structure of two Latosols after six years in the crop establishment in Alto São Francisco Valley, MG. Three random trenches were made lengthwise along the row planting (0.70 x 1.50 m) in a gibbsitic Latosol and a kaolinitc Latosol both under soil management system employing soil conservationist practices. The root system evaluation was done by crop profile methods and 2D image analyze, with subsequent surface mapping of the root variables analyzed by kriging. Intact soil cores were sampled for pore diameter distribution analysed by X-ray CT scan. The roots and pores were classified by diameter:1, > 1 and ≤ 3 and > 3 mm. The coffee root system in both soils under study on the same management system showed good branching in horizontal and vertical direction. The highest root concentration occurred at 0.20-0.34 m depth in kaolinitic Latosol. In gibbsitic Latosol the root distribution was uniform, especially in the vertical soil profile reaching greater depths. The highest occurrence of fine roots in the gibbsitic Latosol occurred at 0.80-0.94 m depth.
roots morphology; image analyze; X-ray CT scan; kriging; Coffea arabica L
