In southern Brazil there is spontaneous occurrence of alexandergrass (Urochloa plantaginea (Link) R.D. Webster) in crops during summer, and this plant has great potential forage production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in physical characteristics and soil organic matter in pastures of Alexandergrass with different sward heights, in the presence and absence of animal trampling. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station IAPAR, in Pato Branco. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replications. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot factorial model during the grazing period. The plots consisted of levels of the factor height of pasture management (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 m), while the subplots consisted of areas with (grazed by goats) and without animal trampling (manual cutting). After the grazing period, the variables organic matter levels, bulk density, total porosity, macro and micro porosities of the soil were evaluated. Generally, the management height of alexandergrass, in the presence or absence of trampling, did not significantly affect the physical characteristics and soil organic matter after the first cycle of treatment application. Animal trampling caused no additional compression and even with animal grazing, the organic matter levels in the soil remained high.
No-till system; soil management; soil cover; soil organic matter
