With the objetive of studying soil physical characteristics of a dark red latosol under long term cultivation of sugar-cane monoculture, the present paper evaluated soil particle size distributions, soil density and porosity of soil samples from plots cultivated for 16, 30 and 50 years to sugar-cane as compared with soil samples from natural rain-forest. Results indicated significant changes in clay contents and soil density of the surface horizon, as a function of soil use. Changes were also observed in micro and macro porosities of these samples.
continuous cropping; monoculture; particle size distribution; sugar-cane; dark red latosol