| ABSTRACT This study tested the hypothesis that the limiting values of S-index, proposed in the literature can not be used to determine the degradation condition of soils under soybean cultivation in the state of Pará, Brazil. The objective was to determine limiting values of S-index using soil physical attributes and validate it with soybean root growth, in soils with different textural classes. For the experimental design, the following treatments were established: five compaction levels for sandy loam and sandy clay loam soils and three levels for clayey and very clayey soils. The following physical parameters were analysed: particle-size distribution, soil bulk density, critical soil bulk density, degree of compaction, soil-water retention curve,... |
