Water Dynamics and Hydraulic Functions in Sandy Soils: Limitations to Sugarcane Cultivation in Southern Brazil

Jessica Lima Viana (), Jorge Luiz Moretti de Souza, André Carlos Auler, Ricardo Augusto de Oliveira, Renã Moreira Araújo, Aaron Kinyu Hoshide, Daniel Carneiro de Abreu and Wininton Mendes da Silva
Additional contact information
Jessica Lima Viana: AgriSciences, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Caixa Postal 729, Sinop 78550-970, MT, Brazil
Jorge Luiz Moretti de Souza: Departamento de Solos e Engenharia Agrícola (DSEA), Universidade Federal do Paraná, Campus Universitário de Curitiba, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, Curitiba 80035-050, PR, Brazil
André Carlos Auler: Departamento de Solos e Engenharia Agrícola (DSEA), Universidade Federal do Paraná, Campus Universitário de Curitiba, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, Curitiba 80035-050, PR, Brazil
Ricardo Augusto de Oliveira: Departamento de Fitotecnia e Fitossanitarismo (DFF), Universidade Federal do Paraná, Campus Universitário de Curitiba, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, Curitiba 80035-050, PR, Brazil
Renã Moreira Araújo: Departamento de Fitotecnia e Fitossanitarismo (DFF), Universidade Federal do Paraná, Campus Universitário de Curitiba, Rua dos Funcionários 1540, Curitiba 80035-050, PR, Brazil
Aaron Kinyu Hoshide: AgriSciences, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Caixa Postal 729, Sinop 78550-970, MT, Brazil
Daniel Carneiro de Abreu: AgriSciences, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Caixa Postal 729, Sinop 78550-970, MT, Brazil
Wininton Mendes da Silva: Empresa Mato-Grossense de Pesquisa, Assistência e Extensão Rural (EMPAER-MT), Centro Político Administrativo, Cuiabá 78049-903, MT, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-22

Abstract: Crop cultivation on sandy soils is susceptible to water stress. Therefore, we determined the physical-hydric attributes of a Latossolo Vermelho distrófico (Oxisol) in northwestern Paraná state, Brazil. Soil samples were collected at depth ranges of 0 to 0.2 m, 0.2 to 0.4 m, and 0.4 to 0.6 m. We measured clay, silt, sand, fine and coarse sand contents, soil particle density, soil bulk density, total porosity, microporosity, and macroporosity. We also measured soil characteristics such as saturated and unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivities, pore distribution, water retention, available water capacity, and easily available water. We also estimated soil moisture, matric potential at field capacity, and time at field capacity. Validation of associations among these soil physical-hydric attributes was performed using principal component analysis. For the sandy soils analyzed, the distributions of coarse and fine sand fractions were measured for better evaluation of the soil’s physical and hydric attributes. Higher coarse sand contents increased soil hydraulic conductivities, maximum pore diameter, and macroporosity while reducing microporosity. Fine sand content reduced conductivity and increased soil water retention in subsurface layers. Simulated sugarcane yield increased with soil water storage. These results support improving crop simulation modeling of sugarcane to support sustainable intensification in regions with sandy soils.

Keywords: available water capacity; hydraulic conductivity; pore distribution curve; retention curve; soil texture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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