Aggregation dynamics of a sandy soil under five cropping systems in rotation and in succession

Cover crops along with proper soil management recover or maintain soil physical properties such as aggregation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cropping systems, cover crops, and soil organic matter (SOM) content on the temporal variation of soil aggregation in an Hapludalf in its natural state and under different cropping systems. The experiment was conducted at the experimental station of the Soil Department of the UFSM, Brazil. Undisturbed soil samples were collected in 60 day-intervals throughout an year Ocotober/1997 to October/1998) from a depth of 0-0.05 m and analyzed for aggregate stability, SOM content, and selected physical and chemical properties. The greatest structural stability was observed under grassland and the smallest stability for bare soil due to the intense soil tillage and reduction in SOM, increasing the proportion of small aggregates. Cover crops formed and stabilized soil aggregates directly, and the stability and proportion of aggregates were greater under cultivation systems that increase SOM and cover the soil during the whole year. Different cropping sequences affect soil aggregation distinctly, depending on the time of the year and time of establishment of the crops.