Quality of soil cultivated with strawberry under conventional and organic tillage

Abstract

The maintenance of soil functions in agroecosystems is among the main challenges for the scientific community, nowadays. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the physical, chemical and biological soil quality indicators of three commercial strawberry production units, in Brazlândia, Distrito Federal, Brazil, being two of them managed under conventional tillage (Conv1 and Conv2) and the third under organic tillage (Org). The Conv1 consisted of strawberry cultivation in an area previously covered with pasture (Brachiaria spp.) for 12 years, without fertilization or stocking rate control; the Conv2 was characterized by strawberry cultivation in a succession/rotation cropping system with other horticultural species; and the Org was implemented after the green fertilization with maize intercropped with castor bean. The following soil quality indicators were evaluated: soil density, aggregate stability, organic matter, cation exchange capacity (CEC), electric conductivity, ?-glucosidase and acid-phosphatase. The values observed for physical indicators were generally considered sustainable for the Brazilian Savannah Oxisols. The organic matter contents were similar in all systems and the CEC was higher or close to the critical limit considered sustainable. Due to the high fertilizer input, the highest electric conductivity was observed for the Conv2, but there was no negative impact on yield. The ?-glucosidase and acid-phosphatase enzymes activity indicated a good soil biological quality in all the strawberry production units evaluated.