Abstract

Developing indices to evaluate soil physical quality can facilitate diagnosis and decision-making. In this context, intrinsic soil air permeability (K_air) is a physical parameter very sensitive to structural changes due to soil management. However, it is important to establish a standard K_air, considering a reference soil physical state. Thus, the present study proposes to create an index called relative soil air permeability (K_airr), taking as reference the physical state of maximum bulk density, obtained by normal Proctor test. K_airr is the ratio between compacted soil air permeability (K_airc) and actual soil air permeability (K_air). K_airr was evaluated using disturbed and undisturbed samples of a Latossolo and a Planossolo. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments (T₁-Latossolo 0-0.1 m; T₂-Latossolo 0.1-0.2 m; T₃-Planossolo 0-0.1 m and T₄-Planossolo 0.1-0.2 m) and eight replicates. K_airr was equal to 0.1032 and 0.3547 in the Latossolo and to 0.4115 and 0.1923 in the Planossolo, in the 0-0.1 and 0.1-0.2 m layers, respectively. These characteristic values observed in both soils and layers are due to the management adopted in the area. In Latossolo, the use of medium harrow has made the 0.1-0.2 m layer more restrictive to air movement, whereas the Planossolo showed lower values of relative soil air permeability in the 0-0.1 m layer due to animal grazing, which has greater impact on the superficial portion of the soil.

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