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ABSTRACT Soil steady water infiltration rate (SIR) is a key variable in hydrological modeling, but its relationship to antecedent soil moisture is not yet well understood. We tested the hypothesis that the SIR decreases with the increase in antecedent moisture, and that this relationship depends on permeability to water on the soil surface, the measurement method, and the measurement period. We conducted an experiment in an Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo Distrófico abrúptico (Psammentic Paleudult – Soil Taxonomy), measuring infiltration in up to 14 antecedent moisture conditions under two soil structural conditions (no-till and no-till with subsoiling), with two measurement methods (double ring and Cornell infiltrometers), and for up to 48 h, with ten replications. In addition, vertical effective hydraulic conductivity of the saturated profile (Kef) was determined with Darcy’s equation for N layers. Crop succession used in the area was black oats and ryegrass in the winter and soybean in the summer. The SIR decreased to as little as 7.7 % of its original value with the increase in antecedent moisture; it was ~200 % greater in the treatment with subsoiling compared to no-till alone, and ~80 % greater when measured with the Cornell infiltrometer than with the double ring infiltrometer. Nevertheless, the effects of the method and the soil structural condition declined with the increase in antecedent moisture, confirming our hypothesis. In soil initially nearly saturated (degree of saturation ~90 %), the SIR drew near Kef (12.7 mm h-1) under the two soil structural conditions, especially when measured with the double ring infiltrometer. In contrast, increasing the time for measuring infiltration (>2 h) did not generate a new lower SIR level. The SIR decreases with the increase in antecedent soil moisture, and this relationship depends on the permeability to water of the surface layers and the measurement method. The SIR determined with infiltrometers better corresponds to vertical infiltration the nearer the soil is to saturation before beginning measurement.

ABSTRACT In hydrological modeling and for the development of projects related to soil and water conservation and civil engineering, determination of water infiltration variables into the soil plays a key role. However, measuring infiltration with manual infiltrometers is work-intensive and requires several people, which casts doubts on the consistency of the process description. Our objective was to develop automated and compact systems for data acquisition by double-concentric-ring and Cornell infiltrometers. The systems are based on air differential pressure sensors and microcontrollers using open-source software and a simple construction. We developed ten sets of automatic infiltrometers for each method that were properly calibrated. The equipment was validated in the field, and the alignment of the automatically measured with the hand-measured infiltration data was considered satisfactory. The proposed systems make data records of infiltration and associated variables possible, with less operator dependence than manual measurement strategies. In addition, the enhanced resolution resulting from infiltrometer automation makes the infiltration curve more representative, especially in the initial infiltration stage.

Integrated crop-livestock systems are being increasingly used to intensify food production and make it more sustainable. On the other hand, most studies have focused on extensive systems. This paper analyzed the effects of different managements on soil and plants in an intensive integrated system for milk production. An experiment of management systems was installed in southern Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, on a Latossolo Vermelho (Oxisol), in 2015 to evaluate: rotational grazing of dairy cows in the winter; rotational grazing of dairy cows in winter followed by soil chiseling; and ungrazed area (control). Soil physical properties and yields of crops were evaluated. Trampling by dairy cows increased soil bulk density by 24 % (0.0-0.05 m), but did not influence yields of subsequent soybean or maize. Chiseling reduced the bulk density of the uppermost layer by 19 %, but did not affect the yields of subsequent crops. It was concluded that in years with abundant water, dairy cattle grazing in an integrated crop-livestock system in Southern Brazil compacts the soil surface, but does not compromise the soil physical processes related to the growth and development of subsequent crops.

ABSTRACT A widespread assumption among researchers and technicians is that stony soils are more susceptible to degradation. However, the role of rock fragments in the hydrology of stony soils, especially in regard to infiltration, is still a research gap. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that an increase in rock fragments in the soil profile increases the water infiltration rate. Infiltration tests using a double-ring infiltrometer were conducted on February 11, 2021, and December 11, 2022, at three sites of Entisols with different fractions of rock fragments. The results supported the hypothesis of this study. The infiltration rate was up to sixteen times greater in profiles whose horizons had at least 60 % rock fragments in relation to profiles with a lower fraction of rock fragments. These findings provide evidence that some stony soils may not be as susceptible to degradation by water erosion as it was suposed.