Biological fertilizer and plant cover in the physical properties of soil

The physical properties of the soil are an essential factor to obtain high yield of soybean and maize crops. The objective of this study was to verify the effects of biological fertilization and plant cover on soil physical properties and yield of soybean and maize crops. The study was developed in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 crop seasons. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with two conditions of biological fertilizer (with and without) and three soil cover conditions ( Pennisetum glaucum, Crotalaria ochroleuca and clear fallow). The soil physical properties were evaluated in the field cultivated with soybean and maize, using a forest fragment with control. It was observed a significant effect of the biological fertilization and soil cover conditions on the increase of volumetric moisture, macroporosity and total porosity, as well as the reduction of microporosity and soil penetration resistance. The use of the P. glaucum and C. ochroleuca increases the grains yield of the soybean and maize crops. Thus, it was concluded that the biological fertilization and the plant cover improved the physical quality of the soil, increasing yields of soybean and maize with the use of P. glaucum and C. ochroleuca .