Soil Density and Root Length of Brachiaria Decumbens Stapf. In Consortium with Different Woody Legumes In the ‘Zona Da Mata' of Pernambuco State, Brazil.

Studies concerning the roots of grasses intercropped with legumes are scarce, not matching the importance of this component in the production and development of plants. This study aimed to evaluate soil moisture, soil density, and the root system of Signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) in consortium with woody legumes, in the ‘Zona da Mata’ of Pernambuco State, Brazil. The legumes used were: Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, Bauhinia cheilantha (Bong.) Steud., Mimosa caesalpinifolia Benth and Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud. Soil and root system were sampled in transects across legume rows, with five points per transect, based on the distance from legume rows. Soil samples were collected with an auger from 0- to 20-cm soil depth. The design was a randomized block with four replications. Soil density varied with legume species and distance from legume rows, ranging from 1.13 to 1.26 g/cm³. Soil moisture showed no significant differences between treatments and sampling sites. Root length and root length density was greater in distant points from legume rows (0.37 and 0.71 cm/cm³ for the nearest and furthest point from legume row, respectively), with no significant difference between legume treatments. Presence of shrubby legumes alters soil and root characteristics of signal grass pastures. Long term studies are important to verify whether these changes will affect pasture productivity.