Long-Term Crop–Livestock Systems Improve Water Infiltration and Soil Physical Properties

The long-term effects of agricultural management systems (AMS) on soil physical properties and water infiltration in tropical Ferralsols remain incompletely understood. We assessed steady-state infiltration rates and soil physical properties in a Ferralsol after 20 years under five AMS in a Cerrado–Atlantic Forest transition area in Brazil: no-tillage (NT), conventional tillage (CT), integrated crop–livestock in crop (CL-C) and livestock (CL-L) phases, and permanent pasture (PP). Soil samples were collected at four depths, and infiltration was measured using the InfiAsper simulator at 60 mm h−1. Integrated systems showed the best topsoil (0–0.05 m) physical condition, with higher macroporosity, aggregate stability, and organic carbon than NT and CT. Surface bulk density under PP was similar to integrated systems; higher bulk density values were observed under NT and CT at 0.10–0.20 m. Steady-state infiltration rates ranged from 26.40 mm h−1 (PP) to 54.32 mm h−1 (NT), with integrated systems averaging 59% higher than PP. Total SOC stocks (0–0.40 m) were significantly greater under CL-L (92.7 Mg C ha−1) and CL-C (88.1 Mg C ha−1) than PP (73.5 Mg C ha−1; p = 0.004), driven by higher subsoil SOC concentrations under integrated systems; the lower subsoil bulk density under PP partially attenuated its calculated stock. These results demonstrate that integrated crop–livestock systems simultaneously improve soil physical condition, water infiltration, and carbon accumulation per unit land area, supporting sustainable intensification in the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes.