The experiment was managed in the Didactic Orchard of the Agricultural Center of Palma, which belongs to the Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel). The treatments consisted of 5 different managements of black oat crop cover: incorporation of black oat to soil; chemical management with herbicide; lodging; mowing at 5 cm and control (uncovered soil). The sowing of the oat was accomplished by April of 2002 and the installation of the experiment, by the end of August of the same year. The analyzed variables were percentage of soil moisture at a depth of 15 cm, temperature of the soil at a depth of 5 cm, percentage of organic matter of the soil, soil resistance to the penetration and identification and degree of infestation by weeds. The experiment was managed in randomized blocks, with 3 blocks, 5 treatments and one repetition. The data were submitted to analysis of the variance through F test and the averages compared by Duncan Test. Maintenance of crop covering in orchard propitiated smaller temperature and larger soil moisture; the soil turn-over increased the diversity of weeds and the incorporation of black oat, after 60 days, had the same behavior as the uncovered soil.
soil covering; organic matter; Avena strigosa; soil physical properties
