Tillage and plant species that compose the soil management and crop rotation systems have a pronounced effect on soil physical quality, especially on aggregate stability. This study aimed to evaluate the degree of aggregate stability of a soil cultivated under reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT) using distinct summer cover crops. Two experiments were carried out in Chapecó, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil on a Hapludox under RT (1993-1998) and CT (1994-1998). Five crop systems were evaluated in each tillage system: maize + Cajanus cajan (pigeon pea), maize + Stilozobiun niveum (mucuna), maize + Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean), maize + Glycine sp (black soybean), and single maize. Compared to the native forest, cultivation degraded the soil physical properties. It reduced the aggregate stability and organic carbon concentration. The summer cover crops increased the organic carbon concentration, but had no effect on the degree of clay flocculation and aggregate stability. Soil recovery by cover crops was more effective when using reduced tillage, evidencing the importance of management systems of low soil mobilization and high input of plant residues to increase organic carbon.
soil management; cover crops; clay flocculation; soil physical quality
