Biomass Productivity and Physical Properties of the Soil after Cultivation of Cover Plant in the Autumn and Winter

The species that can be used as cover plants are many, which makes it difficult to make a choice, since there is no ideal plant, and it is necessary to make a survey of the most favorable species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass productivity of cover crops in autumn and winter (Poaceaea and Fabaceae), and their effects on soil physical properties at different depths. The experimental design was of randomized blocks with subdivided plots, with six replications. The plots consisted of four cover crops in autumn and winter; two Poaceae (black oats and brachiaria) and two Fabaceae (fried pea and white lupine). The subplots were at different depths of evaluations; 0 - 0.05; 0.05 - 0.10 and 0.10 - 0.15 m to determine the pore volume and soil density; and 0 to 0.40 m to resistance to penetration. Were evaluated: dry mass yield; soil surface cover index; volume of macropores, micropores, total porosity; soil density; and soil resistance to penetration. It was verified that the family of plants Fabaceae showed higher dry matter yield (4400 kg·ha-1), however, the lower soil cover rate (68.71%). The highest volume of macropores (0.05 m3·m-3) and the lowest soil resistance to penetration were observed in the soil cultivated with Poaceae family cover plants, in the respective depths of 0 - 0.10 m and 0.05 - 0.20 m.