Field studies were conducted in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to evaluate 5 different managements of black oat ( Avena nuda) crop cover. The treatments comprised: 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 analysed 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 data were submitted to analysis of variance through the F test and the averages compared by the Duncan Test. Maintenance of crop covering in orchards 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 behaviour as the uncovered soil.
