This experiment aimed to verify the reaction of soyabean and maize cultures sown 38 days near or after chemical or mechanical handling of different soil coverings. The experiment was carried out at the experimental Station of Unesp, Ilha Solteira Campus, in the municipality of Selviria, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, during the agricultural year of 2001/02. The covering cultures used were: rice, sorghum, Brachiaria decumbens [ Urochloa decumbens] and B. brizantha [ U. brizantha], millet [ Pennisetum glaucum] and Eleusine coracana. It was observed that the covering cultures showed good environment adaptation in dry mass production. The maize productivity was larger when the covering cultures handling was mechanically accomplished. The interval between handling and sowing of soyabean and maize culture is important only for rice or Brachiaria decumbens covering cultures; in this case, a 38-day previous handling is recommended. Maize yield was inferior when sown on sorghum residues.
