This experiment had the objective of assessing the influence of management practices (disk harrowing, Pueraria phaseoloides and mowing) on the soil's bulk density and macro- as well as microporosity between the rows of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) planted in 1992 in the highland of the State of São Paulo. A Dark Red Latosol, from Jaboticabal County and a Yellow Red Podzolic from Tabapuã County, São Paulo State were sampled at four depths (0-10, 10-20, 20-30 and 30-40 cm) in the years 1998 and 1999, after six consecutive years of management. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with four replicates. At each depth 8 samples per treatment, per experiment and per year were collected, altogether 394 samples. The physical soil features (bulk density and macroporosity) were evaluated according to the applied management practices. Among the treatments applied between the rubber tree rows, mowing was the one that caused greatest soil compactness at all depths, demonstrated by the soil's high bulk density values as well as by reduced macroporosity, especially in the superficial soil layers.
mowing; Hevea brasiliensis; management; bulk density; macroporosity