Through the interpretation of soil attributes, it is possible to characterize the changes resulting from the adoption of different managements. The use of sustainable and conservationist production systems, such as the use of cover crops, has contributed to the improvement of the physical, chemical and biological attributes of the soil. This study aimed to analyze the effects of cover crops of brachiaria (Urochloa ruziziensis), forage radish (Raphanus sativus), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) versus mechanized operation with a scarifier without soil cover on the attributes soil physics with a history of five primary periodic soil tillage systems, used since 2014: P1 – harrow; P2 – disc plow; P3 – rotary hoe; P4 – no-tillage; P4 – scarifier. In the layers from 0.10 to 0.20 and from 0.20 to 0.30 m where soil compaction was observed, the cover plants reduced an average of 37.2% and 47.2% of the RMSP, respectively. In general, forage radish was the species that most stood out in improving soil density.

Keywords: soil physics, cover crops, soil preparation, porosity.