Agronomic and productive characteristics of maize and Paiaguas palisadegrass in integrated production systems

Abstract

Currently, mixed systems for growing annual crops with forage plants of the Brachiaria genus represent an excellent alternative for the cultivation of maize by using the area for agricultural and livestock farming, which provides higher income to the grower and sustainability to the agricultural systems of the Cerrado. However, little is known about the best means for sowing such intercropped plants. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of maize (Zea mays) as well as the productive and nutritional characteristics of Paiaguas palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguas) as the second crop in integrated production systems. The experimental design used randomized blocks with four replications. The treatments consisted of the following forage systems: monocropped of maize, monocropped of Paiaguas palisadegrass, maize intercropped with Paiaguas palisadegrass in rows, maize intercropped with Paiaguas palisadegrass between rows, and maize with oversown Paiaguas palisadegrass. The results showed that intercropping of maize with Paiaguas palisadegrass does not interfere with the agronomic characteristics or grain yield of maize, regardless of the system that was adopted. Regarding the production of forage, low production of dry matter was found for Paiaguas palisadegrass oversown in maize, though the nutritional value was better. Intercropping maze and Paiaguas palisadegrass is relevant to integrated production systems, as it allows for of a third harvest in the same crop year, which maintains sustainability especially because a smaller arable area is used compared to conventional systems.