Agronomic performance of soybean grown in succession to winter cover crops

Fábio Henrique Krenchinski,Danilo Morilha Rodrigues,Leandro Paiola Albrecht,Victor José Salomão Cesco,Alfredo Júnior Paiola Albrecht,Katle Samaya Wobeto

doi:10.1590/s0100-204x2018000800005

Fábio Henrique Krenchinski, Danilo Morilha Rodrigues + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s0100-204x2018000800005

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Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of winter cover crop species on the agronomic performance of soybean (Glycine max) cropped in succession, under a no-tillage system. The study was conducted during three crop seasons (2011/2012, 2012/2013, and 2013/2014), with the following cover crops: white oat (Avena sativa), black oat (Avena strigosa), ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), vetch (Vicia sativa), forage radish (Raphanus sativus), the intercrop black oat + forage radish, and wheat (Triticum aestivum) as the standard management. Forage radish and the intercrop black oat + forage radish provided greater soil cover rates after 30 days of planting, as well as dry matter production in the three crop seasons. After 45 and 90 days from desiccation, however, white oat and ryegrass showed the highest soil cover rate. Black oat and the intercrop black oat + forage radish provided higher soybean yield than the standard management with wheat, in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 crop seasons. Winter cover crops can significantly affect soybean yield in succession, and black oat and the intercrop black oat + forage radish stand out for this purpose.

Highlights

Using crop rotation in a productive system (Debiasi et al, 2010) has many benefits, such as: soil quality maintenance; reduction of pests, diseases, and weeds; agriculture diversification, reducing risks of crop failures; greater yields and, lower costs; and the efficient use of production factors.In the agricultural areas of Southern Brazil, common practices are sowing winter cover crops in fall, preferentially under mild temperatures (Ziech et al, 2015), and cultivating soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] or corn (Zea mays L.) monoculture, followed by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) succession during winter
The treatments consisted of the cover crops white oat, black oat, ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), vetch (Vicia sativa L.), forage radish (Raphanus sativus L.), and black oat intercropped with forage radish
The joint analysis revealed a significant interaction between soil cover percentage and crop season; the data presented here refer to the treatments within each repeated harvest (2011/2012, 2012/2013, and 2013/2014)

Summary

Introduction

Using crop rotation in a productive system (Debiasi et al, 2010) has many benefits, such as: soil quality maintenance; reduction of pests, diseases, and weeds; agriculture diversification, reducing risks of crop failures; greater yields and, lower costs; and the efficient use of production factors.In the agricultural areas of Southern Brazil, common practices are sowing winter cover crops in fall, preferentially under mild temperatures (Ziech et al, 2015), and cultivating soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] or corn (Zea mays L.) monoculture, followed by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) succession during winter. The later activity has a potentially negative impact on crop yields over time, increasing the need for the implementation of crop systems that include plant species with aggressive root systems and with a high dry matter production. The use of corn and wheat in succession to soybean, in the off-season, can limit the soybean cultivation system, reducing grain yield In this scenario, using species properly adapted to each agricultural region can maximize soybean yield in the crop succession system

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