Abstract
ABSTRACT The no-tillage farming has become a popular practice in Brazil, but problems with weed control and plant nutrition persist under organic production systems. This study aimed at evaluating the agronomic traits and yield of maize, after using different off-season cover crops under two organic no-tillage systems. A randomized block design, with a 7 x 2 factorial scheme, being 7 treatments (weeds; black oat monoculture; sunflower; white lupin intercropped with black oat in rows; white lupin intercropped with black oat by broadcasting; white lupin monoculture; and no cover crop) and 2 cropping systems (maize alone and intercropped with jack bean), and four replications was used. The agronomic traits evaluated were plant height, first-ear insertion height, stem diameter, prolificacy, 1,000 grain weight, grain yield and nitrogen released at 60 days of mulch decomposition. White lupin straw in monoculture and intercropped with black oat release a higher amount of N during the decomposition process and, consequently, these treatments increase maize yield. Intercropping with jack bean within the same row as maize reduces its yield potential under an organic no-tillage system.
Highlights
Maize, a versatile cereal, in terms of consumption, is considered one of Brazil’s most important agricultural products
The experiment was conducted in the 2015/2016 growing season, using maize in an organic no-tillage system and a randomized block design, in a 7 x 2 factorial scheme, being seven treatments, namely six cover crops and one treatment with no cover crop, and two cropping systems [maize alone and intercropped with jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)], with four replications
The amount of N released in the different mulches up to 60 days of decomposition indicates that the treatment with white lupin mulch in monoculture did not differ from the white lupin intercropped with black oat
Summary
A versatile cereal, in terms of consumption, is considered one of Brazil’s most important agricultural products. Organic maize is used in the meat supply chain, since it is a component of the feed given to organically farmed poultry and pigs (Môro & Frische-Neto 2015). Organic vegetable farming generally involves significant soil displacement in the form of plowing and harrowing. These practices are not in line with the principles of organic farming, which prioritizes the maintenance of cover crops and increase of soil organic matter. No-tillage farming provides a range of benefits, such as increasing the amount of soil organic matter, reducing erosion, improving the soil chemical, physical and biological attributes, enhancing fertility and showing good results in the recovery of soil
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