Abstract
For its production, broccoli requires large quantities of nutrients in relatively short periods. As a conservation technique, the no-tillage planting of broccoli over the pearl millet straw in succession may interfere with the dynamics of nutrient release, inflorescence production and the chemical attributes of the soil. The objectives of this work were to evaluate nutrient cycling, broccoli production and soil chemical attributes in a no-tillage system in succession to pearl millet for two consecutive years. The treatments consisted of pearl millet (BRS 1501) with the straw maintaned whole over the soil, pearl millet with the ground straw, spontaneous plants with biomass maintaned on the soil and conventional system with soil tillage without cover maintenance. It was found that ground pearl millet on the soil surface intensifies the nutrients release rate and provides a less use by broccoli grown in succession. The continuous conventional system reduces the absorption of nutrients and the production of inflorescence of broccoli grown in highly-fertile soil. Pearl millet is efficient in maintaining potassium levels in the soil over broccoli crops in succession. The maintenance of whole pearl millet straw on the soil surface is a promising technique for growing broccoli in succession.
Highlights
IntroductionAmong the characteristics that must be considered when choosing the appropriate species of cover plants, the rapid establishment, tolerance to water deficit, production of phytomass, suppression of weeds and the ability to recycle and release nutrients for crops in succession have to be considered (Marcante et al, 2011; Teixeira et al, 2011; Hirata et al, 2014)
The highest dry mass production in the first crop was caused by the rainfall (Figure 1), which met the needs of treatments throughout the cycle, unlike the second year, when complementary irrigation was needed
The management of ground pearl millet on the soil surface intensifies the nutrient release rates and provides less use for broccoli grown in succession
Summary
Among the characteristics that must be considered when choosing the appropriate species of cover plants, the rapid establishment, tolerance to water deficit, production of phytomass, suppression of weeds and the ability to recycle and release nutrients for crops in succession have to be considered (Marcante et al, 2011; Teixeira et al, 2011; Hirata et al, 2014). As it has such characteristics, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) (Grisa et al, 2019) was the species selected for this work. The decomposition rate of pearl millet residues, after the management of the straw is influenced by edaphoclimatic conditions (temperature, humidity, oxygen, pH, nutrients, soil physics and fauna) and the way in which it is managed (cutting, rolling or grind), as it interferes with the population and activity of the microbial biomass (Aita et al, 2014)
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