Closing the Gap: Sustainable Intensification Implications of Increased Corn Yields and Quality for Second-Crop (safrinha) in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Daniel T Pinheiro,Daniel C De Abreu,Diego M S Santos,Aaron Kinyu Hoshide,Wininton M Da Silva,Alan R R Martins,Ronaldo A De Oliveira,Cláudio V De Araújo,Luana Molossi

doi:10.3390/su132313325

Abstract

Corn grown as second-crop (safrinha) immediately after soybeans contributes to Brazil’s recent sustainable intensification of efforts to land spare and reduce deforestation. Brazil’s Mato Grosso state is very important for corn production with a large number of available hybrids for producers with different characteristics. Evaluating as many hybrids as possible increases the likelihood of identifying those that are more productive. Our experiment used a randomized block design to evaluate 20 corn hybrids for yield and quality in the western Cerrado savannah region of Mato Grosso state. There were significant differences in silage quality and grain yield between hybrids. Silage quality was correlated with higher grain yield. Corn grain yields for 10 higher-yielding hybrids (average = 11,425 kg/hectare) were significantly greater than the two lowest yielding hybrids (6974 and 8207 kg/hectare) and 64% more than the 2020 average in Mato Grosso. Precipitation was not limiting during our experiment but may be in the drier Cerrado area and during other years. Higher silage quality with lower lignin content and higher in vitro digestibility can improve beef productivity as Brazil transitions from extensive grazing to more intensified systems such as pasture supplementation. Increasing corn grain yields in Mato Grosso can hedge against lower crop yields elsewhere.

Highlights

Grain yields are typically used for corn silage hybrid selection, and our results show that high corn grain yields are correlated with increased in vitro digestibility of silage and lower lignin content
The quality of ensiled forage is more important than grain quality when selecting corn hybrids for production and ensiling
Corn grain yields for 10 high-yielding hybrids averaged 11,425 kg/ha which was significantly greater than yields for the two lowest yielding hybrids (6974 and 8207 kg/ha)

Summary

Introduction

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops grown worldwide, with a total production of 1163.21 billion tons [1]. Brazil is one of the world’s biggest corn producers, with Mato Grosso state producing about 33 million tons per year [2]. Mato Grosso is part of the Cerrado savannah biome in Brazil. The Cerrado is characterized by low land prices and favorable climate and topography. This has driven agricultural expansion here, including cattle, swine, and poultry, over the last four decades. Livestock has expanded in the Cerrado more so than in the rest of Brazil. Corn’s importance goes beyond its Sustainability 2021, 13, 13325.

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