Abstract
Corn cropping for silage, due to the plant material exportation, intercropping with forage provides greater ground cover and straw formation for the Direct Planting System (DPS) continuity. The objective of this study was to evaluate corn production for silage in DPS intercropped with four forages (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu, U. ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis, Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia and P. maximum cv. Áries). We applied three sowing methods (in row together with corn fertilizer; by no-till sowing simultaneously to corn sowing and at V4 corn stage) and corn without intercropping. The experiment was conducted in autumn/ winter of 2010, in Selvíria - MS, in a randomized block design in factorial arrangement (4 x 3 + 1) and 4 replications. For corn, we evaluated plant height, basal stem diameter, initial and final stand and silage production and for forage dry matter production. Morphological characteristics and corn yield were not affected by intercropping when compared to sole corn crop. Forage dry matter production sown in corn row with fertilizer is a highlight, which in addition to providing greater productivity, harnesses the operation during sowing.
Highlights
This study aimed to evaluate the intercropping of four forage species with autumn corn, in three sowing modes, with emphasis on corn production for silage and straw contribution to Direct Planting System (DPS)
There was no interference in crop development, what corroborated with FREITAS et al (2008), who highlight corn as a great competitor to smaller plants such as Brachiaria
This is mainly due to its significant advantage over the forage, as evidenced by the higher accumulation rate of dry matter produced in early stages, so that there is no competition between intercrop species, Urochloa/ corn and Panicum/corn
Summary
The dynamics of macroeconomic changes occurred around the year 2,000 have been demanding changes in the Brazilian agricultural sector, by incorporating intensive processes in production systems, granting higher competitiveness and productivity to the demands imposed by society for the preservation of natural resources, mitigation of global weather impacts and food safety (BARCELLOS et al, 2008).In this context, the production of integrated crop livestock system (ICL), especially when associated with the Direct Planting System (DPS), provides numerous benefits to producers and the environment by joining agronomic, economic, social and environmental factors (GALHARTE & CRESTANA, 2010). MELLO et al (2004) defined ICL as a system that integrates both activities with the goals of rationally maximizing land use through resources and benefits that one activity provides to the other.DPS sustainability in great part of São Paulo State and Brazilian Central-West faces limitations due to the low straw production during autumn/ winter and winter/spring, concerning unfavorable climatic conditions (low water availability, characterized by dry winter season). The dynamics of macroeconomic changes occurred around the year 2,000 have been demanding changes in the Brazilian agricultural sector, by incorporating intensive processes in production systems, granting higher competitiveness and productivity to the demands imposed by society for the preservation of natural resources, mitigation of global weather impacts and food safety (BARCELLOS et al, 2008). In this context, the production of integrated crop livestock system (ICL), especially when associated with the Direct Planting System (DPS), provides numerous benefits to producers and the environment by joining agronomic, economic, social and environmental factors (GALHARTE & CRESTANA, 2010). This practice requires studies to establish which is the best forage species or cultivar to be used in intercropping method, the best sowing time for forage during corn cycle (BORGHI & CRUSCIOL, 2007) and the behavior of these intercrops in fall harvest when the goal is silage production
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