Abstract
Brazil southern region edaphoclimatic conditions allow farmers to grow perennial winter legumes. However, at summer, a seasonality occurs in the production of these species allowing the grown of annual crops such as corn. In this way, interference between white clover (Trifolium repens L.) living mulch and corn crop (Zea mays L.) was studied using a clover sward established after one and two growing season in relation to the usual system of corn grown over black oat straw aiming to study the relationships occurring in this intercrop, such as white clover herbicide suppression, competition and its nitrogen effects on corn yield as well as its potential to became perennial after corn harvest. White clover suppression management was established in the main plots and corn nitrogen fertilization (0, 60, 120, 180 kg ha-1) was performed in the subplots (4.2 × 8 m) in a randomized block design with four replications. White clover suppression managements were: (i) partial suppression achieved by mowing the plots at the corn seeding day; (ii) partial suppression achieved by mowing plus chemically broadcast application of 2.4-D; (iii) partial suppression achieved by a chemically broadcast application of glyphosate. Corn grain yields ranged from 3.0 to 12.2 Mg ha-1. Nitrogen input and herbicide management are important elements to reduce white clover competition and increase corn yield. It is possible to manage white clover as living mulch in corn with its full recovery after corn harvest without replanting. Clover with 1 cycle is easier suppressed than perennial clover sward and can be handled in intercropping with corn without affecting grain yield, with ability to resume growth in the next growing season.
Highlights
IntroductionAmong the most cereal-legume intercropping system, corn has been recognized as most used specie (Ijoyah, 2012) due to its advanced growth rate, height advantage, and a more widespread rooting system which gives it upper hand in competition with associated legumes (Belel et al, 2014)
Many studies in the southern of Brazil have been addressed to the use of winter legumes as an alternative to reduce nitrogen fertilizer for summer crops, mainly using vetches (Vicia vilosa) (Silva et al, 2007), there are few reports about the use of perennial legumes, such as clovers (Trifolium spp), especially in living mulch system to be intercropped with corn (Assmann et al, 2007)
This study evaluated a consortium model that combines white clover (Trifoliun repens L.), a perennial winter legumes with a summer corn crop in relation to the usual system of corn grown over black oat straw and seeks to study the relationships occurring in this intercropping, such as white clover herbicide suppression, competition and its nitrogen effects on corn yield as well as its potential to became perennial after corn growth
Summary
Among the most cereal-legume intercropping system, corn has been recognized as most used specie (Ijoyah, 2012) due to its advanced growth rate, height advantage, and a more widespread rooting system which gives it upper hand in competition with associated legumes (Belel et al, 2014). It is one of the most important carbohydrate sources both to human (in the developing countries) and animal feed worldwide due to its high feeding value (Undie et al, 2012). The use of white clover as living mulch with corn may turn it perennial, reduce its establishment costs and improve crop-livestock integration systems
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