Grain yield of corn at different population densities and intercropped with forages

José M Do Nascimento,Renata F De Queiroz,Rafael S Bertonha,Carlos A Chioderoli,Carlos E A Furlani,Fabio A Cavichioli

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v19n12p1143-1147

Abstract

ABSTRACT The no-tillage system optimizes agricultural areas, maintaining the supply of straw and promoting crop rotation and soil conservation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate sowing quality and grain yield of corn intercropped with three forage species of the Urochloa genus associated with two corn population densities. The experiment was conducted at the São Paulo State University (UNESP), in Jaboticabal-SP, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 2 x 3 factorial scheme with four replicates. The treatments consisted of two corn densities (55,000 and 75,000 plants ha-1) intercropped with three forages (Urochloa brizantha, Urochloa decumbens and Urochloa ruziziensis) sown between rows of corn in the V4 stage. The following corn variables were analysed: mean number of days for emergence, longitudinal distribution, grain yield, initial population and final population. There were differences between corn populations (p < 0.1) and the intercropping of corn with the species U. brizantha and U. ruziziensis promoted the best results, which permitted concluding that the cultivation of corn at the population density of 75,000 plants ha-1 intercropped U. brizantha and U. ruziziensis promoted better sowing quality and, consequently, higher grain yields.

Highlights

Pasture degradation is a concern that can be combated through conservational practices, such as crop-livestock integration
Corn produces a great amount of straw, an excellent option for crop rotation and, when intercropped with forages in the best spatial arrangement, it can further increase straw production without affecting grain yield (Chioderoli et al, 2010)
This study aimed to evaluate the quality of mechanized sowing and grain yield of corn, at two population densities, intercropped with three forage crops (U. brizantha, U. decumbens and U. ruziziensis)

Summary

Introduction

Pasture degradation is a concern that can be combated through conservational practices, such as crop-livestock integration. Corn produces a great amount of straw, an excellent option for crop rotation and, when intercropped with forages in the best spatial arrangement, it can further increase straw production without affecting grain yield (Chioderoli et al, 2010). According to Silva et al (2011), Urochloa is among the most recommended genera of forage species for crop-livestock integration, for having tolerance to water stress, competitive potential against weeds without hampering the main crop and persistence of straw in the soil, an essential attribute for the maintenance of the no-tillage system. In general, have high C/N ratio, which makes it difficult the action of decomposing microorganisms and increases their persistence on the soil, resulting in a great potential for straw formation in notillage systems (Silva et al, 2011)

Objectives

Methods

Results