GREEN FERTILIZATION WITH RESIDUES OF LEGUMINOUS TREES FOR CULTIVATING MAIZE IN DEGRADED SOIL

Francisco Ronaldo Alves De Oliveira,Henrique Antunes De Souza,Mirian Cristina Gomes Costa,Marco Antônio Rosa De Carvalho

doi:10.1590/1983-21252018v31n401rc

Francisco Ronaldo Alves De Oliveira, Henrique Antunes De Souza + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252018v31n401rc

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the addition of parts of leguminous trees on the growth and nutrition of maize (Zea mays L.), as well as on the chemical attributes of a degraded soil, 65 days after applying the residues. The experiment was conducted in pots, in a randomized block design with ten treatments and four replicates. The evaluated treatments were: T1 - No residues of leguminous trees, T2 - Leaves of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, T3 - Branches of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, T4 - Leaves + branches of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, T5 - Leaves of Mimosa hostilis, T6 - Branches of Mimosa hostilis, T7 - Leaves + branches of Mimosa hostilis, T8 - Leaves of Gliricidia sepium, T9 - Branches of Gliricidia sepium and T10 - Leaves + branches of Gliricidia sepium. Pots were filled with soil from a degraded area and residues were added in the form of green mass after sowing the maize. Residues of leguminous trees positively influenced maize growth at 65 days after application and favored the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the shoots. Green fertilizers improved soil chemical attributes at 65 days after application, especially nitrate-N (NO3 --N), ammonium-N (NH4 +-N), total inorganic N (NO3 --N + NH4 +-N) and K, demonstrating that these species are good options for recovering degraded areas in the semi-arid region of Ceará.

Highlights

In northeastern Brazil, deforestation associated with opening new areas for agricultural exploitation, firewood and charcoal production, and the lack of soil conservation practices have contributed to soil degradation
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding residues from different parts of leguminous trees on the growth and nutrition of maize, as well as on the alterations of soil chemical attributes 65 days after applying the residues
Results obtained for plant height (PH) (Table 3) showed the addition of leaves + branches of G. sepium led to higher values compared to the other residues, except for the leaves of M. hostilis and leaves + branches of M. caesalpiniifolia

Summary

Introduction

In northeastern Brazil, deforestation associated with opening new areas for agricultural exploitation, firewood and charcoal production, and the lack of soil conservation practices have contributed to soil degradation. Soils of this region often have low fertility, which limits agricultural production (MUNDUS et al, 2008). Green fertilization with leguminous plants can be an option for agricultural systems in the Ceará state, because of the capacity of these species to add OM and significant quantities of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N) This can improve the chemical, physical and biological properties of soil, which in turn improves crop development (ANDRADE NETO et al, 2010; PRIMO et al, 2012; PEREIRA; SOARES; MIRANDA, 2016). The amount of N supplied by these species can exceed 200 kg ha-1 (DINIZ et al, 2010)

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