Green Manure and Mineral Fertilizer in Sequential Cropping: Effect on Dry Matter, Yield, Accumulation and Recovery Efficiency of Nutrients

Abstract

ABSTRACT The response of plant growth, yield, dry matter (DM), accumulation (NAC) and recovery efficiency (RE) of nutrients in the first crop (broccoli), and its residual effect on DM and NAC in the second crop (Brachiaria brizantha) were determined, using as nutrient sources, the green manure velvet-bean (GM) and mineral fertilization (MF). The treatments were: plant unfertilized (control), 100% of the recommended dose of MF (MF100), 5 t ha−1 of GM (GM5), MF dose similar to GM5 (MF = GM5), GM5 + MF to apply the same dose of MF100 (GM5+ MF = MF100). In broccoli, no differences in canopy area, leaves number, yield, DM and NAC were detected between GM5 and control, while MF = GM5 exceeded GM5. Higher residual effect in B. brizantha was obtained with MF100 and GM5+ MF = MF100. The MF = GM5 stimulated higher RE of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S than GM5. Higher RE of N and Ca was obtained with MF100 than with GM5+ MF = MF100, both in broccoli and B. brizantha. Our results suggest that the GM affects negatively the plant growth, yield, DM, NAC and RE in sequential crops, and when is combined, it minimizes the effect of the MF. So, that same dose has a better effect when applied through MF.