Increase of soybean yield through agricultural practices in Central Brazil

Abstract

The soybean-second-crop corn succession is the main grain production system in the Midwest region of Brazil; however, the greatest obstacle of this system is the low soil cover rates. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of inoculation and co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Azospirillum brasilense on soybean yield in succession to autumn-winter crops. The experiment was carried out in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 harvests. The experimental design was randomized blocks with treatments in a 4×3 factorial scheme, with four replications. The four autumn-winter crops constituted the first factor: single corn, corn-brachiaria intercropping, Urochloa ruziziensis established since 2013, and U. ruziziensis established since 2016. The second factor was based on inoculation treatments (without inoculation, inoculation of B. japonicum, and co-inoculation of B. japonicum with A. brasilense). The Urochloa ruziziensis cultivated in autumn-winter contributes to increasing the soybean grain yield in succession. Co-inoculation of Bradyrhizobium japonicum with Azospirillum brasilense complements biological nitrogen fixation, contributing to soy development.