Abstract
In grain crop production systems, the cultivation of maize intercropped with grasses or legumes, together with soil management, can provide sustainability without reducing maize yield in the low altitude Cerrado. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of sowing maize intercropped with grasses or legume species, in two soil management systems, on the agronomic characteristics and yield of maize, in the first crop season in physically limited soil in the Cerrado. The experiment was developed in the agricultural years of 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18, in the municipality of Selvíria, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in typical dystrophic Red Latosol, with clay texture. The randomized block experimental design was used, in a 2x5 factorial scheme, consisting of soil management systems (no-tillage and minimum tillage) and maize intercropped or not (sole maize; maize + Urochloa ruziziensis; maize + U. brizantha; maize + Crotalaria spectabilis; and maize + Cajanus cajan). The intercropping of maize with legumes or grasses sown simultaneously in the interrow spacing, when implemented and conducted properly, did not affect the average maize yield. Regardless of soil management and maize intercropping systems, the high soil density and penetration resistance, observed in the experimental area, were not impediments to satisfactory maize grain yield.
Highlights
Resumo - Em sistemas de produção de culturas de grãos, o cultivo do milho consorciado com gramíneas ou leguminosas, juntamente com o manejo do solo, pode conferir sustentabilidade sem reduzir a produtividade do cereal no Cerrado de baixa altitude
Species that belong to the Fabaceae family stand out in the association with maize (Kappes et al, 2013), being characterized by lower C/N ratio, when compared with the Poaceae species, and N2fixing capacity, being capable of increasing soil nitrogen availability and absorption by the plant, which results in increase of maize yield (Kappes, 2011)
In regard to maize plant height (Table 2), significant difference was found for soil management systems in the 2016/17 crop season, with higher plant heights in minimum tillage areas
Summary
Resumo - Em sistemas de produção de culturas de grãos, o cultivo do milho consorciado com gramíneas ou leguminosas, juntamente com o manejo do solo, pode conferir sustentabilidade sem reduzir a produtividade do cereal no Cerrado de baixa altitude. The area dedicated to maize cultivation in Brazil basically has not changed in the last seven years and the production records are largely due to the increase of productivity, especially in the Cerrado region. In this sense, it becomes increasingly important to have more research being conducted with the purpose to improve the management of technologies focused on the increase of maize crop yield, with emphasis on the intercropping of maize and grass or legume species.
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