Intercropping perennial legume interference on growth and yield coffee

Abstract

Intercropped legumes in coffee rows are nutrients sources, providing soil coverage, reducing weed infestation, however, they can negative interfere on coffee. This study evaluated interference of forage peanuts and perennial soybean on growth and yield of coffee plants. The experiment was carried out in Patrocinio/MG, in a 11 years old producing coffee orchard, cultivar Catuai Vermelho IAC-99, spaced by 3,80 x 0,70 m. Nine treatments were evaluated as a 23+1 factorial, in randomized blocks, with 4 replicates, with two perennial legumes: forage peanuts (Arachis pintoi) and perennial soybean (Neonotonia wightii); two types of side management: without side management, or with side management with glyphosate at 50 cm from canopy projection; two types of vertical management: no vertical management, or with vertical management at 5 cm above soil level. The additional treatment, the control, was done with the herbicide glyphosate (1.0 kg ha-1 of acid equivalent) in the whole plot (row). Perennial soybean, regardless of management, reduced the average number of nodes and coffee yield. Legume growth with no side management also affected coffee yield negatively, with greater interference during the high yield year. Forage peanut, with side management, did not affect the vegetative and yield characteristics of coffee.