Performance of cover and corn plants in different mechanical and biological management associations

Abstract

Countless cases of the no-tillage system in compacted layers are seen, making the adoption of management practices that improve the soil physical quality necessary. In this context, this study aimed to verify the influence of mechanical and biological management on the morphophysiological characters and yield of the corn crop and dry matter of cover crops cultivated in an Oxisol. The experiment was conducted at FAZESC, Farm School of the State University of the Central West – UNICENTRO, Guarapuava–PR, in an Oxisol with a very clayey texture. The used experimental design was of completely randomized blocks with split-split plots, with the following evaluated factors: with or without scarification in the plots, sowing with double disc or seed boot in the subplots and soil cover crops (black oat succeeded by the mixture composed by black oat, forage turnip, blue lupine, rye and common vetch; turnip succeeded by the consortium black oat + forage turnip; and fallow) in the sub-subplots. Dry matter production of soil covers, as well as morphophysiological attributes and corn crop yield were evaluated. Soil scarification did not affect corn yield, regardless of the used soil cover or furrowing system at sowing. Seeding done with seed boot limited the corn yield when associated to the soil cover with black oat and soil management with scarification. Soil cover has an effect on the stability and yield of the corn crop, with the fallow being the most productive instability. The mixture of toppings and the black oat + forage turnip had a high potential of dry matter production.