Abstract
Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of intercropping systems between corn and tropical forages, at different cutting heights, on silage production, light interception, land use efficiency, intercropping competition factors, and pasture production. In the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 crop seasons, two cultivation modalities were evaluated in the summer/autumn - monocropped corn with residual regrowth of signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) from the soil seed bank and corn intercropped with palisade grass (U. brizantha 'Marandu') -, in a factorial arrangement with two cutting heights for silage production - 0.20 and 0.45 m. After corn silage harvest, the forages were grazed by lambs in a semi-feedlot system, in the winter/spring. Monocropped corn and 0.45-m cutting height both reduced dry matter yield for silage. Corn intercropped with palisade grass improved land use efficiency from 13 to 31% compared with monocropped crop, with land equivalent ratio greater than 1. Palisade grass showed higher light interception than signal grass over the intercrop period with corn and provided greater forage yield for lambs to graze during winter/spring. Corn intercropped with palisade grass, compared with monocropped corn, especially at the cutting height of 0.45 m, is a viable option for improving silage and pasture production, as well as land use efficiency in the integrated crop-livestock system.
Highlights
The integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) with no-tillage (NT) is becoming a good alternative for farmers, since it can improve economical income and sustainability of agriculture production in tropical regions
In intercropping systems with tropical perennial grasses, low cutting heights can result in an increased removal of tillers, compromising pasture formation for the winter/spring period (Portes et al, 2000)
The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the intercropping system between corn and tropical forages, at different cutting heights, on silage production, light interception, land use efficiency, intercropping competition factors, and pasture production
Summary
The integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) with no-tillage (NT) is becoming a good alternative for farmers, since it can improve economical income and sustainability of agriculture production in tropical regions. Increasing cutting heights improves the agronomic and chemical characteristics of corn silage; this practice may be economically unfeasible when the quality of the final product is not computed. For this reason, Rezende et al (2015) recommended that the maximum cutting height for corn should be at 0.50 m. In intercropping systems with tropical perennial grasses, low cutting heights can result in an increased removal of tillers, compromising pasture formation for the winter/spring period (Portes et al, 2000). The operational constraints of forage harvesters that are either coupled to tractors or self-propelled hamper cutting heights above 0.40–0.50 m
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