Silage quality from intercropping corn and soybean managed with inoculant Azospirillum brasilense and nitrogen fertilization

José Franklin Athayde Oliveira,Gustavo Dorneles De Sousa,Cassio José Da Silva,Leandro Spíndola Pereira,Kátia Cylene Guimarães,Adriano Jakelaitis,Sérgio Lucio Salomon Cabral Filho,Gustavo Silva De Oliveira

doi:10.1590/s1519-99402122092021

José Franklin Athayde Oliveira, Gustavo Dorneles De Sousa + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-99402122092021

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Intercropping grass and soybeans can promote beneficial effects on the productivity of the explored area due to the better soil nitrogen utilization and protein concentrate savings through the use of mixed silage. This study aimed to evaluate the bromatological quality, digestibility, and fermentation profile of silage produced by intercropping corn and soybean. Eight treatments were tested by combining inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense and nitrogen fertilization applied to corn intercropped in rows alternated with soybean. Corn and soybean monocultures were also tested. The morphological compositions of soybean and corn plants in the mass of the ensiled material were determined. After crushing, the material was ensiled in PVC tubes for 60 days, and the silage quality was determined after fermentation. Treatments did not affect the morphological composition of soybean and corn plants in the ensiled material from intercropping. The proportions of soybean leaves, stems, and pods represented less than 5% of the total ensiled mass of intercropping. On the other hand, the morphological composition of corn plants was high, similar to that of monoculture. Thus, the silage from intercropping showed similar quality standards to that of corn monoculture, and the bromatological composition, digestibility, pH, energy content, and profile of organic acids were suitable for good quality silage.

Highlights

Intercropping grasses and legumes is a common practice in the field because these plants present complementarity in the use of growth resources (DU et al, 2017)
This study aimed to evaluate the bromatological composition, digestibility, and profile of organic acids in the fermentation process of corn silage with soybean as a function of the nitrogen fertilization management and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense
Corn was sown at an inter-row spacing of 1 m, reaching six plants per linear meter, with a soybean row sown between the rows, reaching 25 plants per linear meter

Summary

Introduction

Intercropping grasses and legumes is a common practice in the field because these plants present complementarity in the use of growth resources (DU et al, 2017). The use of available water, nutrients, and light resources is optimized in intercropping systems compared to monocultures (CHEN et al, 2017; BATISTA et al, 2019) In this sense, studies on corn-soybean intercropping are strategic aiming mainly at increasing the protein content in corn silage, using soybean as an accompanying crop (SANTOS et al, 2017). Studies on corn-soybean intercropping are strategic aiming mainly at increasing the protein content in corn silage, using soybean as an accompanying crop (SANTOS et al, 2017) It stands out for reducing production costs by optimizing the use of fertilizers, mainly nitrogen (N), increasing the solar radiation use efficiency, improving land-use efficiency, and providing diversified income to producers (DU et al, 2017, CHEN et al, 2017; BATISTA et al, 2019). The crop productivity depends on the characteristics inherent to the hybrids, edaphoclimatic conditions, soil N supply, phytotechnical crop management, and the applied N doses (LANA et al, 2009)

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