Abstract
Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the straw production and the agronomic performance of soybean intercropped with oversown forage species, in no-tillage system. A randomized complete block design was carried out with four replicates, in a 5×2+2 factorial arrangement, as follows: five forage species - Urochloa brizantha 'Marandu', Urochloa ruziziensis, Panicum maximum 'Mombaça', Panicum maximum 'Massai', and Pennisetum americanum -, intercropped with soybean over two crop years (2013/2014 and 2014/2015), plus two controls, with P. americanum sowed in succession to soybean or with soybean monocropping followed by winter fallow (traditional cultivation). Soybean yield components and forage straw yield were evaluated. None of the intercropping systems reduced soybean grain yield, compared with monocropped soybean. The oversown species can significantly improve soybean productivity, as is the case for soybean intercropped with P.maximum 'Mombaça', compared with soybean monocropping, followed or not by millet. Panicum maximum 'Mombaça' is the most effective forage species for dry matter accumulation in the fall/spring period.
Highlights
No-tillage and integrated crop-livestock systems are alternative methods for soil management that maintain, or even increase soil use efficiency with a more rational use of farming resources (Santos et al, 2008)
Various crops for straw production and soil coverage have been tested for use in fall/winter periods, in no-tillage system, in the Cerrado region of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil (Machado & Assis, 2010)
The objective of this work was to evaluate the straw production and the agronomic performance of soybean intercropped with oversown forage species, in a no‐tillage system
Summary
No-tillage and integrated crop-livestock systems are alternative methods for soil management that maintain, or even increase soil use efficiency with a more rational use of farming resources (Santos et al, 2008). Among the most promising species are bulrush millet (Pennisetum americanum), grain sorghum or forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), and tropical forage grasses, in particular species from the genera Urochloa and Panicum (Macedo, 2009), which can be optionally intercropped with the primary crop. These species produce a large quantity of dry matter, with straw of high potential to cover soil for an extended period, even in hotter regions (Costa, 2014), such as the Cerrado region in the Brazilian state of Tocantins
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
