Variability of physical properties of soil and rice grown under cover crops in crop-livestock integrated system

Rodrigo Gonçalves Trevisan,Fernanda Salles Cunha Peres,Flávio Jesus Wruck,Renan Rimoldi Tavanti,Onã Da Silva Freddi

doi:10.1590/1678-4499.596

Abstract

ABSTRACT The production systems of upland rice culture in Mato Grosso are not consolidated yet while the effects of soil physical properties and their correlation with rice yield in crop-livestock integrated systems are not defined as well. Therefore, this study determined the spatial variability of physical properties of soil and rice cultivated in no-tillage system under different cover crops, using principal components analysis and geostatistics. The experiment was conducted in Santa Carmen, northern Mato Grosso. A regular grid with 100 sample points distributed in an area of 26,400 m2 was installed. Soil and rice samples were collected to determine rice variables and soil physical properties. The average rice yield was 1.70 Mg∙ha−1, ranging from 0.70 to 3.12 Mg∙ha−1. The highest yields were observed in consortium with cowpea and brachiaria and were associated with lower incidence of grain spots, despite higher soil density and penetration resistance. The consortium with brachiaria, crotalaria, and sudangrass had lower yields, which was associated with higher incidence of grain spots, despite higher soil macroporosity and total porosity.

Highlights

The upland rice has been gradually inserted in the farming systems of Mato Grosso
This study determined the spatial variability of physical properties of soil and rice cultivated in no-tillage system under different cover crops, using principal components analysis and geostatistics
The area was divided into 3 subareas to plant cover crops, in 3 consortium treatments consisting of brachiaria (B. ruziziensis) with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), T1; with crotalaria (Crotalaria ochroleuca), T2; and with sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense), T3

Summary

Introduction

The upland rice has been gradually inserted in the farming systems of Mato Grosso. To this end, the rice crops are being introduced as rotation crop in old systems or established areas, and not just cultivated in new or newly-open areas. Carvalho et al (2011) reported that consortium with crops, such as corn, tall and with fast initial development, has already been elucidated in the literature and is technically feasible. There is little information on consortium with shorter crops such as rice, which is an interesting alternative to pasture recovery in crop-livestock system (CLS) (Carvalho et al 2011). In Brazil, integrated production systems are becoming increasingly popular due to the problems that arise from successive crops, such as soybeans and corn in no-tillage. The main problems are compaction and soil erosion, decreasing organic matter content and yield, resulting in higher production costs and degradation of natural resources, especially soil and water

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