Abstract
The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of winter land use on the amount of residual straw, the physical soil properties and grain yields of maize, common bean and soybean summer crops cultivated in succession. The experiment was carried out in the North Plateau of Santa Catarina state, Brazil, from May 2006 to April 2010. Five strategies of land use in winter were evaluated: intercropping with black oat + ryegrass + vetch, without grazing and nitrogen (N) fertilization (intercropping cover); the same intercropping, with grazing and 100 kg ha-1 of N per year topdressing (pasture with N); the same intercropping, with grazing and without nitrogen fertilization (pasture without N); oilseed radish, without grazing and nitrogen fertilization (oilseed radish); and natural vegetation, without grazing and nitrogen fertilization (fallow). Intercropping cover produces a greater amount of biomass in the system and, consequently, a greater accumulation of total and particulate organic carbon on the surface soil layer. However, land use in winter does not significantly affect soil physical properties related to soil compaction, nor the grain yield of maize, soybean and common bean cultivated in succession.
Highlights
In the cropping systems in Southern Brazil, soybean, maize and common bean are significant commercial crops cultivated during summer
The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of winter land use on the amount of residual straw, the physical soil properties and grain yields of maize, common bean and soybean summer crops cultivated in succession
The treatments consisted of five land use strategies in winter: intercropping of black oat + ryegrass + vetch (Vicia villosa), without grazing and nitrogen (N) fertilization; the same intercropping, with grazing and 100 kg ha‐1 of N per year; the same intercropping, with grazing without N fertilization; oilseed radish, without grazing and N fertilization; and natural vegetation, without grazing and N fertilization
Summary
In the cropping systems in Southern Brazil, soybean, maize and common bean are significant commercial crops cultivated during summer. From May to September, there is a lack of commercial crops with good technical and economical potential, mainly in small farms. This condition has been aggravated in the last years because of the decrease in the net income of winter cereals, due to the greater importation of these products, especially wheat (Brum et al, 2005). Winter cover crops are an important component in the cropping systems, since they can improve desirable soil properties (Giacomini et al, 2003). Cover crops can increase soil organic matter content over time due to greater biomass production (Diekow et al, 2005); the economic return is not immediate for farmers, since the investment can return within the subsequent crop or even in the following years
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
