Contribution of corn intercropped with Brachiaria species to nutrient cycling

Authors

  • Silas Maciel de Oliveira University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture
  • Rodrigo Estevam Munhoz de Almeida Brazilian Corporation of Agricultural Research, Fishery and Aquiculture
  • Clovis Pierozan Junior Paraná Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology
  • André Fróes de Borja Reis University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture
  • Lucas Freitas Nogueira Souza University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture
  • José Laércio Favarin University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture

Abstract

The corn biomass and nutrient dynamics may be altered when it is intercropped with Brachiaria (syn. Urochloa spp.). The present study aimed to investigate the dynamics of biomass, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) for farming systems that produce corn intercropped with Brachiaria species. Field experiments were performed during the season and off-season, in a split-plot design. The main plots were composed of Brachiaria species (B. brizantha, B. ruziziensis and B. Convert) intercropped with corn, in addition to corn monocropping. The subplots consisted of three forage sampling periods, ranging from 0 to 60 days after the corn harvest. The intercropping arrangements did not affect the corn grain yield, nutrient accumulation and partitioning, relatively to the corn monocropping. After the grain harvest, B. brizantha achieved the greater biomass accumulation rate in both the season (69 kg ha-1 day-1) and off-season (17 kg ha-1 day-1). The nutrient accumulation ranged widely between the Brachiaria species and planting seasons: 0.2-1.2 kg ha-1 day-1 for N; 0.01-0.07 kg ha-1 day-1 for P; and 0.13-0.8 kg ha-1 day-1 for K. However, the greatest nutrient accumulation was found for B. brizantha, followed by B. ruziziensis and then B. Convert. In the short-term, corn intercropped with Brachiaria in the season showed the largest effect on the nutrient cycling and biomass yield. The intercropping between corn and B. brizantha in the season was the best way to enhance the biomass yield and the N, P and K cycling.

KEYWORDS: Zea mays L., Urochloa spp., nutrient balance, forage plants.

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Author Biographies

Silas Maciel de Oliveira, University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture

Crop Science Departament

André Fróes de Borja Reis, University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture

Crop Science Departament

Lucas Freitas Nogueira Souza, University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture

Crop Science Departament

José Laércio Favarin, University of São Paulo, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture

Crop Science Departament

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Published

2019-07-23

How to Cite

OLIVEIRA, S. M. de; ALMEIDA, R. E. M. de; PIEROZAN JUNIOR, C.; REIS, A. F. de B.; SOUZA, L. F. N.; FAVARIN, J. L. Contribution of corn intercropped with Brachiaria species to nutrient cycling. Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical [Agricultural Research in the Tropics], Goiânia, v. 49, p. e55018, 2019. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/pat/article/view/55018. Acesso em: 17 jul. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 49 (2019)

Section

Research Article

License

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