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Intercropping and cover crop effects on maize nitrogen requirement for optimal growth

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2022

S. S. Souza ,
J. A. Flôres ,
A. P. Coelho Open the ORCID record for A. P. Coelho [Opens in a new window] ,
J. M. Deienno ,
L. B. Lemos  and
G. S. Rolim
S. S. Souza
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donatto Castellane, km 5, s/n. 14884-900, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
J. A. Flôres
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donatto Castellane, km 5, s/n. 14884-900, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
A. P. Coelho*
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donatto Castellane, km 5, s/n. 14884-900, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
J. M. Deienno
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donatto Castellane, km 5, s/n. 14884-900, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
L. B. Lemos
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donatto Castellane, km 5, s/n. 14884-900, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
G. S. Rolim
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donatto Castellane, km 5, s/n. 14884-900, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: A. P. Coelho, E-mail: anderson_100ssp@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with cover crops (Crotalaria spectabilis and Urochloa ruziziensis) is a sustainable cultivation strategy that can generate ecological benefits combined with grain yield (GY). However, cover crops may require nitrogen (N) fertilization management to be adjusted to obtain a high GY in intercropping systems. This study was carried out over 2 years in southeastern Brazil using randomized complete block design in a split-plot scheme. The plots were composed of three cropping systems: sole maize, maize + U. ruziziensis and maize + C. spectabilis. The subplots consisted of four N levels: 0, 70, 140 and 210 kg/ha. The GY of the maize + U. ruziziensis may be reduced by 13% compared to the sole maize. The GY of the sole maize increased up to 11.3 Mg/ha for 95 kg/ha of N in the first year and 6.7 Mg/ha for 169 kg/ha of N in the second year. The GY of the maize + U. ruziziensis intercropping system showed linear increments of 120 kg/ha for every 10 kg/ha of N applied. In the maize + C. spectabilis intercropping, GY increased up to 9.8 Mg/ha for 201 kg/ha of N in the first year, without any variation during the second year. The land equivalent ratio (LER) of intercropping was increased by more than 35% compared to that of sole maize, and N fertilization increased the LER of the sole maize and maize + U. ruziziensis intercropping. Maize intercropping had higher LER values with greater demand for nitrogen to obtain similar yields compared to sole maize cropping.

Keywords

Crotalaria spectabilisgrain yieldUrochloa ruziziensisZea mays L
Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 160 , Issue 5 , October 2022 , pp. 325 - 337
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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