Uso de plantas de cobertura na produtividade do milho no brejo paraibano

Abstract

The use of cover crops has been providing important changes in the means and ways of doing agriculture in Brazil, thus constituting an important alternative to offer benefits to the soil and consequently to the main crop. This practice is a sure-fire alternative to boost corn (Zea mays) productivity in the State of Paraíba. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of using different cover crops (Brachiaria ruziziensis, Crotalaria spectabilis; Crotalaria juncea; Guandu bean (Cajanus cajan) Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), plus the control) on Yield components of three maize genotypes (AG-1051, Robusta and a Creole genotype, Pontinha) under the edaphoclimatic conditions of the semi-arid region of Paraíba. The experiment was carried out in the Olericulture Module of the Olho D'Água Experimental Farm, of the CCA/UFPB, Areia-PB. The experimental design adopted was in randomized blocks, in subdivided plots with four replications. The cover crops were cut when they reached the first reproductive stage and then the maize genotypes were sown under the straw and harvested after the R6 stage of development. After harvesting, the following corn parameters were evaluated: Ear Length, Ear Diameter, Number of grains per row, Number of rows per ear, Number of grains per ear, Weight of the ear, Weight of a thousand grains and Productivity. The lack of soil mulch resulted in corn plants with lower ear weight. The straw of C. juncea and pigeon pea favored the increase in the weight of corn ears. The highest corn productivity is achieved when AG-1051 is cultivated in Crotalaria juncea straw. Thus, soil cover with legumes favored more corn productivity than soil cover with grasses.