Milho em sucessão à plantas de cobertura de solo cultivadas em diferentes sistemas de manejo de solo

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important crops for Brazilian agribusiness. Cover crops are an important factor to be considered for corn to achieve high grain yield, as part of the nitrogen requirement of corn can be met by using a suitable preceding crop. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of cover crops grown in different soil tillage systems on yield components and grain yield of corn. The experimental design was a randomized block, split plot with four replications. In the main plots were tested three systems of soil management: tillage, minimum tillage and conventional tillage. In the the subplots were implanted four plants winter cover: peas, vetch, wild radish and oats. The different systems of soil management didn’t influence yield components and grain yield of corn. Corn after common vetch showed higher number of grains per spike and higher grain yield compared to other cover crops used, especially in relation to oat that gave the lowest yield.