Crop systems and topdressing nitrogen on grain yield and technological attributes of common bean under no-tillage

Abstract

Common bean has been the main crop in succession to corn and Brachiaria in no-tillage systems, in the Brazilian Savannah. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of crop systems and topdressing nitrogen on grain yield and technological attributes of common bean under no-tillage. A randomized block design, in a split-plot arrangement, with four replications, was used. The plots consisted of three crop systems (corn in sole crop, corn + Urochloa ruziziensis intercropped and U. ruziziensis in sole crop) and the subplots by five nitrogen rates (0 kg ha(-1), 40 kg ha(-1), 80 kg ha(-1), 120 kg ha(-1) and 160 kg ha(-1)). There is interaction between predecessor cropping systems and N rates for grain yield, milling efficiency specifically on sieve 13, as well as for the grain hydration ratio. Increasing topdressing N rates applied on common bean in succession to corn in sole crop promote increases in grain yield, resulting in a milling efficiency in the oblong-hole sieve 14 higher than in the other crop systems evaluated. The increase of the topdressing N rates applied on common bean in succession to corn and U. ruziziensis in sole crops or intercropped does not influence the time for maximum hydration of the grains, but reduces their cooking time, mainly in succession to U. ruziziensis and corn in sole crops.