Atributos físicos de solo e de planta em consórcios de milho e gramíneas forrageiras

Abstract

The corn and forage grasses intercropping presents to be a viable option for Cerrado region, because the resulting accumulated straw that favour the soil aggregation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the soil physical quality in an Oxisol cultivated with corn and forage grasses intercropping under no tillage in Cerrado region. The experiment carried out in area belonging to Mato Grosso Federal University (UFMT), Campus of Rondonópilis, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block with seven treatments: corn + Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu, corn + Urochloa ruziziensis, corn + Urochloa humidicola, corn + Urochloa decumbens, corn + Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia, corn + Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça and corn without intercropping, alocated in three replications, totalizing 21 plots. The evaluated characteristics in forage grasses were: aerial dry matter, root dry matter and soil covering; in the corn crop were: initial and final stand, height insertion of the first spike, stem diameter, grain production, 1000 grain weight, chlorophyll index and soil covering. The following soil physical properties were determined: bulk density, compactness degree, aggregate stability, tensile strength, friability and the least limiting water range. Soil sampling was done at 0 to 0.10 and 0.10 to 0.20 m soil depth. There was no influence of forage grasses intercropping in the corn growth and production. The forage grass P. maximum cv. Tanzania presented better results of dry matter and soil covering. Along the short time of the evaluated intercropping systems it was observed a positive effect in soil physical properties. The corn and U. ruziziensis intercropping resulted in reduction of bulk density and compaction degree; and increasing of the aggregate stability and least limiting water range. The corn and forage grasses intercropping under no tillage may be indicated for Cerrado region to soil covering and improvement of soil physical properties.