Effects of nitrogen fertilization on yield components in a corn-palisadegrass intercropping system.

• Autor(a) principal: ALMEIDA, R. E. M. de
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: FAVARIN, J. L., OTTO, R., PIEROZAN JUNIOR, C., OLIVEIRA, S. M. de, TEZOTTO, T., LAGO, B. C.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da EMBRAPA (Repository Open Access to Scientific Information from EMBRAPA - Alice)
• Texto Completo: http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1071116
• topic: Pasture establishment; Plantio direto; Milho; Fertilizante nitrogenado; Cultivo intercalado; No-tillage; Corn; Urea; Urochloa ruziziensis; Intercropping

Pasture and grain crop intercropping is considered an alternative for increasing biomass production during the winter periods in Brazil for the establishment of no-tillage systems. We studied nitrogen (N) fertilization rates in a corn-palisadegrass intercropping system that would allow both corn and biomass production without a reduction in corn yield. A field trial was carried out in São Desidério, Bahia - Brazil using a complete block experimental design with a 5 x 2 factorial layout with two factors: N rate (control, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1 N) and two cropping systems (corn with or without palisadegrass). Both corn and palisadegrass were sown simultaneously with N fertilizer applied at sowing. The measurements included corn biomass, grain yield and N uptake. In addition, palisadegrass biomass was assessed at corn harvest and at three consecutive times during the winter. There was an interaction between N rates and the intercropping system. Grain yield was affected by intercropping when N fertilizer rates were lower than 100 kg ha-1, but above that rate, corn grain yield reached 10,000 kg ha-1 and was similar with or without palisadegrass. Nitrogen fertilizers also positively affected corn N uptake. There was no residual effect of N fertilization on palisadegrass biomass production during the sampling periods. However, the biomass of the palisadegrass increased during the winter period and reached 5,000 kg ha-1 of dry matter by the following season. There was no corn yield reduction when corn was intercropped with palisadegrass using nitrogen rates above 100 kg ha-1. In addition, it is possible to increase biomass production for the establishment of no-tillage systems in Brazil.