Productivity and phytotechnical parameters of corn grown on different cover plants

• DOI: 10.33158/asb.r221.v10.2024
• Publication Date: 2025-02-23T19:42:21Z
• Authors: João Guilherme Ri...; Helio Souza Junior; Maurício Ursi Ven...; Raphael Vasconcel...; Jonathan William ...; Gustavo Adolfo Fr...; Paula Pinheiro Sa...; Luiz Henrique Cam...

Brazilian agriculture faces the challenge of adopting sustainable practices that reduce costs and mitigate environmental impacts. The use cover crops stands out as an efficient alternative to improve soil conditions increase productivity subsequent crops. This study aimed evaluate effects different on phytotechnical characteristics corn. experiment was carried in a completely randomized design, with four replicates, considering following treatments: sorghum (Sorghum sp.), brachiaria (Brachiaria ruziziensis), crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea), fallow no cover. production green mass covers, plant height, stem diameter, number grains per ear, 1000-grain weight were evaluated. Sorghum showed highest biomass (96,498.5 kg ha⁻¹), while least efficient. Cover provided better corn performance leaves, stalk thousand-grain weight, compared areas without or fallow. Sunn hemp stood for biological nitrogen fixation, reduced weed infestation improved water retention. In uncovered areas, had diameter up 6.42 mm smaller by 3,827.47 ha⁻¹, best treatments. results demonstrate benefits crops, promoting management increasing resilience, especially regions edaphoclimatic challenges.