Title: Methods of Intercropping Cover Crops with Maize in Southern Brazil
Abstract: Background and Objective: In the southern of Brazil, maize is mainly sowed between February and March as a second summer crop after soybean.After maize harvesting, the area undergoes a short fallow period (from July-September), favoring soil erosion and emergence of weeds.In this context, intercropping, cover crops with maize, can minimize these impacts, once after itʼs harvesting, these plants are already established in the system.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different methods of cover crops establishment on the development and yield of maize as well as the biomass yield of the cover crop species.Materials and Methods: Experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design, arranged in a 2×3 factorial scheme, with 4 replications.Factor A was represented by the cover crops (1-Crotalaria spectabilis, 2-Urochloa ruziziensis) and Factor B by the intercrop establishment methods (1-cover crops sowed in the inter-row at the maize sowing, 2-cover crops broadcast before maize sowing, 3-cover crops broadcast at the V6 maize phenological stage).Results: Urochloa ruziziensis showed higher dry mass yield in relation to Crotalaria spectabilis, reaching among establishment methods at the maize harvest time an average of 1,425 and 401 kg DM haG 1 , respectively.Conclusion: Maize yield was not influenced by cover crops species and methods of establishment.Maize presents a competitive advantage over cover species and cover crops intercropped at maize V6 phenological stage showed very low biomass production and due to it, it is not recommended.Further studies should evaluate intercrop at maize earlier phenological stages (V1 or V2).