In Brazil, soybean (Glycine max L.) have been grown in production systems with a low plant species diversification. However, these systems are becoming less efficient and sustainable. This study therefore evaluated the profitability of soybean production systems as a function of the degree of diversification of crops grown in the winter period. We conducted an experiment in Paraná state, Brazil, over 6 yr, under no-tillage. The crop rotation systems included soybean, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and combinations of tropical forage crops, either planted independently or intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.) in the winter. We evaluated the crop yields, gross revenue, total operating cost, gross margin, and profit of each production model. Diversified crop rotation systems increase crop yields and profit compared with the maize-soybean system. The most interesting crop rotations with respect to yield and profit proved to be those that substituted second crop maize for brachiaria ruziziensis (Urochloa ruziziensis) grass as a cover crop every 3 yr or intercropped second crop maize with brachiaria ruziziensis.
Second-crop maize-ruzigrass (Urochloa ruziziensis) intercropping, nitrogen (N) fertilization, and high maize plant densities enhance biomass production and N cycling, which may favor soybean growth and yield in the following season. This study aimed to assess the effects of second-crop maize-ruzigrass intercropping, N top dressing, and maize plant density on straw production in autumn/winter, N cycling, and agronomic performance of soybean crops grown in succession. Field experiments were installed in the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons using a randomized complete block design with split-split plots and four replications. The following factors were investigated: cropping system (sole maize and maize intercropped with ruzigrass), N top dressing (0 and 80 kg ha-1), and maize plant density (40, 60, 80, and 100 thousand plants ha-1). Maize-ruzigrass intercropping improved straw yield (2,365 kg ha-1) and N cycling (50 kg ha-1), and increased soybean yield in the following season (232 kg ha-1). N fertilization of maize increased soybean grain yield by 180 kg ha-1. Maize plant density did not influence the performance of succeeding soybean crops, regardless of the growing season.
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