Contribution of roots and shoots of Brachiaria species to soybean performance in succession

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of roots and straw of palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha) and Ruzi grass (U. ruziziensis), used as cover crops in autumn-winter, on soybean performance. Seven treatments were evaluated in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates: fallow, during autumn-winter; straw of U. ruziziensis or U. brizantha 'BRS Piatã', distributed in plots kept under fallow in the winter, without roots; plots only with roots of U. ruziziensis or U. brizantha, without straw; and plots with straw and roots of U. ruziziensis or U. brizantha. The grass species were planted during the 2014/2015 crop season, and treatments were evaluated at the end of the 2015/2016 crop season, without drought during the soybean cycle. The oil and protein contents of soybean grains were not affected significantly by the treatments. However, the cultivation of grass species during autumn-winter increased soybean grain yield in comparison with fallow. Grass root effects are more expressive than those of straw. The combined presence of roots and straw confers a better performance to soybean than the isolated presence of roots or straw.

Profitability of soybean production models with diversified crops in the autumn–winter

“…Water deficits can often limit the growth and development of the crops, particularly if the deficit occurs during periods of flowering or pod-fill (Fioreze, Pivetta, Fano, Machado, & Guimarães, 2011), which is what occurred during the first two cropping seasons. Several studies have reported the benefits of brachiaria ruziziensis on the yield of soybean (Balbinot et al, 2017;Correia, Leite, & Fuzita, 2013;Rosolem, Neto, Costa, & Grassmann, 2019), specifically improvements in production due to the high residues and roots generated by the plant. The direct benefits of soil cover on crop yields are well known and involve a reduction in thermal amplitude (Altieri et al, 2011); a decrease in soil, water, and nutrient losses from erosion (Dechen, Telles, Guimaraes, & De Maria, 2015;Engel et al, 2009); a decrease in weed infestations, particularly in weeds with herbicide resistance, such as horseweed (Conyza bonariensis) and sourgrass (Digitaria insularis; Correia et al, 2013); a break in disease cycles; and a reduction in pest infestations (Larkin, 2015).…”

Identity Test of Models Generated in Neutron Probe Calibration in Latosol Cultivated With Coffee and Signalgrass

“…According to Balbinot Junior; Yokoyama (2017), signalgrass, a plant belonging to the genus Brachiaria spp., can improve soil quality from the direct action of its roots in the structure, improving infiltration, water retention, oxygen flow and reducing soil resistance to penetration of crop roots. Adaptability to local conditions, adequate architecture to the coffee production system, perenniality, ease of natural resowing, rusticity, ease of maintenance and resistance to mechanization are characteristics that qualify signalgrass as a cover crop (BULISANI et al, 1993;FIRTH;WILSON, 1995), which can be used between coffee rows.…”

Soil physical quality in response to intensification of grain production systems

“…These systems can also improve the crop tolerance to water deficits and produce expressive quantity of dry matter, which favors soil cover and ensures the sustainability of the NTS (Borghi et al, 2013;Calonego et al, 2017). Studies have shown that the introduction of perennial grasses species as intercrops for grain productions improves soil chemical fertility (Crusciol et al, 2015) and SPQ in surface and subsurface layers (Calonego et al, 2011) and, consequently, increases maize and soybean crop yields (Crusciol et al, 2015;Balbinot et al, 2017;Pariz et al, 2017).…”

“…Intercrops present positive results that improve the soil physical and biological qualities (Calonego et al, 2017;Pariz et al, 2017). They provide higher availability of nutrients in the soil, resulting in improvements in fertility and higher yields for succeeding crops (Borghi et al, 2013;Crusciol et al, 2015;Balbinot et al, 2017;Pariz et al, 2017).…”