No-till broccoli farming over pearl millet: weed suppression and yield at consecutive seasons in the southern coast of Brazil

Abstract

No-till broccoli farming over pearl millet: weed suppression and yield at consecutive seasons in the southern coast of BrazilCultivo de brócoli cero labranza sobre mijo perla: supresión de malezas y productividad en períodos consecutivos en la costa sur de Brasil ABSTRACT The pearl millet is a potential feedstock for biomass production under sensitive areas to climate changes, as the southern coast of Brazil. Looking for the sustainability of small-scale vegetable farmers on that region, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pearl millet as a cover crop on suppression of weeds during no-tillage cultivation of broccoli for two consecutive seasons. The experimental design was a randomized block with four treatments and four replications in split-plot design over time.Soil covering with whole millet; milled millet; spontaneous weeds (fallow) and conventional planting were tested; by they could causes changes in the community of weeds, either in the occurrence of weed species and in the accumulation of their biomass with influence on the yield of broccoli. The weed species density average over the two seasons, from higher to lower, followed respectively: Cyperus rotundus, Eleusine indica, Galinsoga quadriradiata, Cynodon dactylon, Commelina erecta and Amaranthus lividus. It was verified that soil covering with pear millet has altered weeds population dynamic and their biomass, being efficient in suppress the emergence of weeds. At the second season, the soil covered with whole pearl millet increased the yield of broccoli in comparison to the conventional system, being a sustainable technique for family farmers. RESUMENEl mijo perla es una especie potencial para la producción de biomasa en áreas sensibles a los cambios climáticos, como la costa sur de Brasil. Buscando la sostenibilidad de los pequeños productores de hortalizas en esa región, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto del mijo perla como cultivo de cobertura en la supresión de las malas hierbas durante el cultivo de brócoli cero labranza durante dos temporadas consecutivas. El diseño experimental fue un bloque aleatorio con cuatro tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones en el diseño de parcelas divididas a lo largo del tiempo. Suelo cubierto con mijo entero; mijo aplastado; malezas espontáneas (barbecho) y la siembra convencional se ensayaron para comprobar si podrían causar cambios en la comunidad de malezas, ya sea en la presencia de especies de malezas y en la acumulación de su biomasa con influencia en el rendimiento del brócoli. La densidad promedio de las especies de malezas durante las dos estaciones, siguió respectivamente: Cyperus rotundus, Eleusine indica, Galinsoga quadriradiata, Cynodon dactylon, Commelina erecta y Amaranthus lividus. Se verificó que la cobertura del suelo con mijo perla ha alterado la dinámica poblacional de las malezas y su biomasa, siendo eficaz para limitar la aparición de malezas. En la segunda temporada, el suelo cubierto con mijo perla entero aumentó el rendimiento del brócoli en comparación con el si...

Strategies to terminate summer cover crops for weed management in no-tillage vegetable production in southeast Brazil

“…The significant effect of pearl millet organic mulch on weed suppression in broccoli was consistent with the results of Grisa et al (2019), who demonstrated the potential of this species for the ecological management of weeds. The sunn hemp mulch also had suppressive effect on weed biomass only at 30 DATr of broccoli; however, by 50 DATr, a considerable increase in weed biomass had occurred.…”

“…With regard to the variable effect of glyphosate in the broccoli trial, these results highlighted the resilience of broccoli to grow and produce without herbicide sprayed on flattened cover crops, which is consistent with the finding of Grisa et al (2019), who reported great efficacy of pearl millet in suppressing weeds in broccoli.…”

“…Melo et al (2010) reported a broccoli commercial average yield of 13,000 kg ha −1 grown under no-tillage regardless of the pearl millet and sorghum straw, which is slightly lower than our trial. Grisa et al (2019) reported 10,200 kg ha −1 of broccoli marketable yield in the pearl millet organic mulch, which was lower than our average yield, but they emphasized the utility of the technique for sustainable broccoli production.…”

Effect of forage aqueous extracts on Glycine max L. Merr., Zea mays L. and Bidens pilosa L.

“…Crotalaria juncea and millet plants have been shown in the past decades to exert strong suppression of invasive plants while promoting high soil coverage and canopy light capture (8,10,16). In addition to the physical factors, chemical factors are also involved in the suppression of weeds by cover plants.…”

Broccoli in succession to pearl millet: nutrient cycling, production and soil chemical attributes

“…Among the characteristics that must be considered when choosing the appropriate species of cover plants, the rapid establishment, tolerance to water deficit, production of phytomass, suppression of weeds and the ability to recycle and release nutrients for crops in succession have to be considered (Marcante et al, 2011;Teixeira et al, 2011;Hirata et al, 2014). As it has such characteristics, pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) (Grisa et al, 2019) was the species selected for this work.…”