Production and Soil Responses to Intercropping of Forage Grasses with Corn and Soybean Silage

Abstract

Agricultural management systems are needed to simultaneously enhance production, and improve soil quality. We investigated the effects of intercropped grass on production of corn (Zea mays L.) harvested for silage at 0.20 and 0.45 m height in the summer, as well as on production of subsequent forage, silage soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], and soil responses on a Typic Haplorthox in Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Palisade grass [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R. Webster ‘Marandu’] was the introduced companion crop with corn (Years 1 and 2), while signal grass [Urochloa decumbens (Stapf) R. Webster ‘Basilisk’] was the residual weedy species in comparison. Guinea grass [Urochloa maxima (Jacq.) R. Webster ‘Aruãna’] was the introduced companion crop with soybean (Year 3), with only a residual effect of crop systems from the previous 2 yr. When cut at 0.45 m compared with 0.20 m height, corn intercropped with palisade grass had greater leaf nutrient concentrations, agronomic characteristics, forage mass of pasture for grazing by lambs (Ovis aries), greater surface mulch produced, and greater quantity of N, P, and K returned to soil. Greater soil organic matter, P, K, and Mg concentration, and base saturation in the surface soil depth and lower soil penetration resistance at all depths occurred at 0.45 m than at 0.20 m corn silage cutting height intercropped with palisade grass. Analyzing the system as a whole, harvesting corn silage crop with palisade grass intercrop at 0.45 m height was the most viable option in this integrated crop–livestock system (ICLS).Core Ideas Agricultural management systems are needed to enhance production and improve soil quality. After corn silage harvest, pasture was grazed by lambs in winter/spring using a semi‐feedlot system. Harvesting corn silage crop with palisade grass intercrop at 0.45 m height was the most viable option.

Forage Warm-Season Legumes and Grasses Intercropped with Corn as an Alternative for Corn Silage Production

“…Despite differences in forage mass of the intercropped forages, the total herbage mass of the silage of corn and corn, intercropped with forages, did not differ in both years (Figure 3). A study on the production responses of corn grown for silage, intercropped with tropical forage grasses, has shown a similar forage mass of silage averaging 14-ton ha −1 [25]. In 2016, total silage herbage mass was lower than 2017 for all treatments, due to the drought that occurred during the spring and late summer of 2016.…”

“…In 2016, total silage herbage mass was lower than 2017 for all treatments, due to the drought that occurred during the spring and late summer of 2016. Forage crops are more competitive and have greater shade adaptability, thus accumulating sufficient forage mass in intercropping systems [25]. Yields of corn and lablab bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] mixtures produced for silage is highly determined by corn density, and the addition of legumes does not increase the dry matter yield of monoculture corn [26].…”

Do cover crops improve the productivity and industrial quality of upland rice?

“…Importantly, among the species investigated in this study, sunn hemp, millet, millet + sunn hemp, and millet + pigeonpea produced on average 74% more DMCCs than the fallow treatment. The higher DMCCs production of these cover crops validated the NTS alternative in regions that maintain fallow soil during the winter dry season, such as the Brazilian Cerrado and the African savanna (Pariz et al, 2016). The basic principles of the NTS were met using these cover crops in winter or spring: maintaining soil cover, avoiding turnover of the soil, and promoting crop rotation (Araya et al, 2016).…”

Contribution of corn intercropped with Brachiaria species to nutrient cycling1

“…A curto prazo, o milho consorciado com Brachiaria na safra obteve maior efeito sobre a ciclagem de nutrientes e produção de biomassa. O consórcio entre milho e B. brizantha na safra foi a melhor opção para aumentar a produção de biomassa e a ciclagem de N, P e K. Under the tropical and subtropical conditions of Brazil, intercropping corn and perennial grasses of the Brachiaria genus is an excellent alternative for establishing Brachiaria as a cover crop (Pariz et al 2016, Almeida et al 2017a. To investigate the competition between corn and Brachiaria species, studies have assessed the nutrient balance in the intercropping period, in relation to the plating period, plant density and corn maturity ratings (Borghi et al 2013, Ceccon et al 2013, Crusciol et al 2013.…”