Effects of row spacing and intercrop on maize grain yield and forage production of palisade grass
Émerson Borghi A , Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol B F , Adriano Stephan Nascente C , Gustavo Pavan Mateus D , Priscila Oliveira Martins B and Ciniro Costa E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Fisheries, Aquaculture and Agricultural Systems Research Center, Block 103 South, JK Avenue, Access 01, Lot 17, Ground Floor, Southern Master 77.015-012, Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil.
B Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), College of Agricultural Science, Department of Crop Science, PO Box 237, 18.610-307, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
C EMBRAPA, Rice and Beans Research Center, PO Box 179, 75.375-000, Santo Antônio de Goiás, Goiás, Brazil.
D Sao Paulo Agrobusiness Technology Agency (APTA), PO Box 67, 16.900-000, Andradina, São Paulo, Brazil.
E UNESP, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Animal Nutrition and Breeding, 18.618-970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
F Corresponding author. Email: crusciol@fca.unesp.br
Crop and Pasture Science 63(12) 1106-1113 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP12344
Submitted: 5 October 2012 Accepted: 30 January 2013 Published: 4 March 2013
Abstract
Intercropping of maize (Zea mays L.) with perennial forage, such as palisade grass [Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich) Stapf], provides large amounts of biomass that can be used as straw for no-tillage systems or as pasture for animal grazing. In addition, the use of narrow row spacing may increase maize grain yield. However, it is important to evaluate intercrops at different row spacing to avoid reductions in both maize and forage biomass production. The objectives of this field experiment during two growing seasons in Brazil were as follows: (1) to evaluate the influence of intercropping and row spacing on maize yield, leaf nutrient concentration, and plant population and development; and (2) to assess the influence of row spacing on palisade grass herbage mass and leaf nutrient concentration. The experimental design was a randomised complete block design in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with eight replications. The treatments comprised two row spacing distances (0.45 and 0.90 m) and two crop management types (maize monoculture and intercropped with palisade grass). The nutrient concentrations in the leaves of the maize plants were in the ideal range for this crop under all conditions studied. Plant height, height of first ear, and number of grains per ear were higher with the narrow row spacing. Maize grain yield was similar in both crop management types (10 301 and 9745 kg ha–1 for monoculture maize and intercropped, respectively). However, maize grain yield at the narrow row spacing was higher than that obtained with the wide row spacing (9948 v. 8905 kg ha–1). In contrast, row spacing did not affect the nutrient level or quality (crude protein concentration) of palisade grass. The amount of dry matter (DM) from palisade grass was lower at maize harvesting (4.7 Mg ha–1) and 90 days after harvesting (6.9 Mg ha–1) under narrow spacing. However, the amount of DM was similar at both row spacings at 120 days after maize harvesting (9.2 Mg ha–1). When there is no problem with water and nutrient availability, the use of maize and palisade grass intercropping under both row spacing conditions (0.45 and 0.90 m) provides an option for the production of forage DM without reducing the maize grain yield.
Additional keywords: corn, crop–livestock integration, grass, leaf nutrient concentration, sustainable agriculture.
References
Alvarez CGD, Pinho RG, Borges ID (2006) Evaluation of agronomic characteristics and production of forage and grains of corn in different densities of sowing and row spacings. Ciência & Agrotecnologia 30, 402–408.| Evaluation of agronomic characteristics and production of forage and grains of corn in different densities of sowing and row spacings.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Amaral Filho JPR, Fornasieri Filho D, Farinelli R, Barbosa JC (2005) Row spacing, population density and nitrogen fertilization in maize. Revista Brasileira de Ciencia do Solo 29, 467–473.
| Row spacing, population density and nitrogen fertilization in maize.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barducci RS, Costa C, Crusciol CAC, Borghi E, Putarov TC, Sarti LMN (2009) Production of Brachiaria brizantha and Panicum maximum with corn and nitrogen fertilization. Archivos de Zootecnia 58, 211–222.
| Production of Brachiaria brizantha and Panicum maximum with corn and nitrogen fertilization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baributsa DN, Foster EF, Thelen KD, Kravchenko AN, Mutch DR, Ngouajio M (2008) Corn and cover crop response to corn density in an interseeding system. Agronomy Journal 100, 981–987.
| Corn and cover crop response to corn density in an interseeding system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Borghi E, Mobricci C, Pulz AL, Ono EO, Crusciol CAC (2007) Growth of Brachiaria brizantha with corn intercropping in no-tillage system. Acta Scientiarum – Agronomy 29, 91–98.
Borghi E, Costa NV, Crusciol CAC, Mateus GP (2008) Influence of the spatial distribution of maize and Brachiaria brizantha intercropping on the weed population under no-tillage. Planta Daninha 26, 559–568.
| Influence of the spatial distribution of maize and Brachiaria brizantha intercropping on the weed population under no-tillage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Calonego JC, Poleto LC, Domingues FN, Tiritan CS (2011) Yield and growth of maize in different plant arrangements. Revista Agrarian 4, 84–90.
Cantarella H van. Raij B, Camargo CEO (1997) Cereais. In ‘Boletim Técnico 100, Recomendação de Adubação e Calagem para o Estado de São Paulo’. (Eds B van Raij, H Cantarella, JA Quaggio, AMC Furlani) pp. 43–71. (Instituto Agronômico de Campinas: Campinas, SP, Brazil)
Carvalho MAC, Yamashita OM, Roque CG, Noetzold R (2011) Rice yield in the crop-livestock integration using low herbicide doses. Bragantia 70, 33–39.
| Rice yield in the crop-livestock integration using low herbicide doses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Costa KAP, Rosa B, Oliveira IP, Custodio DP, Silva DC (2005) Effect of seasonal climate condition on the dry matter production and bromatological composition of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. Ciencia Animal Brasileira 6, 187–193.
Crusciol CAC, Soratto RP, Borghi E, Matheus GP (2010) Benefits of integrating crops and tropical pastures as systems of production. Better Crops 94, 14–16.
Crusciol CAC, Mateus GP, Pariz CM, Borghi E, Costa C, Silveira JPF (2011) Nutrition and yield of sorghum hybrids with contrasting cycles intercropped with Marandu grass. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 46, 1234–1240.
| Nutrition and yield of sorghum hybrids with contrasting cycles intercropped with Marandu grass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Crusciol CAC, Mateus GP, Nascente AS, Martins PO, Borghi E, Pariz CM (2012) An innovative crop–forage intercrop system: early cycle soybean cultivars and palisadegrass. Agronomy Journal 104, 1085–1095.
| An innovative crop–forage intercrop system: early cycle soybean cultivars and palisadegrass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Das TK, Yaduraju NT (2011) Effects of missing-row sowing supplemented with row spacing and nitrogen on weed competition and growth and yield of wheat. Crop & Pasture Science 62, 48–57.
| Effects of missing-row sowing supplemented with row spacing and nitrogen on weed competition and growth and yield of wheat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Demétrio CS, Fornasieri Filho D, Cazetta JO, Cazetta DA (2008) Performance of maize hybrids submitted to different row spacing and population densities. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 43, 1691–1697.
Faccio Carvalho PC, Anghinoni I, Moraes A, Souza ED, Sulc RM, Lang CR, Flores JPC, Lopes MLT, Silva JLS, Conte O, Wesp CL, Levien R, Fontaneli RS, Bayer C (2010) Managing grazing animals to achieve nutrient cycling and soil improvement in no-till integrated systems. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 88, 259–273.
| Managing grazing animals to achieve nutrient cycling and soil improvement in no-till integrated systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
FAO (2001) Lecture notes on the major soils of the world. FAO, Rome. Available at: www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/Y1899E/Y1899E00.HTM (accessed 22 January 2013)
Freitas FCL, Ferreira LR, Ferreira FA, Santos MV, Agnes EL, Cardoso AA, Jakelaitis A (2005) Implantation of pastures via consortium of Brachiaria brizantha with corn for silage under no-tillage system. Planta Daninha 23, 49–58.
| Implantation of pastures via consortium of Brachiaria brizantha with corn for silage under no-tillage system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Freitas FCL, Santos MV, Machado AFL, Ferreira LR, Freitas MAM, Silva MGO (2008) Behavior of corn cultivars intercropped with Brachiaria brizantha in the presence and absence of sprayed foramsulfuron + iodosulfuron-methyl. Planta Daninha 26, 215–221.
| Behavior of corn cultivars intercropped with Brachiaria brizantha in the presence and absence of sprayed foramsulfuron + iodosulfuron-methyl.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garcia RA, Crusciol CAC, Calonego JC, Rosolem CA (2008) Potassium cycling in a corn–brachiaria crop management. European Journal of Agronomy 28, 579–585.
| Potassium cycling in a corn–brachiaria crop management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXktFClt74%3D&md5=fd12b2755246d6d95d0b95577b978f57CAS |
Jakelaitis A, Silva AF, Silva AA, Ferreira LR, Freitas FCL, Viana RG (2005) Influence of herbicides and sowing systems on maize–Brachiaria brizantha intercrop. Planta Daninha 23, 59–67.
| Influence of herbicides and sowing systems on maize–Brachiaria brizantha intercrop.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jakelaitis A, Silva AA, Silva AF, Silva LP, Ferreira LR, Vivian R (2006) Effects of herbicides on intercropped maize and Brachiaria brizantha weed control, growth and yield. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Tropical 36, 53–60.
Kluthcouski J, Stone LF, Aidar H (2003) ‘Crop livestock integration.’ (Embrapa Arroz e Feijão: Santo Antonio de Goiás, Goiás, Brazil)
Landers JN (2007) Tropical crop-livestock systems in conservation agriculture: the Brazilian experience. In ‘Integrated crop management’. edn 5.1. (FAO: Rome)
Malavolta E, Vitti GC, Oliveira SA (1997) ‘Avaliação do estado nutricional das plantas: princípios e aplicações.’ 2nd edn. (Associação Brasileira para Pesquisa da Potassa e do Fosfato: Piracicaba, SP, Brazil)
Marchão RL, Brasil EM, Duarte JB, Guimarães CM, Gomes JA (2005) Plant density and agronomic traits of maize hybrids in narrow row spacing. Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical 35, 93–101.
Mateus GP, Borghi E, Marques RR, Boas RLV, Crusciol CAC (2007) Sources and time of contact of mineral fertilizer with Brachiaria brizantha seeds as related with germination. Revista Brasileira de Ciencia do Solo 31, 177–183.
Mateus GP, Crusciol CAC, Borghi E, Pariz CM, Costa C, Silveira JPF (2011) Nitrogen fertilization on sorghum intercropped with grass in a no-tillage system. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 46, 1161–1169.
| Nitrogen fertilization on sorghum intercropped with grass in a no-tillage system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maughan MW, Flores JPC, Anghinoni I, Bollero G, Fernandez FG, Tracy BF (2009) Soil quality and corn yield under crop–livestock integration in Illinois. Agronomy Journal 101, 1503–1510.
| Soil quality and corn yield under crop–livestock integration in Illinois.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsV2jtLjI&md5=5e0f93932816222beee048ff22b14958CAS |
Nascente AS, Crusciol CAC (2012) Cover crops and herbicide timing management on soybean yield under no-tillage system. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 47, 187–192.
| Cover crops and herbicide timing management on soybean yield under no-tillage system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pacheco LP, Leandro W, Machado PLOA, Assis RL, Cobucci T, Madari BE, Petter FA (2011) Biomass production and nutrient accumulation and release by cover crops in the off-season. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 46, 17–25.
| Biomass production and nutrient accumulation and release by cover crops in the off-season.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pariz CM, Andreotti M, Tarsitano MAA, Bergamaschine AF, Buzetti S, Chioderolli CA (2009) Technical and economic performance of corn intercropped with Panicum and Brachiaria forage in crop–livestock integration system. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Tropical 39, 360–370.
Pariz CM, Andreotti M, Azenha MV, Bergamaschine AF, Mello LMN, Lima RC (2011) Corn grain yield and dry mass of Brachiaria intercrops in the crop-livestock integration system. Ciencia Rural 41, 875–882.
| Corn grain yield and dry mass of Brachiaria intercrops in the crop-livestock integration system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Penariol FG, Fornasieri Filho D, Coicev L, Bordin L, Farinelli R (2003) Performance of maize cultivars sown in different row widths and population densities in off-season cultivation. Revista Brasileira de Milho e Sorgo 2, 52–60.
Portes TA, Carvalho SIC, Oliveira IP, Kluthcouski J (2000) Growth analysis of a Brachiaria cultivars and intercropped with cereals. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 35, 1349–1358.
| Growth analysis of a Brachiaria cultivars and intercropped with cereals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reda F, Verkleij JAC, Ernst WHO (2005) Relay cropping of Sorghum and legume shrubs for crop yield improvement and Striga control in the subsistence agriculture region of Tigray (Northern Ethiopia). Journal of Agronomy & Crop Science 191, 20–26.
| Relay cropping of Sorghum and legume shrubs for crop yield improvement and Striga control in the subsistence agriculture region of Tigray (Northern Ethiopia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rosolem CA, Pace L, Crusciol CAC (2004) Nitrogen management in maize cover crops rotations. Plant and Soil 264, 261–271.
| Nitrogen management in maize cover crops rotations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXpsF2ls7k%3D&md5=0b2721242c2d51ac1a8efacdb2bf6396CAS |
Sangoi L (2001) Understanding plant density effects on maize growth and development: an important issue to maximize grain yield. Ciencia Rural 31, 159–168.
| Understanding plant density effects on maize growth and development: an important issue to maximize grain yield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sangoi L, Ender M, Guidolin AF, Almeida ML, Heberie PC (2001) Influence of row spacing reduction on maize grain yield in regions with a short summer. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 36, 861–869.
| Influence of row spacing reduction on maize grain yield in regions with a short summer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Santos PG, Juliatti FC, Buiatti AL, Hamawaki OT (2002) Evaluation of the agronomic performance of corn hybrids in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira 37, 597–602.
| Evaluation of the agronomic performance of corn hybrids in Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
SAS Institute (1999) ‘Procedure guide for personal computers. Version 5.’ (SAS Institute: Cary, NC)
Sawyer JE, Pedersen P, Barker DW, Diaz DAR, Albrecht L (2010) Intercropping corn and kura clover: response to nitrogen fertilization. Agronomy Journal 102, 568–574.
| Intercropping corn and kura clover: response to nitrogen fertilization.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Severino FJ, Carvalho SJP, Christoffoleti PJ (2006) Mutual interferences among corn crop, forage species and weeds under a consortium system. II – Implications on forage species. Planta Daninha 24, 45–52.
| Mutual interferences among corn crop, forage species and weeds under a consortium system. II – Implications on forage species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Silva AC, Ferreira LR, Silva AA, Paiva TWB, Sediyama CS (2004) Effects of reduced rates of fluazifop-p-butyl on soybean intercropped with Brachiaria brizantha. Planta Daninha 22, 429–435.
| Effects of reduced rates of fluazifop-p-butyl on soybean intercropped with Brachiaria brizantha.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stacciarini TCV, Castro PHC, Borges MA, Guerin HF, Moraes PAC, Gotardo M (2010) Effect of row spacing reduction and increase in population density on agronomic traits of corn. Revista Ceres 57, 516–519.
Sulc RM, Tracy BF (2007) Integrated crop–livestock systems in the U.S. corn belt. Agronomy Journal 99, 335–345.
| Integrated crop–livestock systems in the U.S. corn belt.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tedla A, Mamo T, Klaij MC, Diedhiou ML (1999) Effects of crop management, seed bed management and fertility interactions on biomass of crops grown on a vertisol in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia. Journal of Agronomy & Crop Science 183, 205–211.
| Effects of crop management, seed bed management and fertility interactions on biomass of crops grown on a vertisol in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXnsVyktrY%3D&md5=128088e33d15f211b8792225c0d8d44bCAS |
Tracy BF, Zhang Y (2008) Soil compaction, corn yield response, and soil nutrient pool dynamics within an integrated crop-livestock system in Illinois. Crop Science 48, 1211–1218.
| Soil compaction, corn yield response, and soil nutrient pool dynamics within an integrated crop-livestock system in Illinois.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXosVGnsL8%3D&md5=7ab1e7a539021378bef419e378a2a0dcCAS |
UNICAMP (2012) Centro de Pesquisas Meteorologicas e Climaticas Aplicadas a Agricultura. Clima dos Municipios Paulistas. Botucatu (2012) Available at: www.cpa.unicamp.br/outras-informacoes/clima_muni_086.html#
van Raij B, Andrade JC, Cantarella H, Quaggio JA (2001) ‘Chemical analysis for fertility evaluation of tropical soils.’ (Inst. Agronômico: Campinas, SP, Brazil)
Van Soest PJ (1994) ‘Nutritional ecology of the ruminant.’ 2nd edn (Cornell University Press: Ithaca, NY)
