Supressão de plantas invasoras e características agronômicas da cultura do milho sob resíduos culturais e leguminosas em sistema plantio direto

Abstract

The use of cover crops on no-tillage system can add several advantages, such as controlling the weeds population. The leguminous species also carry out biological nitrogen fixation, increase nutrients to the soil and bring other benefits. Therefore, this research aimed at testing the leguminous, dwarf mucuna beans, dwarf pigeon pea and stylosanthes on seedling, maize development and the weeds incidence. This trial was carried out in both field and laboratory. On field, the leguminous species were sown in October of 2007 plus a control one (fallow) in 20 parcels of 4 x 5 m plots with five replicates each. The weeds population was recorded at 30 and 60 days after sowing of leguminous. At 90 days, they were grazed and the maize, 15 days after grazing, was planted on waste. The emergence and growth of plants were assessed, besides the weeds incidence during culture development. At the laboratory, after harvest, corn yield and seeds quality were determined. As well as the allelopathy tests on leguminous, so the aerial parts were collected and the aqueous extract of leaves was prepared at concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 %, while the control was prepared with distilled water. The extract was applied on seeds of weeds (Ipomoea L., Sida rhombifolia L. and Bidens pillosa) and on maize, with four replications per treatment. The experimental design was completely randomized and the means were compared by Scott-Knott at 5% of significance. The studied cover plants showed efficient control of weeds and did not interfere in a negative way on the maize crop. Actually, it is an alternative to the integrated management of species concerning the summer green manure and crop rotation in no-tillage system for the Western region of Paraná.