Maize Morphophysiological Changes Modulated by Cover Crops Rotation in Northeast Brazil

Maize Morphophysiological Changes Modulated by Cover Crops Rotation in Northeast Brazil

Cover crops have gained attention due to their potential benefits for the soil and physiological performance of subsequent crops. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and productive aspects of maize grown in succession to cover crops in northeastern Brazil. A randomized complete block desi...

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Main Authors: José Wilker Germano de Souza, João Henrique Silva da Luz, Dayane Mércia Ribeiro Silva, Ricardo Barros Silva, Bruno Richardson dos Santos Costa, Alan Fontes Melo, Hugo Rodrigues dos Santos, Isabelly Cristina da Silva Marques, Jadielson Inácio de Sousa, Mariana Bernardino Vanderley, Luana do Nascimento Silva Barbosa, Maria Raquel da Silva Farias, Emerson dos Santos Ferreira Farias, Sivaldo Soares Paulino, Antônio Lucrécio dos Santos Neto, Paulo Sergio Pavinato, José Vieira Silva, Valdevan Rosendo dos Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Stresses
Subjects:
<i>Zea mays</i> L.
Poaceae
Fabaceae
<i>Crotalaria juncea</i>
sustainability
agricultural
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7140/4/4/45
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Summary:Cover crops have gained attention due to their potential benefits for the soil and physiological performance of subsequent crops. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and productive aspects of maize grown in succession to cover crops in northeastern Brazil. A randomized complete block design with four repetitions was employed, in which the treatments consisted of the following cover crops: sunn hemp, spectabilis, pigeon pea, <i>Brachiaria</i> sp., jack bean, millet, and fallow. Physiological aspects and production components of maize were evaluated at the tasseling (VT) and smooth grain (R3) phenological stages. Millet cover increased carotenoid content in maize leaves by up to 78% at R3. Maize grown after pigeon pea, millet, and <i>Brachiaria</i> sp. showed up to 42% greater CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation efficiency compared to jack bean. Carboxylation efficiency increased by up to 34% in maize grown after millet and <i>Brachiaria</i> sp., while water use efficiency improved by up to 76% in maize after sunn hemp and pigeon pea at R3. Sunn hemp, spectabilis, and jack bean reduced soil temperature by 2 °C compared to fallow. The highest maize yield was observed after jack bean, with an 8% increase over fallow. These findings demonstrate the benefits of incorporating cover crops into maize cultivation systems in the semi-arid region of Brazil.
ISSN:2673-7140

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