Abstract

The effects of several cover crops on common bean cv. Pérola productivity cropped at Goiano – Ceres Campus (Brazil) and changes in soil organic matter and potassium were evaluated for one season. The experiment was based on a randomized complete blocks design encompassing four treatments (spontaneous vegetation, Crotalaria spectabilis L., Mucuna aterrima L. and Pennisetum glaucum) and four replications. Soil cover by cover crops was assessed 40 days after sowing (DAS). Manure was applied at 25 DAS at a rate of 250 kg ha^-1 with a NPK formulation 20-00-20.Cover crops increased soil cover by approximately 170% when compared with the natural vegetation. Plant residues and manure also led to changes in the soil organic matter and potassium during the common bean growth cycle. Apparently, the Mucuna aterrima L. favored mostly the bean productivity and increased the organic matter and potassium in the soil.

Key words: Green manuring, manure, organic matter, Phaseolus vulgaris, potassium