Abstract

Crop-livestock systems consists in the cultivation of agricultural and foraging species in the same area, in consortium, rotation or crops succession. Among several used crops, corn and brachiaria intercropping stands out, for its importance, cultivation tradition and adaptation of species to intercropping cultivation. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of Brachiaria brizantha (brachiaria) sowing arrangements on yield and nitrate reductase activity in different corn hybrids. A randomized block design was used with four replications, in a 4×3 factorial scheme. Treatments constituted of four corn hybrids DKB 747, BM2202, AGN30A00 and AG2060 and three forage sowing arrangements: a) corn crop at 0.9 m spacing, two rows of B. brizantha in the inter-row at 0.3 m from the corn row; b), corn crop at 0.9 m spacing, one brachiaria row in the corn sowing row, mixed with starter fertilizer, and another one in the inter-row center; c) corn crop at 0.45 m spacing, with brachiaria in the corn sowing row, mixed with starter fertilizer. The spacing reduction between corn rows promoted yield increase and reduced brachiaria growth. Lower nitrate reductase activity in corn plants was found in the corn crop at 0.9 m spacing, with two B. brizantha rows located in the corn interrow at 0.3 m.

Key words: Brachiaria, competition crop-livestock systems, Zea mays.