Abstract

GOMEZ, I et al. Effect of polycropping on the establishment of three tropical grasses, on a Vertisol soil of the Cauto Valley. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2014, vol.37, n.1, pp.24-30. ISSN 0864-0394.

In order to evaluate the influence of polycropping on the establishment of grasses, on a Vertisol soil, three tropical grasses (Panicum maximum cv. Likoni, Cenchrus ciliaris cv. Biloela and Chloris gayana cv. Callide) and five legumes (Vigna radiata, variety mung bean; and Vigna unguiculata, varieties: Cubanita-666, Lina, INIFAT-93 and IITA precoz) were sown in polycrop and monocrop systems. The design was split plots, with four replications and 18 treatments. The crop combinations did not affect the pasture establishment. There was highly significant interaction (p < 0,001) in the seed yield of the grasses, as well as in the grain yield of the legumes; with outstanding results in their polycrops with P. maximum cv. Likoni, for the first case, and in V. radiata (mung bean) combined with P. maximum cv. Likoni and Ch. gayana cv. Callide, for the second one. All the combinations showed advantageous equivalent land use indexes, with values higher than one. It is concluded that the use of temporary legumes in polycrop with the grasses did not affect their establishment, and that the seed and grain harvest improved the biological efficiency during the process.

Keywords : botanical composition; yield; forage legumes; land use index.

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