Effects of different soil tillage systems and coverages on soybean crop in the Botucatu Region in Brazil

Abstract

Nowadays, agricultural practices should combine high yields with a sustainable use of resources. Different tillage practices and crop covers, if combined, may help to achieve both objectives. In this work, several traits of a soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) cultivar were studied under different conditions of tillage and previous soil coverages. The experiment was installed at Lageado Research Station, Botucatu county, SP, Brazil, on a Paleudult. It consisted of nine treatments (combining three systems of soil tillage and three cover crops) and 4 replicates, yielding 36 plots of a randomized block experimental design. The soil tillage systems considered were: (i) conventional tillage with two heavy harrowing and a levelling harrowing; (ii) chiseling, and (iii) no-tillage with chemical drying of vegetation. The three cover crops used were: black oat, sorghum and spontaneous vegetation. Analyzed variables were: plant height, initial and final plant densities, height of first pod insertion, weight of a thousand grains, number of pods per plant, number of grains per pod, and crop yield. No significant differences were observed for most of the analyzed variables; however, conventional tillage produced significantly heavier grains and a higher number of pods per plant. The selected covers were considered an excellent coverage prior to planting soybean in a crop rotation. The three tillage systems can be used for deployment of culture without compromising the development of soybean.Additional key words: black oat, chisel, Glycine max, heavy harrow, sorghum, yield. ResumenEfectos de diferentes sistemas de laboreo del suelo y coberturas vegetales sobre la cosecha de soja en la región de Botucatu en Brasil Actualmente, las prácticas agrícolas deben combinar elevadas productividades con un uso sostenible de los recursos. Diferentes sistemas de laboreo y coberturas vegetales, combinados, pueden ayudar a conseguir ambos objetivos. En este trabajo se han estudiado diversos aspectos de un cultivar de soja (Glycine max L. Merr) sometido a diferentes condiciones de laboreo y cobertura vegetal. El experimento se llevó a cabo en la Estación Experimental de Lageado, Botucatu (São Paulo, Brasil) sobre un Paleudult, y constó de nueve tratamientos (tres sistemas de laboreo y tres coberturas vegetales combinados) y cuatro repeticiones, totalizando 36 parcelas con un diseño experimental en bloques aleatorios. Los sistemas de laboreo considerados fueron (i) laboreo convencional con dos gradas pesadas y una niveladora; (ii) escarificado y (iii) no laboreo con desecación química de la vegetación. Las tres coberturas utilizadas fueron la avena negra, el sorgo y la vegetación espontánea. Las variables analizadas fueron altura de las plantas, densidad inicial y final de plantas, altura de la inserción de la primera vaina, peso de mil granos, número de vainas por planta y de granos por vaina y productividad de la cosecha. No se observaron diferencias significativas en la mayoría de las variables; sin embargo, el laboreo convencional produ...

Effect of tillage system on yield and weed populations of soybean ( Glycin Max L.)

“…In contrast, Barrios et al (2006) observed significantly higher yields in soybean crops under conventional tillage than in no tillage system in a rotation maize/soybean. At the same time, Lança Rodrígues et al (2009) found no signifi cant differences in soybean seed yields among tillage systems. Moreover, some studies have suggested that NT can lead to reduced yields because of lower N availability (Matowo et al 1997) and greater nematode infestation (Koenning et al 1995) compared with conventional tillage system.…”

“…1). Lança Rodrígues et al (2009) found higher values for seed number per pod under conventional and reduced tillage systems than under no tillage system. Mohammadi and Amiri (2011) reported that seed number per pod was signifi cantly lower in non-weeded plots compared to full-season weedfree plots.…”

Crescimento e atividade de raízes de soja em função do sistema de produção

“…A ausência de resposta da escarificação sobre a produtividade da soja também foi verificada por outros autores, mesmo quando este manejo apresentou melhoria das propriedades físicas (Camara & Klein, 2005;Lança Rodrígues et al, 2009;Secco et al, 2009). O aumento da produtividade das culturas com uso da escarificação pode estar associado à quebra de camadas compactadas, o que geralmente ocorre nos primeiros anos de implantação do sistema de semeadura direta ou em áreas com manejo inadequado, com ausência de rotação de culturas.…”

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) Growth, Yield, and Nodulation in the Early Transition Period from Conventional Tillage to Conservation and No-Tillage Systems

“…The greatest number was seen for the conventional system (5799 pods m −2 ), with significantly lo pod numbers for the conservation and no-tillage systems (2206 and 2547 pods m −2 , res tively) (Table 2). [46] also reported that their conventional and reduced tillage sys showed greater pod numbers per plant compared to their no-tillage system. The 100mass for the conventional system (19.7 g) was significantly greater than for the conse tion and no-tillage systems, which were similar (17.3 and 16.4 g, respectively) (Tab Indeed, such tillage systems have been shown to have relevant effects on absolute mass [47], while [48] reported that their conventional system favored soybean seed (as 1000-seed mass) over their no-tillage system.…”

“…Ref. [46] also reported that their conventional and reduced tillage systems showed greater pod numbers per plant compared to their no-tillage system. The 100-seed mass for the conventional system (19.7 g) was significantly greater than for the conservation and no-tillage systems, which were similar (17.3 and 16.4 g, respectively) (Table 2).…”