The no-tillage system and cover crops-Alternatives to increase upland rice yields

Upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation has been increasing in importance in Asia while water availability for irrigation has been decreasing because of rapid growth in industry and urban centers. Therefore, the development of technologies that increase upland rice yields under aerobic conditions, thereby saving water, would be an effective strategy to avoid a decrease in global rice grain production. The use of the no-tillage system (NTS) and cover crops that maintain soil moisture would prove advantageous in the move toward sustainable agriculture. However, upland rice develops better in plowed soil, and it has been reported that this crop does not perform well under the NTS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cover crops on upland rice grain yield and yield components sowed in a NTS. A field experiment was conducted during two growing seasons (2008-2009 and 2009-2010), and treatments consisted of growing rice under five cover crops in a NTS and two control treatments under the conventional tillage system (plowing once and disking twice). Treatments were carried out in a randomized block design with three replications. Our findings are as follows: On average, Brachiaria brizantha (12.32Mgha-1), Brachiaria ruziziensis (11.08Mgha-1) and Panicum maximum (11.62Mgha-1) had outstanding biomass production; however, these grasses provided the worst upland rice yields (2.30, 2.04, and 2.67Mgha-1, respectively) and are not recommended as cover crops before upland rice. Millet and fallow exhibited the fastest straw degradation (half-lives of 52 and 54 days, respectively), and millet exhibited the fastest nitrogen release (N half-life of 28 days). The use of a NTS was promising when millet was used as a cover crop; this allowed the highest upland rice yield (3.94Mgha-1) and did not statistically differ from plowed fallow (3.52Mgha-1). © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Cover crops and no-till effects on physical fractions of soil organic matter

Physical fractions (free light fraction, intra-aggregate light fraction and heavy fraction) of soil organic matter (SOM) are good indicators of soil quality for sustainable land use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cover crops on total organic carbon (TOC) and physical fractions of soil organic matter in soil under a no-tillage system (NTS) and a conventional tillage system (CTS, one plowing and two disking). A three-year field experiment was carried out as a cover crop-rice (Oryza sativa)-cover crop-rice rotation. Treatments included cover crops (Panicum maximum, Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria brizantha, and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), fallow, till or no till. The SOM was physically fractionated in free light fraction (FLF), intra-aggregates light fraction (IALF) and heavy fraction (HF). The levels of C in whole soil were also evaluated, as well as C in the light fractions (FLF+IALF) and in the HF. Results indicated that concentrations of C in the FLF and IALF in surface soils (0-0.05m) were much higher (10.8 and 1.95gkg-1, respectively) than that in the 0.05-0.1m soil depth (7.68 and 1.54gkg-1, respectively) and in the 0.1-0.2m soil depth (4.98 and 1.24gkg-1, respectively). The NTS resulted in higher levels of FLF (12.2gkg-1) and IALF (2.19gkg-1) than with CTS (1.37-7.30gkg-1). Millet had the highest C (19.5gkg-1) and N (1.1gkg-1) concentrations in soil. There was an accumulation of TOC and total N in the surface soil with cover crops, and concentrations of TOC were higher in the HF (79.0%) than in the light fractions (21.0%). Although SOM changed little during the two years of this experiment, the various C fractions were significantly affected by the tillage treatments. We conclude that SOM physical fractionation allowed seeing significant differences caused by the soil management in the organic matter dynamics in a short period of time. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Cover crop termination timing on rice crop production in a no-till system

Measuring shikimic acid accumulation in response to glyphosate applications can be a rapid and accurate way to quantify and predict glyphosate-induced damage to sensitive plants. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of cover crop termination timing by glyphosate application on rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield in a no-till system. A factorial experiment, arranged in a split-plot design, was conducted for 2 yr. Treatments consisted of cover crops (main plots) and timed herbicide applications (subplots) to these cover crops (30, 20, 10, and 0 d before rice planting). There was a decrease in rice yield from 2866 kg ha-1 to 2322 kg ha-1 when the herbicide was applied closer to the rice planting day. Glyphosate application on cover crops increased shikimate concentrations in rice seedlings cultivated under palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha), signal grass (B. ruziziensis), guinea grass (Panicum maximum), and weedy fallow (spontaneous vegetation) but not under millet (Pennisetum glaucum), which behaved similarly to the control (clean fallow, no glyphosate application). Glyphosate applications in the timing intervals used were associated with stress in the rice plants, and this association increased if cover crops took longer to completely dry and if higher amounts of biomass were produced. Millet, as a cover crop, allowed the highest seedling dry matter for upland rice and the highest rice yield. Our results suggest that using millet as a cover crop, with glyphosate application far from upland rice planting day (10 d or more), was the best option for upland rice under a no-tillage system. © Crop Science Society of America.

Effects of plant cover on the macrofauna of Spartina marshes in northern Brazil

Dados sobre a densidade e diversidade da macrofauna em relação à altura e densidade de Spartina brasiliensis foram obtidos em bancos de marismas em um estuário tropical no norte do Brasil. A amostragem foi realizada quatro vezes durante um ano, nas estações chuvosa, seca e nos períodos de transição entre estas. A amostragem foi realizada em marismas de três classes de tamanho: pequeno, médio e grande. As variáveis foram analisadas em relação às estações do ano e das classes de tamanho das marismas. Um total de 46 táxons foram encontrados, com os poliquetos, isopodos e o gastropódo Neritina virginea dominando a fauna, resultados similares a estudos realizados em marismas no sul do Brasil. A densidade e a diversidade da macrofauna foram correlacionadas positivamente com a densidade de colmos da vegetação, indicando um possível papel da vegetação em proteção contra predação. Todas as três variáveis foram maiores durante os períodos transicionais entre as estações chuvosa e seca e mudanças sazonais em precipitação, salinidade e disponibilidade de luz possam influenciar mortalidade, disponibilidade de alimento e assentamento da macrofauna. Não houve um efeito de tamanho da marisma sobre a macrofauna ou a vegetação. O efeito beneficial da vegetação sobre a macrofauna é apoiado por outros estudos de marismas brasileiras.

The management of cover plant residues for cotton cropped in a no-tillage system

The cutting of plant residue in no-tillage systems under certain environmental conditions becomes necessary to adequately establish and grow crops. This study aims to assess the effect on the yield of different methods of managing millet plant residue in cotton plantations. The study was conducted during the agricultural years 2006/07 and 2007/08, and the treatments included no-mechanical-treatment tillage and the use of a rotary shredder, crimper-roller, and mechanical disintegrator for millet plants before sowing the cotton. Evaluations were performed for the residue fragmentation, emergence speed, percent of soil cover during the cycle and yield of the cotton crop. The emergence speed was faster in the management with the rotary shredder. In 2006/07, the no-tillage treatment showed a rate of loss for soil cover that was 46 percent greater than the disintegrator treatment. The rotary shredder and the disintegrator yielded greater soil coverage during the cultivation cycle, and the yield was highly correlated with the soil cover at 75 days after emergence. The management of the millet residue affected the cotton plants for the two-year study period.

Chemical and biological properties of phosphorus-fertilized soil under legume and grass cover (Cerrado region, Brazil)

The use of cover crops has been suggested as an effective method to maintain and/or increase the organic matter content, while maintaining and/or enhancing the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. The fertility of Cerrado soils is low and, consequently, phosphorus levels as well. Phosphorus is required at every metabolic stage of the plant, as it plays a role in the processes of protein and energy synthesis and influences the photosynthetic process. This study evaluated the influence of cover crops and phosphorus rates on soil chemical and biological properties after two consecutive years of common bean. The study analyzed an Oxisol in Selvíria (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil), in a randomized block, split plot design, in a total of 24 treatments with three replications. The plot treatments consisted of cover crops (millet, pigeon pea, crotalaria, velvet bean, millet + pigeon pea, millet + crotalaria, and millet + velvet bean) and one plot was left fallow. The subplots were represented by phosphorus rates applied as monoammonium phosphate (0, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 P2O5). In August 2011, the soil chemical properties were evaluated (pH, organic matter, phosphorus, potential acidity, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation) as well as biological variables (carbon of released CO2, microbial carbon, metabolic quotient and microbial quotient). After two years of cover crops in rotation with common bean, the cover crop biomass had not altered the soil chemical properties and barely influenced the microbial activity. The biomass production of millet and crotalaria (monoculture or intercropped) was highest. The biological variables were sensitive and responded to increasing phosphorus rates with increases in microbial carbon and reduction of the metabolic quotient.

Broad-scale spatial patterns of canopy cover and pond morphology affect the structure of a Neotropical amphibian metacommunity

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Upland rice under no-tillage preceded by crops for soil cover and nitrogen fertilization

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Cover crops affecting levels of ammonium and nitrate in the soil and upland rice development

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Toward Satellite-Based Land Cover Classification Through Optimum-Path Forest

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

RESPONSE OF CORN GROWN IN TILLAGE SYSTEM FOR THE APPLICATION OF NITROGEN DOSES IN A SEQUENCE OF PLANT COVER

The use of cover crops can produce large amounts of biomass, improving the cycling of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, promoting productivity gains and cost savings. Given this, the objective was to evaluate the use of N rates associated to cover crops grown in pre-harvest nutritional status, nitrogen accumulation and corn yield in both years. The experiment was conducted in an Oxisol with maize, no-tillage system. The experimental design was a randomized block, split plot with four replications. The main treatments were: six cropping systems (sun hemp, jack bean, lablab, millet, and velvet bean fallow) in secondary treatments: four doses of nitrogen (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha(-1) N). Corn yield was not affected by the type of coverage for pre-season, regardless of the nitrogen applied in the soil. Still, the use of nitrogen fertilizer in the soil promotes gains in grain yield in the first year of cultivation, regardless of the type of coverage in pre-season. In the first year (2006/2007) the species of coverage produced more biomass were velvet bean, jack bean, sun hemp and lablab, while in the second year (2007/08) were the sun hemp, millet, lablab, jack bean and velvet bean, respectively.

Effects on soil chemical attributes and cotton yield from ammonium sulfate and cover crops

Fertilizer use in no-till systems must be aligned with a correct interpretation of soil chemical attributes and crop demands. The objectives of this work were evaluate the effects of pre-sowing application of ammonium sulfate (AS) and of cover crops on the yields and soil chemical attributes of no-till cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. r. latifolium Hutch) over two harvesting years. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design, with the plots in strips, and the variables were three cover crops (Raphanus sativus L., Avena strigosa L. and Avena sativa L.) and four AS doses (0, 150, 300, and 450 kg ha-1) applied over millet dry biomass. The cotton in the experimental plots was manually harvested on April 25, 2007 and April 24, 2008. The soil samples were collected between cotton rows in all plots on May 5, 2007 and May 12, 2008, at depths of 0.0-0.05, 0.05-0.10, and 0.10-0.20 m for soil fertility analyses. The increasing doses of AS induced lower soil pH, and calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels in the superficial soil layer, as well as higher exchangeable aluminum (Al) and sulfur (S) levels until a depth of 0.20 m. Seed cotton yields increased with increasing AS doses.

Land cover classification of Lago Grande de Curuai floodplain (Amazon, Brazil) using multi-sensor and image fusion techniques

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sistemas de cultivo antecessores e doses de nitrogênio em cobertura no feijoeiro em plantio direto = cover crop systems and nitrogen topdressing on common bean in no tillage

The objective of this work was to evaluate the grass cover crop production in crop systems involving maize and Urochloa ruziziensis, and the influence of topdressing nitrogen rates in the yield and agronomic efficiency on common-bean cultivated in succession in no-tillage. The experiments were conducted in Jaboticabal-SP, in a eutrophic red latosol, in the second year of no-tillage system implementation. The IPR 139 cultivar was used in split plot design with three replications, in randomized block. The plots had been composed for three crop systems in the summer season, with maize exclusive, maize intercropped with U. ruziziensis and U. ruziziensis exclusive. The subplots had been constituted for five nitrogen rates (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg ha(-1)), applied as topdressing at V4-4 in irrigated common-bean cultivated in the winter-spring season. The use of U. ruziziensis in crops systems, exclusive or intercropped with maize favors the grass cover crop production sufficiently to total soli surface covered, possibility similar grain yield compared to maize exclusive. The topdressing nitrogen application doesn't affect the common-bean yield in succession to maize and U. ruziziensis intercropped. The increase of nitrogen rates in common-bean in succession to maize exclusive improves the yield, although decreases the agronomic efficiency.

Land cover change and environmental quality assessment using GIS techniques: a case study in Brazilian Southeastern region for the period 1988-2003

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)