Performance and productivity of winter maize intercropped with legumes in an organic system

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and productivity of maize (Zea mays) intercropped with legumes in organic system. The experiment was conducted in the experimental field of Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, in an Ultisol, of sandy texture. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with six treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of the following arrangements: monoculture of corn; corn intercropped with Canavalia ensiformis; maize intercropped with Crotalaria juncea; maize intercropped with Stylozobium aterrimum; maize intercropped with Cajanus cajan and maize intercropped with Vigna unguiculata. The variables evaluated were: plant height at 60 days after sowing of corn, insertion of the spike, size of spike, number of rows and grains per spike, weight of 100 grains and yield. It was observed that the consortia evaluated, when planted 30 days after sowing of the main crop, did not affect the performance of the maize crop, and that the corn intercropped with Crotalaria juncea achieved greater productivity in relation to the monoculture of corn.