CICLAGEM DE NUTRIENTES NA BIOMASSA DE MILHO, CULTIVARES DE PANICUM MAXIMUM E FEIJÃO GUANDU EM MONOCULTIVO E CONSORCIADO

Abstract

The diversity of plants in integrated systems can contribute to greater soil protection, enhanced nutrient cycling, and increased return of fertilizer equivalents to the soil. Therefore, the choice of forage plants becomes essential for the success of integrated systems. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the nutrient cycling of the biomass of maize, cultivars of Panicum maximum, and pigeon pea, in both monoculture and triple intercropping. The experimental design used was randomized blocks, with three replications. The treatments consisted of the biomass: maize; Tamani guinea grass; Quênia guinea grass; Zuri guinea grass; Pigeon pea in monoculture; maize intercropped with Tamani guinea grass + Pigeon pea; maize intercropped with Quênia guinea grass + Pigeon pea; maize intercropped with Zuri guinea grass + Pigeon pea. The results show that the biomass of the triple consortium with Zuri guinea grass had the highest accumulation of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) and return of fertilizer equivalents. However, all cultivars of Panicum maximum can be recommended for integrated systems, as they provided greater nutrient cycling compared to maize biomass in monoculture. Integrated systems that combine the cultivation of grasses and legumes are an innovative and efficient strategy for agricultural production systems, compared to the monoculture of maize, with enhanced nutrient cycling ensuring greater agricultural sustainability.