PRODUÇÃO, DECOMPOSIÇÃO E RELAÇÃO C:N DA BIOMASSA DO CAPIM-TAMANI E ESTILOSANTES BELA EM MONOCULTIVO E CONSORCIADO

Abstract

The sustainable intensification of tropical agriculture requires cropping systems that optimize nutrient cycling and reduce reliance on external inputs. The use of tropical forages in integrated systems can enhance soil cover, biomass accumulation, and straw quality, directly influencing subsequent crops. This study evaluated biomass production, decomposition, and the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio of Tamani grass (Panicum maximum cv. BRS Tamani) and Bela stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis cv. BRS Bela), cultivated in monoculture and intercropping systems. The field experiment was conducted at the Federal Institute of Goiás, Rio Verde Campus, Brazil, using a randomized block design with four replications. Treatments included four forage systems: Tamani grass without nitrogen fertilization, Tamani grass with 120 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of nitrogen, Bela stylo, and an intercropping of Tamani grass with Bela stylo. Results showed that the Tamani + Bela intercropping produced the highest residual biomass, while Bela stylo in monoculture had the lowest. The fertilized Tamani grass and the intercropping system balanced the half-life and C:N ratio better than the Bela stylo monoculture, ensuring greater biomass persistence on the soil surface. It is concluded that intercropping tropical grasses and legumes is a promising strategy to reduce nitrogen fertilizer dependency and enhance the sustainability of tropical agricultural systems.