PLANTAS DE COBERTURA, PRODUÇÃO DE BIOMASSA E FERTILIDADE DO SOLO NO CERRADO

Abstract

The use of cover crops is essential for sustainable agriculture, especially in no-till farming systems in the Cerrado, as they improve soil quality and recycle nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of four species—Brachiaria ruziziensis, Piatã grass, millet, and Crotalaria breviflora—on biomass production and soil fertility at the Federal Institute of Goiás, in Rio Verde, Goiás. The study evaluated sowing, management, and data collection such as plant height and mass, comparing fresh and dry biomass per plot. It was observed that millet provided good soil cover, helping with moisture retention and thermal control. Grasses produce more durable mulch because of their high carbon/nitrogen ratio, while legumes, such as crotalaria, decompose faster, releasing nitrogen for the next crop, such as soybeans. Therefore, cover crops are essential for nutrient cycling, providing mulch and organic matter that benefit the subsequent crop and plantability parameters.