MILHO INOCULADO COM Azospirillum EM CONSÓRCIO COM Urochloa HÍBRIDA MAVUNO SOB DOSES DE NITROGÊNIO

Abstract

The intercropping of maize and Brachiaria is a promising strategy in tropical regions, offering more sustainable soil management. The use of Azospirillum brasilense represents an alternative to reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizers, with potential to lower fertilization costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense, intercropping with Urochloa hybrid Mavuno, and different rates of mineral nitrogen on maize crops. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in split-split plots, with the main plots consisting of treatments with and without inoculation, the subplots with and without intercropping, and the sub-subplots with four nitrogen rates (0, 33.33, 66.67, and 100% of the recommended dose), with four replications. The growth and yield variables for maize grain were plant height (PH), stem diameter (SD), number of ears per plant (NEP), grain weight per plant, and yield (YLD). For Urochloa hybrid Mavuno, fresh mass yield (FMY), dry mass yield (DMY), and dry matter content (DMC) were evaluated. Only PH was influenced by nitrogen (N) rates and by the interaction inoculation x intercropping x N rates, showing a linear response with increasing N. There was no significant effect of the treatments on Urochloa yield variables. Under the conditions of this study, the Urochloa hybrid Mavuno–maize intercropping system indicates low competition between crops, making it an interesting strategy to increase land use efficiency.