Cover Crops Improve Corn Production and the Amazonian Yellow Latosol Exchange Complex

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different cover crops on soil characteristics and corn productivity.   Theoretical Framework: The research is based on the principles of conservation agriculture, the use of cover crops, and nutrient cycling, with an emphasis on green manure and improving the soil exchange complex as a basis for increasing agricultural productivity.   Method: The experiment was conducted at the Coopernorte Research and Analysis Center (CPAC) in Paragominas, PA, using a randomized block design (RBD). The treatments consisted of five cover crops (Brachiaria, Crotalaria juncea, C. breviflora, C. spectabilis, and millet), in addition to two controls: fallow land and conventional planting. The plots covered an area of 135 m², with the same management practices being adopted for the implementation of cover crops and the cultivation of corn.   Results and Discussion: The low fertility of the fallow soil negatively affected corn development. Cover crops promoted significant variations in productivity, with higher values for Crotalaria juncea (202 sc ha⁻¹), followed by Brachiaria (193 sc ha⁻¹) and Crotalaria breviflora (180 sc ha⁻¹), corresponding to increases of 31%, 28%, and 23%, respectively, compared to fallow land.   Research Implications: The practical implications apply to sustainable soil management and the adoption of more efficient production systems in tropical agriculture, contributing to corn crop productivity.   Originality/Value: The study contributed by evaluating cover species in Amazonian Yellow Latosol, relating soil chemical attributes to corn productivity, and providing technical foundations for sustainable management.