Concern over rising atmospheric CO2 due to fossil fuel combustion has intensified research into carbon-neutral energy and fuel production. Therefore, bioenergy production has expanded during the last decade, increasing demand for forest-based bioenergy feedstocks. Millions of acres of privately and industrially owned pine plantations exist across the southeastern US, representing a vast area of land that could be utilized to produce bioenergy without significant land-use change or diversion of agricultural resources from food production. Furthermore, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations offer the unique opportunity to utilize space between rows of planted trees to grow an herbaceous bioenergy crop, such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). This novel forest management regime has the potential to provide positive environmental and economic services, but hinges in part on impacts to soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, availability of belowground resources, and potential negative impacts of competition between pine and switchgrass on plant productivity. Three specific objectives were addressed in this study: 1) compare different bioenergy management regimes in regards to temporal dynamics of N cycling and availability following forest establishment (see Chapter 2); 2) determine the impact of loblolly pine and switchgrass intercropping on microbial N cycling processes (see Chapter 3); and 3) evaluate chemical and physical mechanisms of soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization and test their sensitivity to pine-switchgrass intercropping (see Chapter 4). The study site was located in the Lower Coastal Plain physiographic province in Lenoir County, North Carolina, USA (35-12'59'' N; 077-26'13'' W). Soils were mapped as Pantego (fine‐loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Umbric Paleaquults) or Rains (fine‐loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Typic Paleaquults) soil series, both of which are very poorly drained. However, previous site management in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s included installation of ditches to lower the water table and reduce saturation at the soil surface. Additionally, bedding of soil in rows was used to raise root systems of planted loblolly pine seedlings above the water table, increase soil aeration, and reduce competition. Space between bedded rows of pine trees was referred to as the interbed. Results from Chapter 2 showed that switchgrass significantly reduced interbed soil NH4 + and NO3 - concentrations by 39% and 60%, respectively, over the course of the timeframe (30 months) of this study. Surprisingly, in beds of the pine-switchgrass treatment significant increases in NO3 - concentration were measured from July - December 2011. From Chapter 3, gross N mineralization rates ranged from 0.18 - 4.7 µg N g -1 soil d-1 , while gross nitrification rates ranged from 0.02 - 0.47 µg N g-1 soil d-1 . At the 0-5 cm depth in switchgrass interbeds, gross N mineralization was reduced from April to November potentially reflecting microbial C limitations due to reduced soil C concentrations. At the 0-5 cm depth in beds of the pine-switchgrass treatment, gross N mineralization rates were elevated by 1.29 µg N iii g -1 soil d-1 in November and 1.02 µg N g-1 soil d-1 in February on average corresponding to a 305% and 193% increase, respectively. From Chapter 4, total C content in beds and interbeds ranged from 15 to 88 Mg C ha-1 and was reduced by 27% in beds of the pine-switchgrass treatment. Average C concentration for aggregate fractions was significantly lower in beds of the pine-switchgrass treatment at 0-5, 15- 30, and 30-45 cm depths, amounting to ~23%, ~28%, and ~34% reduction, respectively. Values of δ 13C for the >2000 µm aggregate size fraction at the 0-5 cm depth were diluted, corresponding to estimates of 13 - 25% of the >2000 µm C pool comprised of new pine-derived C. For SOM fractionated by density, elevated C concentrations were found in the occluded light fractions in both beds and interbeds of the pine-switchgrass treatment. Enriched δ13C in occluded light fractions led to estimates of 2.5 - 12.5% of this C fraction comprised of new switchgrass-derived C. In the free light fraction, new pine-derived C accounted for 15% and 9% of C at the 5-15 and 15-30 cm depth, respectively. Three overarching conclusions were generated from my research: 1) switchgrass grown between loblolly pine trees effectively utilized excess soil NH4 + and NO3 - when N availability was high following harvesting of a mature plantation proceeded by establishment of a second rotation of loblolly pine (see Chapter 2); 2) gross N mineralization rates were reduced under switchgrass during the growing season when soil C availability was low, but were elevated under switchgrass and adjacent loblolly pines when switchgrass was dormant and C availability was likely higher (see Chapter 3); and 3) SOM stabilized by physical or chemical mechanisms responded differently to pine-switchgrass intercropping, with losses in aggregate-stabilized C and gains in occluded, mineral-stabilized C. Furthermore, losses of aggregate C was associated with a significant reduction in total soil C in beds of the pine-switchgrass treatment. Results from 13C mass balance suggested incorporation of switchgrass-derived C into occluded light fractions of beds and interbeds. Finally, incorporation of new pine-derived C into the >2000 µm aggregate size fraction and free light fraction indicate pine inputs of particulate organic matter into these SOM fractions in beds of the pine-switchgrass treatment (see Chapter 4). I hypothesize that loblolly pines have increased root growth in beds in response to competition with switchgrass for N in the interbed, thereby alleviating seasonal microbial C limitations and stimulating microbial N cycling processes and increasing plant-available N. Overall, this research suggests that soil C and N cycling in pine plantations is altered by intercropping of pine and switchgrass. Through a mechanistic understanding of how C and N are cycled in forests and the impact of various forest management regimes on soil C and N cycling, effective management strategies can be implemented to utilize forests for intensive biomass production while limiting loss of soil C and N, and in some cases even enhancing soil C and N retention. Future research initiatives should seek to unravel the complex belowground interactions between roots of different plant species and soil microbial communities competing for limiting resources. Understanding how these interactions drive soil C storage, N cycling and availability, and forest productivity will ultimately improve resource utilization in these managed ecosystems as well as our basic understanding of how natural and managed ecosystems function. / Ph. D.

The statistical problems of intercropping experiments (which involve the growing of two or more crops together) are investigated in this study. Measures of combined yield are discussed; the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) is shown to be the 'best' index for intercropping. Problems that arise in the standardization of LER are investigated, and use of a single pair of divisors is recommended. The use of systematic designs are advocated for yield-density studies, to reduce the number of guard rows. A 3-way systematic design is proposed and methods of analysis are suggested. A regression model is employed for the combined yield data (LER), from which estimates of the optimum densities can be calculated. The study also deals with varietal trials in intercropping. Methods for reducing the large number of possible varietal combinations to be tested in the field and ways of reducing the block size are given. The field layout is discussed, and illustrated by examples. Stability measures that can be used in intercropping are derived and it is shown how they can be used in evaluating stable varietal combinations. It is also shown how information about the contribution to stability of each crop can be obtained. The best proportions of the component crops in the intercropping mixture is also investigated. Design and analysis for an experiment on proportions in conjunction with varying densities is given. / Ph. D. / incomplete_metadata

Thesis (M.Sc. (Agriculture)) --University of the North, 2001

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No. of bitstreams: 1 damiao_vd_me_jabo.pdf: 2568630 bytes, checksum: daca4b2e078a5d8230f11b0051ec92ab (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O objetivo com este trabalho foi avaliar os atributos agronômicos e qualitativos do feijoeiro irrigado em sucessão a sistemas de cultivo de milho exclusivo, milho consorciado com braquiária e milho consorciado com crotalária, assim como o efeito da adubação nitrogenada em cobertura, no ano de implantação do sistema de plantio direto. O experimento foi instalado em um Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico de textura argilosa, no delineamento em blocos casualizados arranjados em parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições. As parcelas foram compostas por três sistemas de cultivo anteriores ao feijoeiro, representadas pelo milho exclusivo, milho consorciado com braquiária e milho consorciado com crotalária, todos semeados em sucessão ao milheto de primavera. As subparcelas foram constituídas por cinco doses de nitrogênio, sendo 0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg ha-1, aplicadas em cobertura na cultivar de feijoeiro IAC Alvorada. A viabilidade dos sistemas de cultivo de milho consorciado com braquiária e crotalária foi confirmada, pois não houve redução na produtividade de grãos do milho em relação ao sistema de cultivo exclusivo. Além disso, os consórcios de milho proporcionaram maior recobrimento do solo, quantidade de palhada, teor e acúmulo de nitrogênio na palhada, enquadrando-se nos padrões recomendados para o sistema de plantio direto de qualidade. Em relação aos atributos agronômicos do feijoeiro, o aporte de nitrogênio em cobertura proporcionou reposta linear crescente nas variáveis: teor de nitrogênio foliar, índice relativo de clorofila, número de vagens por planta, massa de 100 grãos e produtividade de grãos. O feijoeiro semeado na palhada de milho com crotalária apresentou maior número de vagens por planta, grãos por vagem e produtividade de grãos. Houve interação entre os tratamentos testados para eficiência agronômica, a qual foi superior na dose de 50 kg ha-1 de nitrogênio aplicado no feijoeiro em sucessão do milho consorciado com crotalária. Para os atributos qualitativos dos grãos de feijão, as doses de nitrogênio influenciaram o rendimento de peneira 14 e 15, assim como o teor de proteína bruta, apresentando resposta linear crescente ao aporte do nutriente. O sistema de cultivo de milho exclusivo proporcionou maior rendimento de peneira 13, contribuindo para o maior rendimento de peneira maior ou igual a 12. O consórcio de milho com crotalária atuou positivamente no teor de proteína bruta e reduziu o tempo para máxima hidratação, que são características qualitativas favoráveis à comercialização do grão. / The objective of this work was to evaluate the agronomic and qualitative attributes of irrigated common bean in succession to systems of exclusive corn cultivation, corn intercropped with brachiaria and corn intercropped with crotalaria, as well as the effect of top-dressed nitrogen fertilization at the year of implementation of the no-tillage system. The experiment was developed in a Eutrophic Oxisol, in randomized complete blocks design, in split-plot, with four replicates. The plots were composed of three cultivation systems prior to the bean, represented by exclusive corn, corn intercropped with brachiaria and corn intercropped with crotalaria, all of them sown in succession to spring millet. The subplots were consisted of five nitrogen doses, being 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1, as top-dressed applied on the bean cultivar IAC Alvorada. The viability of corn intercropping systems with brachiaria and crotalaria was confirmed, as there was no reduction in maize grains yield in relation to the exclusive cropping system. In addition, maize intercropped provided greater soil cover, amount of straw, content and accumulation of nitrogen in the straw, in accordance with the recommended standards for the quality no-tillage system. In relation to the agronomic attributes of the common bean, the top-dressed nitrogen levels provided an increasing linear behavior in the variables: leaf nitrogen content, relative chlorophyll index, number of pods per plant, mass of 100 grains and grain yield. The bean sown in straw corn with crotalaria yielded higher number of pods per plant, grain per pod and grain yield. There was interaction between treatments tested for agronomic efficiency, which was higher in the 50 kg ha-1 dose of nitrogen applied on the bean in succession of corn intercropped with crotalaria. For the qualitative attributes of the bean grains, increasing nitrogen doses influenced the sieve yield 14 and 15, as well as the crude protein content, presenting an increasing linear response to the nutrient contribution. The exclusive maize crop systems provided higher sieve yield 13, contributing to the higher sieve yield greater or equal to 12. The corn consortium with crotalaria had a positive effect on the crude protein content and reduced the time for maximum hydration, which are qualitative characteristics favorable to the commercialization of the grain.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:06:10Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 matoso_ao_me_botfca.pdf: 1914821 bytes, checksum: 1854519368b8e789507b3b794c6c6914 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A consorciação de culturas, que consiste no cultivo de duas ou mais culturas em uma mesma área, pelo menos parte do ciclo, visa o melhor aproveitamento dos recursos disponíveis na propriedade e a minimização dos riscos de quebra de produtividade. O cultivo do milho em consórcio com o feijão-caupi, que é relativamente mais tolerante à seca, devido, principalmente, ao ciclo mais curto, pode ser uma opção interessante para o período de safrinha. Contudo, são escassos e inconsistentes os resultados de pesquisas sobre cultivo consorciado de cultivares de milho e feijão-caupi em faixas, especialmente nas regiões Centro- Oeste e Sudeste. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o monocultivo e o cultivo consorciado em faixas de diferentes cultivares de feijão-caupi com uma variedade e um híbrido simples de milho, em Dourados-MS e Botucatu-SP. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados, com parcelas subdivididas e quatro repetições. Para a cultura do feijão-caupi, foram considerados três sistemas de cultivo/cultivares de milho (consórcio com a variedade de milho (BR 473), consórcio com o híbrido de milho (BRS 1030 ou BRS 1010) e cultivo solteiro) nas parcelas e três cultivares de feijão-caupi (BRS Guariba, BRS Novaera e BRS Xiquexique) nas subparcelas. Para a cultura do milho, foram utilizadas duas cultivares de milho (BR 473 e BRS 1030 ou BRS 1010) nas parcelas e quatro sistemas de cultivo/cultivares de feijão-caupi (consórcio com BRS Guariba, consórcio com BRS Novaera, consórcio com BRS Xiquexique e cultivo solteiro) nas subparcelas. O sistema de consórcio (cultivo em faixas) foi constituído pela intercalação de faixas constituídas de quatro fileiras de feijão-caupi com faixas de quatro fileiras de milho. Ambas as culturas foram semeadas no espaçamento de 0,50 m entre fileiras. No cultivo consorciado, cada unidade experimental foi constituída... / Intercropping, which consists on growing of two or more crops at the same area at least in part of the cycle, focuses on the best use of available resources on property and minimizing the risk of yield loss. Maize growth intercropped with cowpea, which is relatively more tolerant to drought, mainly due to the shorter cycle, can be an interesting option as off-season crop. However, there are few and inconsistent research results on intercropping maize with cowpea, especially in the Midwest and Southeast of Brazil. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the cowpea as monoculture, and intercropping different cultivars of cowpea with a variety and a single cross hybrid of maize, in Dourados-MS and Botucatu-SP. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with split-plots arrangement and four replications. For the cowpea crop, were considered three cropping systems/cultivars of maize (intercropped with maize variety (BR 473), intercropped with maize hybrid (BRS 1030 or 1010) and cowpea sole crop) in the plots, and three cowpea cultivars (BRS Guariba, BRS Novaera and BRS Xiquexique) in the subplots. For the maize crop, were considered two maize cultivars (BRS 473 and BRS 1030 or BRS 1010) in the plots, and four cropping systems/cultivars of cowpea (intercropped with BRS Guariba, intercropped with BRS Novaera, intercropped with BRS Xiquexique and maize sole crop) in the subplots. Intercropping system was designed by intercalating strips constituted by four rows of cowpea with strips with four rows of maize. Both crops were sown at 0.50 m row spacing. In the intercropping system, each experimental unit consisted of eight rows with 6 m in length, in other words, four rows of maize and four rows of cowpea. In the sole crop, each experimental... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Soil Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Soil health support crop production and answer to its sustainability and renewability. This study involved the use of under explored legumes in South Africa, Limpopo under maizelegume intercropping systems as a strategy to mitigate soil quality deterioration. The study was conducted at University of Limpopo (Syferkuil) and University of Venda (UNIVEN) Experimental farms during 2020/2021. A split plot experiment, with the main factor comprised of water regimes (irrigation and rainfed) and second main factor included cropping systems (Intercropping and monocropping). Five treatments comprised of 3 monocrops (Maize, Chickpea, and Mungbean) and 2 intercrops (maize-chickpea and maize-mungbean) replicated three times. Data collected from the soil before planting and after maturity were pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), particle size, bulk density, aggregate stability, organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC), phosphorus (P), ammonium (NH4-N), nitrate (NO3—N), soil active carbon (SAC), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN). Plant parameters collected during vegetative and flowering stage included plant height, chlorophyll content, plant vigour, and leaf area index. All data was subjected to descriptive statistics and analysis of variance using GenStat software. Significant effect (p<0.05) was observed between treatments on soil pH (KCl), OM, organic carbon (OC), and ammonium (NH4) at Syferkuil Farm. Also, interaction between water regimes and cropping systems affected NH4 and pH (KCl). Cropping systems had significant effect (p<0.01) on pH (H2O), OM, OC, P, NH4, and NO3 at UNIVEN. Interaction between water regimes and cropping systems affected (p<0.01) pH (H2O), P but no significant effect was observed on OC, NH4, and NO3. Cropping systems and interaction at both locations did not affect particle size, bulk density, aggregate stability, EC, SAC, and PMN. Pure stands of maize and legumes had greater plant height, plant vigour, and chlorophyll content whereas intercrops had greater LAI. The results at both locations revealed that legume intercropping systems improved soil health variables without posing negative feedbacks and hence can be used to boost soil functioning. Keywords: Soil health, maize-legume intercropping, soil quality / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis (M.Sc. (Agriculture (Crop Science)) -- University of Limpopo, 2004. / Canon Collins Educational Trust of Southern Africa (CCETSA), and the National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis (M.Sc. (Agricultural Management)) --University of Limpopo, 2004 / Identification of annual grass/legume intercropping or mixtures with superior nutrient traits and Dry matter (DM) production is critical to increasing productivity of the crop and animal production among small-scale farmers in the Limpopo Province. Three similar field experiments were established at different locations in the Province to determine the significance of the contribution of annual summer legumes, and cutting treatments on the nutritive value and dry matter accumulation of the popular forage sorghum (Sorghum spp) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) intercropped with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and dolichos (Lablab purpureus). The cropping systems evaluated were sole sorghum, sole pearl millet, sorghum + cowpea, sorghum + dolichos, pearl millet + cowpea and pearl millet + dolichos. The treatments sole sorghum and pearl millet significantly (P<0.05) outperformed the other treatments in terms of DM production at most cutting stages. The remaining four treatments though, inferior in DM in this study, yielded better than the average yield on farmers' fields in the Province. Higher protein content was obtained in mixtures than in sole cropping, and generally there was lower protein production and content at matured stages (CT3) in the study. The other chemical composition analyzed in the study was not significant for both mixtures and sole cultures.

Alleycropping is an agroforestry technology of planting crops between rows of trees, preferable legumes to promote an interaction among them with positive benefits in terms of improving soil fertility and hence good crop yields. The technology has been tested with a variety of trees/shrubs species in association with crops (alleycropping) or with grasses (alleygrazing), sometimes with encouraging results and sometimes not, in a wide range of environmental conditions around the world. Research in alleycropping started in late 1970s and sinc~ then many publications have been released. However, little or nothing has been reported about this technology using black wattle and the fever tree, two nitrogen-fixing trees common in South Africa and reported as fast-growing species which produce a considerable amount of biomass within a short period of time. Due to that fact, a two-year trial was established in 2003 at the Ukulinga research farm, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa to evaluate the potential of the two tree species under alleycropping with maize and cowpeas as joint intercrops, under alleycropping with pumpkin, and under alleygrazing with Eragrostis curvula and with Panicum maximum. The trial assessed the crop yields and the biomass production from all the components, and their fodder digestibility using Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) determinations. Additionally the changes in tree grovlth vaa."'i.ables (difu~eter, total height, total \lollhl1e and biomass) were mortitored to produce regression equations to predict those variables, one from another, using regression analysis. The diameter was taken at ground level (dgl) and at the height of 1.3 m, normally called diameter at breast height (dbh). The results showed that tree growth and biomass production were better in black wattle alleycropping than in association with the fever tree. The average dgl of black wattle after 12 months was 48mm and the average dbh was 36mlll. Over the same period the total tree height was about 406cm. A tree pruning was done to one-year old black wattle in the whole trial and the prunings produced about 5.6t/ha of fresh foliage biomass in the association with maize and cowpea and 4.5t/ha in the association with pumpkin. In alleygrazing the growth variables were similar to those obtained in alleycropping but the biomass production was considerably different. The prunings produced about 7.66t/ha of fresh foliage biomass. The dry matter biomass from the prunings was 1.96t/ha, 1.58t/ha and 2.68t/ha in the association with maize and cowpeas, pumpkin and E. curvula respectively. The dry matter was obtained from 4days- oven-dried samples and it was 35% of the fresh foliage biomass and 60% of the fresh woody biomass. The fever tree did not grow significantly during the study period and due to that fact, the species was discarded from the study. Similarly, because after several endeavours using different seed lots, P. maximum had germinated very unevenly, and this grass was excluded from the experimentation. Values ofNDF and ADF less than 35% are considered good, between 35% and 60% fair and poor if greater than 50%. Using is classification the NDF and ADF values from this study were good in pumpkin (30.5% and 29.9%) and cowpeas (36.5% and 46.9%) biomass, fair in E. curvula (41.9% and 39.9%) and maize stover (53.6% and 42.1%) and poor in black wattle (76.58% and 68.1%) foliage. If black wattle is to be used as fodder, it must be mixed with highly digestible fodder like P. maximum, Digitaria sp., and other legume plants, to increase animal intake and to avoid any risk of it becoming an animal hazard due to tannin effects. The regression equations produced linear relationships between dgl and age, and biomass and dbh. The other interactions were not linear. The best equations were obtained in the interaction between dgl and age (dgl= 4.8*Age -7.03; R2 =0.86; SE= 6.6), dgl and height (h= -0.03dg12 + 10.5dgl - 21.25; R2= 0.96, SE= 42.9, h= height), biomass and dbh (lny = 2.409*lndbh; R2=0.99, SE=O.O, Y= tree foliage biomass). During the study, monkeys, cattle, birds and bushbucks posed a threat to the success of the study due to damage they caused to the crops. It was possible to keep the damage below the critical levels, although at high cost. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Resumo: A consorciação de culturas, que consiste no cultivo de duas ou mais culturas em uma mesma área, pelo menos parte do ciclo, visa o melhor aproveitamento dos recursos disponíveis na propriedade e a minimização dos riscos de quebra de produtividade. O cultivo do milho em consórcio com o feijão-caupi, que é relativamente mais tolerante à seca, devido, principalmente, ao ciclo mais curto, pode ser uma opção interessante para o período de safrinha. Contudo, são escassos e inconsistentes os resultados de pesquisas sobre cultivo consorciado de cultivares de milho e feijão-caupi em faixas, especialmente nas regiões Centro- Oeste e Sudeste. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o monocultivo e o cultivo consorciado em faixas de diferentes cultivares de feijão-caupi com uma variedade e um híbrido simples de milho, em Dourados-MS e Botucatu-SP. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados, com parcelas subdivididas e quatro repetições. Para a cultura do feijão-caupi, foram considerados três sistemas de cultivo/cultivares de milho (consórcio com a variedade de milho (BR 473), consórcio com o híbrido de milho (BRS 1030 ou BRS 1010) e cultivo solteiro) nas parcelas e três cultivares de feijão-caupi (BRS Guariba, BRS Novaera e BRS Xiquexique) nas subparcelas. Para a cultura do milho, foram utilizadas duas cultivares de milho (BR 473 e BRS 1030 ou BRS 1010) nas parcelas e quatro sistemas de cultivo/cultivares de feijão-caupi (consórcio com BRS Guariba, consórcio com BRS Novaera, consórcio com BRS Xiquexique e cultivo solteiro) nas subparcelas. O sistema de consórcio (cultivo em faixas) foi constituído pela intercalação de faixas constituídas de quatro fileiras de feijão-caupi com faixas de quatro fileiras de milho. Ambas as culturas foram semeadas no espaçamento de 0,50 m entre fileiras. No cultivo consorciado, cada unidade experimental foi constituída... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Intercropping, which consists on growing of two or more crops at the same area at least in part of the cycle, focuses on the best use of available resources on property and minimizing the risk of yield loss. Maize growth intercropped with cowpea, which is relatively more tolerant to drought, mainly due to the shorter cycle, can be an interesting option as off-season crop. However, there are few and inconsistent research results on intercropping maize with cowpea, especially in the Midwest and Southeast of Brazil. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the cowpea as monoculture, and intercropping different cultivars of cowpea with a variety and a single cross hybrid of maize, in Dourados-MS and Botucatu-SP. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with split-plots arrangement and four replications. For the cowpea crop, were considered three cropping systems/cultivars of maize (intercropped with maize variety (BR 473), intercropped with maize hybrid (BRS 1030 or 1010) and cowpea sole crop) in the plots, and three cowpea cultivars (BRS Guariba, BRS Novaera and BRS Xiquexique) in the subplots. For the maize crop, were considered two maize cultivars (BRS 473 and BRS 1030 or BRS 1010) in the plots, and four cropping systems/cultivars of cowpea (intercropped with BRS Guariba, intercropped with BRS Novaera, intercropped with BRS Xiquexique and maize sole crop) in the subplots. Intercropping system was designed by intercalating strips constituted by four rows of cowpea with strips with four rows of maize. Both crops were sown at 0.50 m row spacing. In the intercropping system, each experimental unit consisted of eight rows with 6 m in length, in other words, four rows of maize and four rows of cowpea. In the sole crop, each experimental... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Rogério Peres Soratto / Coorientador: Gessi Ceccon / Banca: Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol / Banca: Maurisrael de Moura Rocha / Mestre