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Thesis (MSc. Agriculture (Agronomy)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The traditional practice of farmers in Limpopo Province is to mixed and broadcast crops at planting without definite row arrangement. This practice hinders farm input application and results in low crop yields. Strip intercropping, where crops are planted with definite row arrangement, has the advantage of reducing inter-species competition, optimise plant population and increasing crop yield. This study aimed at improving cowpea-maize cropping systems using strip intercropping. The experiment was conducted at University of Limpopo farm and Ga-Thaba village. Five cowpea varieties (Glenda (check)), IT86K-499-35, IT82E-16, IT86D -1010, TVu-13464 and maize (PAN 6479) were evaluated using randomised complete block design with three replications. Data collected were days to flowering, days to maturity, plant height, canopy width, peduncle length, pod length, number of pods/plant, 100 seed weight, grain yield, fodder weight and land equivalent ratio was also determined. Data were analysed using the Statistix 9.0. The results revealed that in both locations TVu 13464 flowered early (50 days) respectively. At University of Limpopo farm TVu 13464, IT82E-16 and IT86D-1010 matured early (89, 88 and 91 days). At University of Limpopo farm, IT82E-16 had high cowpea grain yield (2230 kg/ha) under monocropping and also produced high grain yield of 1373 kg/ha during 2016/17 season. At Ga-Thaba, IT86D-1010 produced high cowpea grain yield of 1085 kg/ha under monocropping and during 2015/16 (660 kg/ha) while IT86K-499-35 also produced high grain yield of 915 kg/ha during 2016/17. The varieties showed yield stability depending on different locations. At University of Limpopo farm, strip intercropping achieved high maize grain yield of 3961 kg/ha during 2016/17. At Ga-Thaba, strip intercropping produced high maize grain yield 747 and 1024 kg/ha during 2015/16 and 2016/17, respectively. Monocropping produced low maize grain yield during 2015/16 with a mean of 425 kg/ha and mixed intercropping had mean of 499 kg/ha during 2016/17. The calculated LER for two crops over two seasons under strip intercropping ranged from 1.25 and 2.14, whereas under mixed intercropping, it ranged between 0.73 and 1.05 over two seasons at University of Limpopo farm. TVu 13464, IT82E-16 and IT86D-1010 are promising varieties for strip intercropping in low rainfall areas because of their early maturity and high grain yield. The calculated LER for two crops over two seasons xx under strip intercropping ranged from 1.62 and 2.98, whereas under mixed intercropping, it ranged between 0.76 and 1.67 in both seasons at Ga-Thaba. / National Research Foundation (NRF) and Water Research Commission (WRC)

MSCAGR (Soil Science) / Department of Soil Science / Maize (Zea mays L.) is widely grown in the semi-arid regions of South Africa mainly for its grain that is used for direct human consumption, feed for animals and raw materials for the industries. The challenges of soil infertility, water supply, and availability of high yielding cultivars remain a major constraint for its production in this environment. These constraints are a major threat to sustainable crop production and food security. Maize/lablab Zea mays L.\ L. purpureus) intercropping system could thus become an option for food security among small scale maize producers in dry environments. Preliminary studies show the huge potential of maize/lablab intercropping in the semi-arid environments of the North-Eastern South Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of maize/lablab intercropping on soil water content, nitrogen dynamics and crop productivity based field experiments and crop simulation modeling using the model APSIM. The trials were conducted at two sites (Univen and Syferkuil) in Limpopo province, South Africa, for two seasons (2015/2016) and 2016/2017). The treatments consisted of; (i) sole maize (ii) sole lablab (iii) maize and lablab planted at the same time (Maize+lablab-ST) and (iv) maize with lablab planted 28 days after maize (Maize+lablab-28).The treatments were laid out in an RCBD replicated 4 times, with individual plots size measuring 4.5 m × 4 m (18 m2) and the layout of the field as consisting of 4 plots per block giving a total of 16 plots in 4 blocks. The following parameters were determined: soil water content, soil NO3--N and NH4+-N levels, dry matter and grain yield. The APSIM-model (version 7.7) was then used to simulate maize grain yield and dry matter production to assess risks associated with the production of maize/lablab intercropping. The results obtained from this study showed that maize/lablab intercropping had significant effects on measured parameters (grain, biomass yield soil water content, and N-minerals). Maize+lablab-28 produced 46 % higher grain yield than sole cropping (24%) and maize+lablab-ST) (30%). The results also showed variation in soil water content at different depths among the treatments. The soil water content was increased with depth. The intercropped plots and lablab sole had significantly higher soil water content than the sole maize. At all depths, the highest soil water content was obtained under sole lablab followed by maize+lablab-ST and maize+lablab-28. It was notable however that maize/lablab intercropping showed a higher NO3--N and NH4+-N levels at all depths. At both sites, the soil NO3--N showed a sharp drop at V7 sampling time. The results showed the benefits of intercropping in comparison to sole cropping as demonstrated by positive land equivalent ratios of >1 for both cropping systems in both years and sites. Modelling exercises showed that APSIM was able to simulate the results sufficiently. In the simulation experiment, a stronger negative effect of planting lablab with maize simultaneously was found. Hence, delayed planting of lablab should be a standard practice / NRF

There are currently numerous alternative food production models that may have potential to contribute substantially to improved environmental sustainability. However, such alternatives are not well studied, particularly within the context of the Canadian Prairies. To increase knowledge in this area, this thesis performed a preliminary agronomic trial for food grain production in intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), investigating the effects of legume intercropping and residue management. Mean grain yields were 520 and 447 kg/ha in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and a significant yield increase was observed following grazing with sheep. A series of farm case studies were also conducted in order to characterize ecological farming approaches on the Canadian prairies. The most consistent strategy among the farms was to increase diversity in multiple facets for both environmental and economic benefit, including more crop and livestock species, system and landscape components, and marketing strategies. / October 2016

Monoculture agriculture has developed as a result of the Western agricultural growth model, which emphasizes reduced on-farm labor and maximum yield. As a result soil health, which is reliant on a diversity of soil-dwelling organisms, is compromised, pest problems are intensified, and biodiversity is lost when vast land areas are devoted to simplified vegetation schemes. There has been a tremendous rise in interest in alternative cropping schemes. The traditional practice of intercropping has received renewed interest as the emphasis on agricultural growth shifts from a purely development-based model to one of conservation and enhanced biodiversity. Although intercropping has shown promising results in controlling specialist herbivorous insects, how intercropping works is not known. Theories that explain the underlying mechanism of intercropping success include chemical repellency and physical masking. We tested these two theories by creating a simulated intercropping system in mesocosm cages in a laboratory environment. We tested twenty intercrops that varied in their vegetation type, size, and phylogenetic distance for their ability to repel an insect pest that recently invaded into North America, the swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii), from its host plant, Brassica oleracea. We found that different non-host plant treatments significantly influenced larval abundance, which indicates that C. nasturtii responded to some aspect of the varying plant combinations. We found that phylogenetic distance did not influence larval densities. Additionally, non-host plant height and leaf area of non-host plants did not influence larval densities. We found that vegetation type significantly affected larval densities. Brassica oleracea planted in combination with groundcover non-host plants had the fewest number of larvae, followed by B. oleracea planted in combination with vegetables. The highest number of larvae was found on B. oleracea plants planted in combination with herb non-host plants. Our research did not support a chemical repellency or visual masking theory of intercrop success.

L'objectif de cette étude a été de préciser l'implication des processus rhizosphériques dans lesinteractions pour l'acquisition de phosphore (P) entre une céréale et une légumineuse enassociation. Nous avons proposé comme mécanisme de facilitation l'acidification de la rhizosphèredes espèces en association induite par la fixation de N2 de la légumineuse dans le cas de sol neutres àalcalins. Ainsi, l'étude s'est focalisée sur l'influence des changements de pH induits par les racines.Les effets de la disponibilité initiale en P du sol ainsi que de la distance entre les racines des espècesassociées ont également été testés. Les expérimentations ont été menées au champ ainsi qu'enconditions contrôlées. Le blé dur et différentes légumineuses ont été cultivés en culturemonospécifique ou en association sur un même sol pour toutes les expérimentations. Le sol neutreutilisé (Luvisol) présentait trois niveaux contrastés de fertilisation phosphatée et provenait desparcelles d'un essai de longue durée. Nous avons pu démontrer que la manipulation des interactionsrhizosphériques entre une céréale et une légumineuse en association pouvait être optimisée pourpermettre l'augmentation de la disponibilité en P dans la rhizosphère des espèces associées, etencore plus dans le cas de sols présentant une faible valeur initiale de disponibilité. Lescaractéristiques du sol ont eu un rôle clé dans la détermination des processus rhizosphériquesimpliqués. Dans notre cas, les changements de pH induits par les racines ont permis d'augmenter defaçon substantielle la disponibilité en P suite à une acidification, mais aussi à une alcalinisation de larhizosphère. Ainsi la légumineuse, mais aussi la céréale sont susceptibles de faciliter l'acquisition del'espèce associée. Les interactions relatives au pH peuvent influencer la disponibilité en P sur unedistance de plusieurs millimètres et ainsi améliorer l'acquisition de P des plantes à proximité del'espèce facilitatrice.Mots clés : culture associée, facilitation, rhizosphère, disponibilité, phosphore, pH, racine / The aim of the study was to elucidate the implication of rhizospheric processes on plant speciesinteractions for phosphorus (P) acquisition between a cereal and a legume, when intercropped. Weproposed that root-induced acidification of the rhizosphere by the intercropped legume due to N2-fixation as a mechanism of facilitation in neutral to alkaline soils. Thus, the study focused on rootinducedchanges of pH. The effects of initial soil P availability and distance between roots ofintercropped species were also tested. In order to achieve our goals, experiments in the field and incontrolled condition for several cropping devices were conducted. Durum wheat and differentlegumes were grown as sole crops and intercropped on the same soil for all the experiments. Weused a neutral soil (Luvisol) presenting three contrasted fertilization rates from the field of a longtermP fertilizer trial. We demonstrated that cereal-legume can be used to enhance P availability, andeven more so in low P soils, through managing rhizospheric interactions to optimize P acquisition ofintercropped species. Soil characteristics are also a key factor determining the influence of thoserhizospheric processes. In our studied soil root-induced changes of pH substantially enhanced Pavailability in the rhizosphere either through acidification or alkalization. Thus the legume but alsothe cereal may facilitate the acquisition of the intercropped species. Interactions involving pH canaffect P availability over distance of several millimeters and ultimately enhance P acquisition ofplants in the surrounding of the facilitative species.Key words: intercrop, facilitation, rhizosphere, availability, phosphorus, pH, root

A demanda por minitomates do tipo grape tem-se mostrado em ascensão no mercado brasileiro. A adubação verde em cultivo consorciado com o minitomateiro e a utilização de efluentes tratados provenientes de indústria de laticínios para irrigação são técnicas sustentáveis que podem viabilizar a produção econômica desta cultura. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade e qualidade do minitomateiro cultivado em sistema de consórcio com adubos verdes fertirrigados com efluente tratado de laticínio. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial (5 x 2) com quatro adubos verdes em consório com o minitomateiro: Canavalia ensiformis (feijão-de-porco), Crotalaria spectabilis (crotalária-espectábilis), Lupinus albus (tremoço-branco) e Pennisetum glaucum (milheto) e uma testemunha (sem adubação verde - minitomateiro solteiro), e duas fontes de água utilizadas na fertirrigação (água de torneira e efluente anaeróbio tratado), com quatro repetições. O efluente tratado por sistema anaeróbio foi caracterizado quinzenalmente ao longo do experimento e foram avaliados: a diagnose foliar do minitomateiro, produção de fitomassa dos adubos verdes e acúmulo de nutrientes, produtividade, composição química e qualidade de frutos do minitomateiro e eficiência de uso da água. Os maiores teores de nitrogênio foram determinados nas folhas do minitomateiro solteiro fertirrigado com água de torneira e para o minitomateiro em consórcio com crotalária-espectábilis fertirrigado com efluente anaeróbio tratado. A aplicação do efluente tratado de laticínio supriu de maneira adequada o fornecimento de nitrogênio ao minitomateiro. Os adubos verdes, com exceção do milheto, não competiram por nutrientes com o minitomateiro, no entanto, não favoreceram a produtividade do minitomateiro. O maior número de fruto ocorreu para o cultivo solteiro e para o minitomateiro em consórcio com tremoço-branco. Os frutos do minitomateiro grape apresentaram maior teor de sólidos solúveis totais quando fertirrigados com efluente tratado de laticínio. Os consórcios com crotalária-espectábilis e feijão-de-porco apresentaram as maiores eficiências de uso da água na produção de frutos, e os tratamentos fertirrigados com água de torneira apresentaram maior EUA em comparação aos fertirrigados com efluente anaeróbio. A utilização do efluente anaeróbio tratado de laticínio reduziu em média 90,89 % da aplicação de nitrogênio via fertilizante. É possível substituir a água pura ou potável pelo efluente tratado de laticínio na fertirrigação do minitomateiro. / The consumption of cherry tomato has been on the rise in the Brazilian salad market. The green manures in intercropping with the cherry tomato and the use of treated effluents from the dairy industry for irrigation are sustainable techniques that can allow the economic production of this crop The objective of the present work was to evaluate the productivity and post-harvest of the cherry tomato cultivated in a consortium system with different green manures, fertirrigated with treated dairy effluent. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block (5 x 2) with four green manures: Canavalia ensiformis (jack bean), Crotalaria spectabilis (Crotalaria-espectábilis), Lupinus albus (white lupine) and Pennisetum glaucum (millet) and one control (no green manuring), and two water sources used in fertigation (tap water and treated anaerobic effluent), with four replications. The effluent treated by anaerobic system was characterized biweekly throughout the experiment and were evaluated: foliar diagnosis of mini tomato, phytomass production of green manures and nutrient accumulation, productivity, chemical composition and fruit quality of mini tomato and water use efficiency. The highest levels of nitrogen were determined in the leaves of the single cherry tomato fertirrigated with tap water and for the cherry tomato in consortium with crotalaria-espectábilis fertirrigated with treated anaerobic effluent. The application of the treated dairy effluent adequately provided the nitrogen supply to the cherry tomato. The green manures, with the exception of millet, did not compete for nutrients with the cherry tomato, although, did not favor the productivity of the cherry tomato. The highest number of fruits occurred for the single crop and for the cherry tomato in consortium with white lupine. The fruits of the cherry tomato showed higher soluble solids contents when fertirrigated with treated dairy effluent. The crotalária-espectábilis and jack bean consortia had the greatest water use efficiencies in fruit production, and fertirrigated treatments with tap water showed higher WUE in comparison to fertirrigates with anaerobic effluent. The use of the treated anaerobic effluent of dairy reduced on average 90.89% of the application of nitrogen via fertilizer. It is possible to replace pure or potable water by treated dairy effluent in the cherry tomato fertirrigation.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:37:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pablo_Wenderson_Ribeiro_Coutinho.pdf: 957174 bytes, checksum: a3455f68ba6202f9eff74b73d8ae6161 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical and biometric characteristics and productivity of beet cultivars, in addition to productivity and quality characteristics of beet and chicory on the basis of management of stubble and intercropping establishment time. Thus, two experiments were conducted in a randomized block design, with four replications. In the first experiment the cultivars were Maravilha, Merlot, Kestrel, Itapuã 202, Chata do Egito e Tall Top Early Wonder. Was evaluated plant height, leaf number, crown projection, diameter and length of root, root shape index, root weight, leaf mass and productivity of beet, in addition to the root quality characteristics, such as soluble solids , titratable acidity, ratio, hydrogen potential and anthocyanin content. The second experiment was conducted in the same design, and used the statistical analysis in factorial 2 x 5 and 2 x 8. The first factor consisting of the management of stubble (with and without incorporation of straw velvet bean-gray) and the times of establishment of the consortium and beet monoculture with chicory (0, 7, 14 and 21 days after transplanting beet); and the second factorial consists of the management of stubble (with and without incorporation) and the chicory cultivation in monoculture and associated with beetroot in the same periods in order to isolate possible planting effect. The assessment in this experiment found the same first requirements for the cultivation of beet, except projection cup, pastry sheets and anthocyanin content. As for the chicory were evaluated plant height, canopy projection, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh weight of aerial part and the calculation of UET. The results of the first experiment allow us to state that Maravilha, Itapuã 202, Chata do Egito and Tall Top Early Wonder presented the highest yields and root weight. However, in the general context it has been observed that cultivars behave differently for each variable analyzed. For root quality characteristics no difference was observed for pH and soluble solids. The cultivar Chata do Egito had the lowest acidity compared to the Tall Top Early Wonder and Kestrel, already for ratio, the same cultivars have the greatest results. Cultivars that have the highest content of anthocyanins was Merlot, Kestrel and Chata do Egito. The cultivar that showed the best quantitative and qualitative characteristics was Chata do Egito. In the second experiment the presence of chicory interferes in the productivity of beet when the transplant was carried out both at the same time. Thus it is clear that the consortium's efficiency depends on the temporal and spatial complementarity between cultures. For the physicochemical characteristics of the beet was no statistical difference in the pH when evaluated the effects of management of stubble and the establishment of the time. For soluble solids occurred only difference to the time of establishment. The management of stubble and establishment of time influenced the ratio of beet. The fresh weight of chicory was influenced by the management of stubble and the time of establishment. The efficiency of land use at all times of intercropping and both managements of straw were viable / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as características físico-químicas, biométricas e a produtividade de cultivares de beterraba, além das características produtivas e qualitativas da beterraba e chicória em função do manejo da palhada e da época de estabelecimento do consórcio. Desta forma, foram conduzidos dois experimentos em que os delineamentos utilizados foram em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. No primeiro experimento foram estudadas as cultivares Maravilha, Merlot, Kestrel, Itapuã 202, Chata do Egito e Tall Top Early Wonder. Avaliou-se altura de plantas, número de folhas, projeção da copa, diâmetro e comprimento da raiz, índice de formato da raiz, massa média de raiz, massa de folhas e produtividade da beterraba, além das características de qualidade da raiz, como sólidos solúveis, acidez titúlavel, ratio, potencial hidrogeniônico e teor de antocianinas. O segundo experimento foi conduzido no mesmo delineamento, sendo realizado a análise estatística em esquema fatorial 2 x 5 e 2 x 8, sendo o primeiro fatorial constituído do manejo da palhada (sem e com incorporação da palhada de mucuna-cinza) e pelas épocas de estabelecimento do consórcio e do monocultivo de beterraba com chicória (0, 7, 14 e 21 dias após o transplante da beterraba); e o segundo fatorial composto pelo manejo da palhada (com e sem incorporação) e pelo cultivo de chicória em monocultivo e consorciada com beterraba nas mesmas épocas a fim de isolar possível efeito de plantio. A avaliação neste experimento constou dos mesmos quesitos do primeiro para a cultura da beterraba, exceto projeção da copa, massa de folhas e teor de antocianinas. Já para a chicória foram avaliados a altura de planta, projeção da copa, número de folhas, área foliar e massa fresca da parte aérea, além do calculado da UET. Os resultados encontrados no primeiro experimento permitem afirmar que as cultivares Maravilha, Itapuã 202, Chata do Egito e Tall Top Early Wonder apresentaram as maiores produtividades e massa média de raiz. No entanto, no contexto geral, foi observado que as cultivares se comportam de forma distinta para cada variável analisada. Para as características de qualidade da raiz não foi observada diferença para pH e sólidos solúveis. A cultivar Chata do Egito apresentou a menor acidez se comparando com as cultivares Tall Top Early Wonder e Kestrel, já para ratio as mesmas cultivares apresentaram os maiores resultados. As cultivares que apresentaram os maiores teores de antocianinas foram Merlot, Kestrel e Chata do Egito. A cultivar que apresentou as melhores características quantitativas e qualitativas foi a Chata do Egito. No segundo experimento a presença da chicória interferiu na produtividade da beterraba quando o transplante de ambas foi realizado na mesma época. Desta forma ficou evidente que a eficiência do consórcio é dependente da complementaridade temporal e espacial entre as culturas. Para as características físico-químicas da beterraba não foi observada diferença estatística para o pH quando avaliados os efeitos do manejo da palhada e da época de estabelecimento. Para sólidos solúveis ocorreu diferença apenas para época de estabelecimento. Os manejos da palhada e época de estabelecimento influenciou a ratio da beterraba. A massa fresca da chicória foi influenciada pelo manejo da palhada e pela época de estabelecimento. A eficiência do uso da terra em todas as épocas de consorciação e em ambos os manejos da palhada foram viáveis

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:37:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Deisinara_Giane_Schulz.pdf: 1798087 bytes, checksum: c4b79ed1907ff776bcbf9386a872a0c9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The establishment of silvipastore systems for small farmers tends to improve productivity with great potential for economic and environmental gains. The consortium between physic nut and Tifton 85 can be an alternative for system implementation. This study aimed to evaluate the development of Jatropha curcas L. in relation growth space through modeling suggested by Nelder (1962) in consortium with or without the herbaceous Tifton 85. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station of Pato Bragado, which belongs to the Center for Experimental Stations of the Western Paraná State University, Campus of Marechal Cândido Rondon. The planting system used was composed of two Nelter plots with four spacing plant (1,53, 3,06, 4,59 and 6,12 meters) with eight replicates associated or not with the herbaceous Tifton 85. The spacing used was 2 m between plants, comprising ten meter radius separed by an angle of 45° to each other. The experiment was conducted according to a completely randomized design with split parcel in time, with two plots, which were the parcel of space of planting, split parcel, the time of evaluation, carrying out joint analysis of experiments with and without Tifton 85. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and polynomial regression of the 5% significance. Chemical analysis of sheets was carried out analysis of variance in a 2x4 factorial design, two factors are considered as systems of cultivation in four planting spaces in experimental cazualizado with four replicates per plant space. Means were compared by Tukey test (p<0.05) through genes software. For the analysis of herbal Tifton 85 was applied to the completely randomized experimental design in a split parcel in time, with three replicates for the evaluation of height, fresh and dry weight of plants, and nine repetitions for bromatological variables. The cultivation of physic nut in the spacing of 1,53 meters implies greater competition between plants in both the planting as a single and consortium, with lower values for planting trees in the consortium. The cultivation of physic nut single spaced 4,5 meters implies less competition between plants. The composition of Tifton 85 chemical presented characteristics of good quality and quantity for fodder production in intercropping with J. curcas, limited to the spacing of 2x1,53 and 2x3,03 feet between the physic nut plants. / A implantação do sistema silvipastoril tende a melhorar a produtividade agropecuária com grandes possibilidades de ganhos econômicos e ambientais. O consórcio entre pinhão-manso e Tifton 85 pode ser uma alternativa para implantação do sistema. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o desenvolvimento de Jatropha curcas L. em relação ao espaço de crescimento determinado, através da modelagem sugerida por Nelder (1962) em consórcio ou não com a herbácea Tifton 85. O experimento foi conduzido na área Experimental de Pato Bragado-PR, pertencente ao Núcleo de Estações Experimentais da Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Campus Marechal Cândido Rondon PR. O sistema de plantio adotado foi constituído de dois leques de quatro tratamentos de espaçamento entre plantas (circunferências contínuas) com oito repetições para cada leque (raios), consorciados ou não com a herbácea Tifton 85. O espaçamento utilizado foi de 2 m entre plantas, composta por dez metros de raio de 45° entre si, sendo os últimos dois metros de bordadura (1,53; 3,06; 4,59 e 6,12 metros, com 7,6 metros para plantas de bordadura). O experimento foi instalado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com parcela subdivida no tempo, com quatro parcelas, sendo elas os espaçamentos de plantio, e subparcelas os tempos de avaliação, realizando-se analise conjunta de experimentos com e sem Tifton 85. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e regressão polinomial a de 5% de significância. Nos dados de análises químicas das folhas realizou-se análise de variância em esquema fatorial 2x4, sendo considerados como fatores dois sistemas de cultivo em quatro espaçamentos de plantio em delineamento inteiramente cazualizado com quatro repetições por espaçamento. As médias foram comparadas pelo teste Tukey (p<0,05) através do aplicativo computacional Genes. Para as análises da herbácea Tífton 85 aplicou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema de parcela subdividida no tempo, com três repetições para a as avaliações de estatura, massa fresca e seca de plantas, e nove repetições para as variáveis bromatológicas. O cultivo de pinhão-manso no espaçamento de 1,5 metros implica na maior competição entre plantas tanto no plantio consorciado como solteiro, com menores valores para árvores no plantio consorciado. O cultivo solteiro de pinhão-manso no espaçamento de 4,5 metros implica na menor competição entre plantas. A composição bromatológica do Tifton 85 apresentou características de boa qualidade e quantidade para produção de forragens em cultivo consorciado com J. curcas L., limitando-se ao espaçamento de 2x1,53 e 2x3,03 metros entre plantas de pinhão-manso

A consorciação do milho com gramíneas forrageiras pode ser utilizada tanto para renovações de pastagens, como para a formação de cobertura morta de qualidade e longevidade para o sistema de Plantio Direto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as interações e interferências de diferentes espécies de braquiárias no desempenho da cultura de milho, bem como determinar qual das espécies seria a mais adequada para o sistema de consórcio. O experimento foi conduzido em Nitossolo eutrófico típico, sob pivô central, em área experimental pertencente ao Departamento de Produção Vegetal da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz"/ Universidade de São Paulo, situado no Município de Piracicaba, SP. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com sete tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos da combinação de três espécies de braquiárias (Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha e Brachiaria ruziziensis) semeadas em duas épocas (concomitantemente ao milho e quando o milho apresentava quatro folhas totalmente expandidas), acrescido de um tratamento testemunha (milho solteiro). Com relação ao milho, os resultados evidenciaram ausência de diferença estatística entre os tratamentos para as seguintes variáveis: altura de plantas; índice de área foliar; diâmetro do colmo; análise foliar; número de fileiras de grãos; número de grãos por espiga; peso de mil grãos e produtividade. Todavia, o número de folhas de milho e a sanidade de espigas foram afetados pelos tratamentos estudados. Assim, o tratamento 6 (B. brizantha semeada na quarta folha do milho) propiciou maior número de folhas em plantas de milho e a B. decumbens semeada na mesma data do milho propiciou menor taxa de grãos deteriorados na espiga em comparação ao tratamento testemunha. Com relação às braquiárias, todas as espécies semeadas na primeira época (semeadura concomitante ao milho) diferiram daquelas semeadas quando o referido cereal apresentava quatro folhas, quanto à produção de massa verde e seca. A B.decumbens e a B. brizantha, semeadas na primeira época, apresentaram maior produção de matéria seca de raiz em comparação à B. brizantha, semeada na segunda época. Após a roçagem, a produção de massa verde e seca de parte aérea das B. decumbens e B. brizantha semeadas na primeira época foi superior à produção da B. ruziziensis semeada na segunda época. A B. decumbens, independentemente da época de semeadura, apresentou maior efeito supressor de plantas daninhas. Assim, a análise e a interpretação dos resultados, permitiram concluir que a presença das braquiárias, indiferentemente à época de semeadura, não afeta o desenvolvimento e a produtividade do milho, demonstrando a viabilidade técnica de sistemas consorciados de produção. Entretanto, a presença do milho influencia negativamente o acúmulo de fitomassa das braquiárias, principalmente, quando estas são semeadas quando o milho apresenta quatro folhas. Para a formação de pastagens, as forrageiras estudadas apresentam melhor desempenho e produtividade quando implantadas na mesma data da cultura do milho. Dentre as braquiárias, destaca-se a B. decumbens pela quantidade de forragem produzida, bem como pelo efeito supressor de plantas daninhas. Entretanto, para a produção de forragem a B. brizantha apresenta resultados semelhantes a B. decumbens. / Maize intercropped with grass can be used both to pasture renewals and to quality and longevity of soil cover formation in no-tillage system. The present work aimed at evaluating the interactions and interferences of different brachiaria species on maize yield, as well as determining which would be the most appropriate species for a intercropping system. The experiment was carried out in Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil (Universidade de São Paulo, ESALQ), in a typical Rhodudalf soil, under central pivot, in an experimental area belonging to the Department of Crop Production. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with seven treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of a combination of three brachiaria species (Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha and Brachiaria ruziziensis) sowed in two different dates (together with maize and when maize had four fully expanded leaves), as well as a control treatment (single maize). In relation to maize, the results showed no statistical differences among the treatments for the following parameters: plant height; leaf area index; stem diameter; foliar analysis; number of grain rows; number of grain per rows in ear; thousand grain weight and productivity. However, the number of maize leaves and the sanity of ears were affected by the treatments. Thus, treatment 6 (B. brizantha sowed at the four leaves stage of maize) favored larger number of leaves on maize plants, and B. decumbens sowed on the same dates as maize presented lower rate of deteriorated grains per spike in comparison to the control treatment. In relation to brachiaria, all of the species sowed on the first date (concomitant sowing with maize) differed from those sowed at the four leaves stage of maize, for green and dry mass production. The B. decumbens and B. brizantha, sowed in the first time, presented larger production of root dry matter in comparison to B. brizantha, sowed on the second date. After cutting, the green and dry mass production of shoot of B. decumbens and B. brizantha sowed on the first date was superior to the green and dry mass production of B. ruziziensis sowed on the second date. B. decumbens, regardless of the sowing date, presented a greater suppressor effect on weeds. The analysis and the interpretation of the results allowed to conclude that the presence of brachiaria, regardless of sowing date, doesn't affect the development and the productivity of maize, thus demonstrating the technical viability of intercropped systems of production. However, the presence of maize negatively influences the biomass accumulation of brachiaria, especially, when these are sowed when maize has four leaves. For pasture formation, the studied forage grasses present better yield and productivity when sowed at the same date as maize. Among the brachiaria, B. decumbens stands out for the amount of forage produced, as well as for the suppressor effect on weeds. However, for forage production, B. brizantha presents similar results to B. decumbens.