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Crop management practices, such as soil tillage and crop residue management, are land management activities with potentially large impacts on carbon (C) cycling and climate at the global scale. Improvements in crop management practices, such as conservation tillage or 'no-till' (NT), have been proposed as climate change mitigation measures because such practices may alter C cycles through increased sequestration of soil C in agricultural soils. Despite their potential importance, regional to global scale data are lacking for many crop management practices, and few studies have evaluated the potential impact of the full range of crop management practices on C cycling and climate at the global scale. However, monitoring of crop management practices is crucial for assessing spatial variations in management intensity and informing policy decisions. Inclusion of crop management practices in Earth system models used for assessing global climate is a key requirement for evaluating the overall effects of different crop management practices on C cycling and their potential to mitigate climate change. Studies in this dissertation seek to address these issues by: (1) evaluating the efficacy of remote sensing methods for monitoring differences in soil tillage and crop residue management practices in Iowa; (2) incorporating soil tillage practices into an Earth system model and assessing the potential for soil C sequestration and climate change mitigation through adoption of NT practices; (3) assessing the historical impact of including the full range of crop management practices (residue harvest, grain harvest, soil tillage, irrigation, and fertilization) on changes in C cycling associated with land use and land cover change (LULCC) to crops in an Earth system model. The remote sensing study found that performance of the minimum Normalized Difference Tillage Index (minNDTI) method for assessing differences in tillage and residue management was below average compared to previous studies, even when using imagery from both Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2A sensors. Accurate assessment of these practices using minNDTI was hindered by issues with image quality and inability to obtain sufficient cloud-free, time series imagery during the critical planting window. Remote sensing research aimed at obtaining regional to global scale data on tillage and residue management practices is likely to continue to face these issues in the future, but further research should incorporate additional sensors and assess the efficacy of the minNDTI method for multiple locations and years. Adoption of NT practices in the Community Land Model, which is the land component of the Community Earth System Model, resulted in a cumulative soil C sequestration of 6.6 – 14.4 Pg C from 2015 – 2100 under a future climate change scenario (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5), and cumulative soil C sequestration was equal to approximately one year of present-day fossil fuel emissions. Adjusting for areas where NT is already practiced had minor impacts on cumulative soil C storage, reducing gains in soil C from NT adoption by 0.4 – 0.9 Pg C globally. These results indicate that soil C sequestration and potential for climate change mitigation through NT may be more limited than has been anticipated elsewhere. Soil C sequestration via NT adoption was highest in temperate regions of developed countries with high initial soil C contents, indicating these areas should be targeted for NT adoption. Simulating the full range of crop management practices in the Community Land Model resulted in an increase in C emissions due to LULCC of 29 – 38 Pg C compared to scenarios with generic crops and model defaults. Individual crop management practices with the largest impact on LULCC emissions were crop residue harvest (18 Pg C), followed by grain harvest (9 Pg C) and soil tillage (5 Pg C). Although implementation of crop residue harvest and soil tillage was extreme in this study, these results imply that Earth system models may underestimate emissions from LULCC by excluding the full range of crop management practices. Studies in this dissertation corroborate the importance of crop management practices for C cycling and climate, but further research on these management practices is needed in terms of data collection, improving process-level understanding, and inclusion of these practices in Earth system models. / Doctor of Philosophy

The purpose of this research carried out in 1998 and 1999 was to develop methods for strip cropping of cucumbers with rye/vetch and black plastic mulch. Effects of planting methods, weed control measures, and cover crop management techniques on pest and beneficial insects, petiole sap nitrate-nitrogen, soil moisture, yields and economic viability were assessed. Four treatments, namely cucumber direct seeded in black plastic mulch on tilled bare ground (conventional); cucumber direct seeded in black plastic mulch laid over incorporated rye/vetch residue; cucumber direct seeded into no-till rolled rye/vetch; and seedlings transplanted into no- till rolled rye/vetch, were evaluated in a randomized complete block design. Weeds were controlled in half the plot by critical manual weeding and pre-emergence herbicides applied in the other half in all treatments except the conventional system. Three-week interval staggered plantings of buckwheat to provide flowers for adult beneficial insects were also evaluated. Results obtained indicate that rye/vetch habitat is more attractive to beneficial insects than cucumber beetles before rolling or flail mowing. There were higher densities of adult Diptera (an indicator for Tachinid parasitoids) in both years and of Pennsylvania leatherwings in 1999 in plots with rye/vetch than in plots with rye only before planting. Preferential attraction to adult Diptera was not found after planting with no differences in cumulative densities between no-till and black plastic mulch plots after rolling or flail mowing. However, adult Diptera densities were positively correlated with cucumber yield, higher densities of cucumber beetles occurred in black plastic mulch than in no-till plots in both years, and bacterial wilt, transmitted by cucumber beetles, was reduced in no-till in 1999. Similarly, rye/vetch habitat plots had a higher diversity of Carabidae species (in both habitat areas and crop rows) before rolling or flail mowing, and higher densities of Carabidae (in habitat areas), Staphylinidae (in both habitat areas and crop rows) and spiders (in crop rows) after rolling or flail mowing. Black plastic mulch plots with flail mowed, incorporated rye/vetch residues had higher petiole sap nitrate-nitrogen and higher early season cucumber plant dry weights than in conventional plots; later in the season, the highest petiole sap nitrate-nitrogen occurred in no-till plots. No-till had higher marketable cucumber yield than plastic systems. The profitability of these production systems depended more on differences in marketable yield than on cost differences. The plastic with incorporated rye/vetch and no-till transplant systems were more profitable during early harvests in late July, while no- till direct seeded and transplant systems were more profitable from early August onwards. The three-week interval staggered planting of buckwheat led to conservation of beneficial insects, and the second and third seeded buckwheat flowering periods coincided with the period vetch had lost flowers. / Ph. D.

Master of Science / Department of Entomology / Brian P. McCornack / Robert J. Whitworth / No-till management of soybean benefits producers by lowering input costs and retaining soil moisture, but may also provide optimal conditions for increasing populations of soil-inhabiting pests. For Kansas soybean, damaging populations of soil-inhabiting isopods (Malacostraca: Isopoda) have been observed in fields under no-tillage management. To control damage to soybean stands from feeding isopods, current management strategies need to be evaluated. The objectives of my research were to evaluate the effects of chemical and cultural control combinations (seed treatment and planting date, planting date and seed size, seed treatment and natural crop residue removal, and seeding rate and seed treatment) on soybean stand densities exposed to natural isopod populations, and to evaluate the effects of burning crop residue on isopod populations and emergence rates in soybean under no-tillage management. Field studies were conducted in consecutive years (2009 and 2010) in two separate soybean fields within each year. All fields were under no-till management and had a history of damaging isopod populations. In the second chapter, we demonstrated that seed treatment with an insecticide is not a reliable strategy. Doubling normal seeding rates can potentially reduce the number of trips a grower makes across a field (single, high-density versus multiple, low-density plantings). In doing so, growers may save time and money (e.g., fuel). A high seeding rate (563,380/ha), along with a low rate (50 g a.i. / 100 kg seed) of neonicotinoid seed treatment, appears to improve soybean stands (P < 0.05). No other combinations of control methods appeared to affect stand density. In the third chapter, we show burning to be an effective strategy to directly influence isopod populations but its overall effect on soybean stands needs further investigation.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / P. V. Vara Prasad, / Kraig L. Roozeboom / Replacing fallow with cover crops can provide many benefits, including improved soil quality and reduced nitrogen fertilizer requirements. The addition of cover crops into no-till systems has become popular in recent years as a means of increasing cropping system intensity and diversity. A primary concern of producers in the Great Plains is the possibility that cover crops may reduce the amount of soil water stored in the profile for the next grain crop, potentially reducing yields. Multi-species cover crop mixtures that enhance the ecological stability and resilience of cover crop communities may produce greater and more consistent biomass than single species. Field experiments were established in 2013 and 2014 near Belleville and Manhattan, KS following winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) harvest to evaluate the effect of cover crop species and species complexity on changes in soil profile water content and water use efficiency. Along with a chemical fallow control, ten cover crop treatments were tested: six single species, two-three component mixes, a mix of six species, and a mix of nine species. Volumetric water content was measured using a neutron probe and a Field Scout TDR 300. Similar data were collected in 2014 from an experiment established in 2007 comparing fallow, double-cropped soybean, and four cover crop types (summer and winter legumes and non-legumes) in a no-till winter wheat-grain sorghum-soybean cropping system near Manhattan, KS. Results from both studies showed that grasses produced the most dry matter with the highest water use efficiency (up to 618 kg cm-1). Fallow lost up to 7.9 cm less water than all cover crop treatments throughout cover crop growth and in the fall, but captured up to 3.4 cm less moisture in the spring than the cover crops that added residue to the soil surface. Brassica species extracted water from deeper in the soil profile than the other cover crop species. Species complexity affected water use only relative to the proportions and productivity of their individual components, with no advantage in water use efficiency for the more complex mixtures.

L’intensificazione sostenibile delle pratiche agricole rappresenta un paradigma per il passaggio da sistemi agricoli tradizionali all’applicazione di tecnologie e tecniche moderne per la produzione agricola. A livello globale si è diffuso l’interesse verso il modello di Agricoltura Sostenibile (AS), in vista di alcuni problemi che possono minacciare la sicurezza alimentare mondiale: crescita della popolazione mondiale, cambiamenti nella domanda delle produzioni agricole, percentuale elevata di persone sottonutrite, cambiamenti climatici, diminuzione delle risorse naturali. Il progetto “Produzione di cibo appropriato: sufficiente, sicuro, sostenibile”, ancora in corso, lavora per raggiungere alcuni scopi: (1) rilevare e valutare la disponibilità quantitativa e qualitativa degli alimenti destinati al consumo umano, (2) proporre nuovi sistemi di produzione agro-zootecnica, (3) sviluppare tecniche appropriate per processare e conservare gli alimenti, al fine di ottenere uno stato di sicurezza alimentare e sostenibilità ambientale ed economica. L’obiettivo generale di questo lavoro è quello di mostrare quali sono le possibili alternative ai sistemi agricoli tradizionali, sia nei Paesi Sviluppati sia in quelli in Via di Sviluppo, al fine di aumentarne l’efficienza e diminuirne gli impatti sull’ambiente, aumentando lo stato globale di sicurezza alimentare. Per i Paesi in Via di Sviluppo l’attenzione si concentra sulle pratiche di sviluppo rurale integrato, al fine di implementare quantitativamente la produzione alimentare e, conseguentemente, la sicurezza alimentare, preservando nel contempo l'ambiente. Per i Paesi Sviluppati, in cui i rendimenti agricoli sono già potenzialmente molto elevati, l’attenzione viene focalizzata sul migliorare la produttività del suolo, riducendo gli input esterni e le emissioni di gas ad effetto serra, attraverso l’adozione di sistemi agricoli conservativi. / Sustainable intensification of agricultural practices represents a paradigm shift from traditional farming systems to the application of modern technologies and techniques to crop production. At global level it has been widespread interest towards Sustainable Agriculture (SA) model, in view of some issues that will may threaten the world food security: growing world population, changes in agricultural product’s demand, high prevalence of undernourishment, climate changes, decreasing of natural resources. The project “Production of proper food: sufficient, safe, sustainable" is still working to achieve some purposes: (1) to detect the availability quantity and quality of food for human consumption, (2) to propose new agro-livestock production systems, (3) to develop appropriate techniques for processing and storage of foodstuffs, in order to achieve food security, environmental and economic sustainability. The objective of this work is to show what are the possible alternatives ways at traditional agricultural systems, both in Developed and Developing Countries, in order to increase the efficiency and to decrease the impacts on the environment, raising a global condition of food security. For Developing Countries the attention is focused on integrated rural development practices in order to implement food production and the state of food security, while preserving the environment. For Developed Countries, in which yields are already potentially higher, the attention is focused on enhance soil productivity while reducing external farming input and greenhouse gases emission by the adoption of conservation agricultural systems.

O presente experimento teve por objetivo avaliar a produtividade agrícola da soja em sistema de semeadura direta com antecipação da adubação fosfatada e potássica na cultura de Eleusine coracana, sustentando-se a hipótese de que a produtividade da soja não é reduzida devido à antecipação da adubação de base para a cultura de Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. (capim-pé-de-galinha). O experimento foi conduzido na Estação Experimental Anhembi, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" (USP/ESALQ), no município de Piracicaba-SP, localizada à margem direita do Rio Tietê, na cabeceira da represa de Barra Bonita-SP, entre as coordenadas 22º 45’e 22º 50’ de latitude Sul, e 48º 00’ e 45º 05’de longitude Oeste, durante o ano agrícola de 2001/2002, em LATOSSOLO AMARELO Distrófico. A adubação, segundo a recomendação oficial para o estado de São Paulo, consistiu da aplicação de 90 kg de P2O5 ha-1, 50 kg de K2O ha-1 e de micronutrientes (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo e Zn). O experimento adotou delineamento em blocos completos ao acaso com três repetições. Os tratamentos experimentais consistiram em diferentes níveis de antecipação da adubação da soja, para a cultura do capim-pé-de-galinha, totalizando 12 tratamentos: T1 = nenhuma adubação; T2 = adubação convencional na soja; T3 = 50% de K, no capim-péde- galinha; T4 = 100% de K, no capim-pé-de-galinha; T5 = 50% de P, no capim-pé-degalinha; T6 = 50% de P e K, no capim-pé-de-galinha; T7 = 50% de P e 100 % de K, no capim-pé-de-galinha; T8 = 100% de P, no capim-pé-de-galinha; T9 = 100% de P e 50% de K, no capim-pé-de-galinha; T10 = 100% de P e K, no capim-pé-de-galinha; T11 = 100% de P e K + micronutrientes, no capim-pé-de-galinha; T12 = adubação foliar com micronutrientes, no capim-pé-de-galinha. As características avaliadas foram: a) capim pé-de-galinha: produção de matéria seca; b) soja: estande final, altura final de planta, porcentagem de plantas com haste verde, grau de acamamento, número de ramificações por planta, número de vagens chochas por planta, número de vagens de 3 cavidades com 3, 2 e 1 grão, número de vagens de 2 cavidades com 2 e 1 grão, número de vagens de 1 cavidade com 1 grão, número total de vagens por planta, número total de grãos por planta, peso de grãos por planta, peso de mil grãos e produtividade agrícola. As principais conclusões são: a) a adubação fosfatada e potássica da cultura da soja, antecipadas parcial ou totalmente para a semeadura do capim Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn., podem incrementar a produtividade agrícola de matéria seca do capim-pé-degalinha; b) a antecipação parcial ou total das adubações fosfatada e potássica da soja para a semeadura do Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn., nas condições em que foi instalado o experimento, não reduz a produtividade agrícola de grãos de soja; c) Trabalhos de pesquisa agronômica envolvendo estudos sobre adubação de agroecossistemas devem ser incentivados. / The present research evaluated soybean yield in a no-tillage system with previous potassium and phosphorus fertilization on the Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. crop. The hypothesis was that soybean yield does not decrease due to previous fertilization on the Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. (finger millet) crop. The experiment was carried out during the 2001/2002 growing season at the Estação Experimental Anhembi, Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" (USP/ESALQ), in Piracicaba, São Paulo. The area is located at the right side bank of the Tietê river, at the beginning of the Barra Bonita Dam, between the coordinates 22º 45’and 22º 50’ latitude south, and 48º 00’ and 45º 05’ longitude west, in an Oxisol. The soybean fertilization was done according to the São Paulo State offical recommendation: 90 kg of P2O5 ha-1, 50 kg of K2O ha-1 and micronutrients (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and Zn). The experiment designed in randomized complete blocks, with three replicates. The treatment consisted of differents levels of soybean pre-fertilization, on the finger millet crop, totalizing 12 treatments: T1 = no fertilization; T2 = conventional fertilization, on Soybean; T3 = 50% of K, on finger millet; T4 = 100% of K, on finger millet; T5 = 50% of P, on finger millet; T6 = 50% of both P and K, on finger millet; T7 = 50% of P and 100 % of K, on finger millet; T8 = 100% of P, on finger millet; T9 = 100% of P and 50% of K, on finger millet; T10 = 100% of P and K, on finger millet; T11 = 100% of P and K + micronutrients, on finger millet; T12 = fertilization with micronutrients, on finger millet. The evaluated chacaracters were: a) finger millet: dry matter production; b) soybean: final stand, final plant height, percentage of plants with green stems, bending, number of branches per plant, number of empty pods, number of pods with 3 cavities with 3, 2 and 1 grain, number of pods with 2 cavities with 2 and 1 grain, number of pods with 1 cavity with 1 grain, total number of pods per plant, total number of grains per plant, grain weight per plant, mass of 1,000 grains and total yield. The main conclusions are: a) phosphorus and potassium pre-fertilization on soybean, totally or partial applied to the Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. crop, can increase the finger millet dry matter yield; b) total or partial pre-fertilization of soybean phosphorus and potassium on Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. crop, under experimental conditions tested, does not decrease the soybean yield; c) more studies about fertilization in agroecosystems should be encouraged.

No Cerrado do Oeste baiano o clima dificulta a formação de palhada para o plantio direto. O consórcio de culturas é uma alternativa à limitação do clima, por produzir biomassa ao sistema. Os cotonicultores dessa região utilizam o milho para rotação e, em alguns casos, para formação de palha, com adubação exclusiva na semeadura em solos arenosos, baixo teor de matéria orgânica e precipitação média de 1.500 mm. Realizaram-se duas pesquisas: (i) produtividade de milho e de resíduos em razão do sistema de produção e da dose de nitrogênio e (ii) balanço de nitrogênio (15N) em sistemas de cultivo de milho solteiro e consorciado com braquiária. O objetivo da primeira foi avaliar o uso de doses de N na semeadura, em milho solteiro e consorciado com braquiária, em São Desidério, BA; para implantar o plantio direto. Adotou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com dez tratamentos e quatro repetições; T1: milho sem nitrogênio; T2: milho-braquiária sem N; T3: milho com 50 kg ha-1 N; T4: milhobraquiária com 50 kg ha-1 N; T5: milho com 100 kg ha-1 N; T6: milho-braquiária com 100 kg ha-1 N; T7: milho com 150 kg ha-1 N; T8: milho-braquiária com 150 kg ha-1 N; T9: milho com 200 kg ha-1 N; T10: milho-braquiária com 200 kg ha-1 N. Avaliou-se produtividade, extração e exportação de nitrogênio, produção de biomassa e extração de N pela forrageira e a correlação ente a quantidade determinada e estimada de N nos grãos. O consórcio foi eficiente para a formação de palhada (5.056 kg ha-1) para adoção do plantio direto; o milho respondeu ao uso de 50 kg ha-1 nitrogênio, independentemente do sistema de cultivo e a braquiária não respondeu a adubação; a extração de nitrogênio nos sistemas de cultivo foi prejudicada apenas na ausência do nutriente, enquanto a exportação reduziu no cultivo consorciado, somente sem N; a estimativa de exportação de N pode ser obtida pela expressão: NGE = PG x 0,09 x 0,16. A segunda pesquisa objetivou avaliar a dinâmica do N com a aplicação de 150 kg ha-1 de 15N-uréia na semeadura do milho solteiro e consorciado com braquiária no mesmo local. Adotou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com dois tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram; T1: milho solteiro e T2: milho-braquiária, com 150 kg ha-1 de 15N - uréia na semeadura. Avaliou-se o acúmulo de 15N na parte aérea e raízes; a EUFN pelo milho e braquiária e a quantidade residual no solo proveniente do fertilizante. A braquiária em consórcio com o milho não restringiu a disponibilidade de N. A EUFN variou entre 60,4% no consórcio e 64,8% no milho solteiro. A braquiária recuperou 1,4% do 15N aplicado. A RFNS foi de 18% e 25% para milho solteiro e consorciado. O 15N não recuperado foi de 25,5 kg ha-1 de N no milho solteiro e 19,5 kg ha-1 no consórcio com braquiária. / In Cerrado of the west of Bahia state the climate difficulties the formation of vegetable residue for no-tillage. Intercropping cultures is an alternative for climate limitation, for producing biomass to the system. Cotton producers from this region use maize culture for rotation and, in some cases, for formation of straw, with fertilization done exclusively during sowing in sandy soils, with low level of organic matter and an average precipitation of 1500 mm. Two researches were performed: (i) maize productivity and remaining residues due to production system and nitrogen dosage and (ii) nitrogen (15N) balance in maize single crop systems and intercropped with Brachiaria ruziziensis. The objective of the first research was to evaluate the use N doses, in sowing, in maize single crop and intercropped at São Desidério, BA; to establish no-till. It was adopted the randomized block design, with 10 treatments and four repetitions: T1 maize without nitrogen; T2 maize-brachiaria without N; T3 maize with 50 kg ha-1 of N; T4 maize- brachiaria with 50 kg ha-1 of N; T5 maize with 100 kg ha-1 of N; T6 maize- brachiaria with 100 kg ha-1 of N; T7 maize with 150 kg ha-1 of N; T8 maizebrachiaria with 150 kg ha-1 of N; T9 maize with 200 kg ha-1 of N; T10 maizebrachiaria with 200 kg ha-1 of N. Productivity was evaluated, nitrogen extraction and exportation, biomass production and N extraction by the brachiaria and the correlation between determined and estimated N grain quantity. Intercropping was efficient for formation of straw (5.056 kg ha-1) intending to adopt of no-till; maize responded to 50 kg ha-1 of nitrogen, independently of cropping system and brachiaria did not respond to fertilization; nitrogen extraction in the cropping systems was harmed only in the absence of N; while the exportation was reduced in the intercropped system, only in the absence of nitrogen; the estimative of N exportation can be obtained by the expression: NGE = PG x 0,09 x 0,16. The second research had objective of evaluate dynamics of N with 150 kg ha-1 of 15N-urea application in the sowing of maize single crop and intercropped with brachiaria in the same place. The randomized blocks design was adopted, with two treatments and four repetitions. Treatments were: T1 single crop maize and T2 maize- brachiaria, with 150 kg ha-1 of 15N urea at sowing. It was evaluated the accumulation of 15N by aboveground and roots; the EUFN by maize crop and brachiaria and the residual amount in the soil derived from the fertilizer. The brachiaria intercropped with maize did not restrict N avaibility. The EUFN varied between 60,4 % for intercropped and 64,8 % for single crop. Brachiaria recovered 1,4 % of the 15N applied. The RFNS were of 18% and 25% for single crop and intercropped maize. The 15N not recovered from urea was 25,5 kg ha-1 of N in the maize single crop and 19,5 kg ha-1 in the intercropped maize.

O ambiente de terras baixas no sul do Brasil é predominantemente explorado com a cultura do arroz irrigado. Baseado em um sistema agrícola pouco diversificado, é comum o uso sucessivo das mesmas áreas ano após ano, com práticas de manejo que envolvem o revolvimento do solo. Isto acarreta em prejuízos tais como a degradação do solo e recursos naturais, além de recorrente baixa rentabilidade da atividade. O cultivo de espécies forrageiras hibernais, associado com o não revolvimento do solo, pode trazer melhorias ao sistema produtivo, seja com seu uso como plantas de cobertura ou com o pastejo animal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os benefícios e potencialidades que a utilização destas espécies podem proporcionar e, para tanto, dois estudos principais foram realizados. O primeiro, conduzido no município de Cachoeirinha, RS, avaliou o estado de agregação e o incremento do teor de carbono orgânico do solo, comparando cultivos sucessivos de arroz irrigado em um experimento de longa duração. Os tratamentos foram um sistema manejado na forma convencional, com revolvimento do solo, e outros três sob semeadura direta, com coberturas de: azevém, cornichão e vegetação espontânea. Os resultados indicaram que, na camada de 0 a 5 cm de profundidade, os tratamentos sob semeadura direta apresentaram maiores teores de carbono orgânico e agregação do que o convencional. Já na camada de 5 a 10 cm, para os agregados, o tratamento azevém se destacou em relação aos demais. O segundo estudo foi conduzido no município de Cristal, RS. Foram avaliadas a produção animal e de forragem durante três anos no período hibernal, em diferentes combinações de sistemas integrados de produção agropecuária (SIPA). Os cultivos estivais trataram-se de arroz irrigado, soja, capim sudão e campo de sucessão, enquanto as pastagens hibernais consistiram de azevém e consórcios desta espécie com trevo branco e cornichão. Os resultados confirmaram a adaptabilidade destas espécies forrageiras ao ambiente de terras baixas e demonstraram as potencialidades que a exploração pecuária possui, sendo necessários, porém, novos estudos para o melhor ajuste do manejo das áreas. Por fim, foi realizado um terceiro estudo, comparando a relação entre a massa de forragem e altura de pastos hibernais em SIPA conduzidos em terras altas com SIPA em terras baixas. A relação no ambiente de terras baixas é menor, corroborando a necessidade de maiores estudos neste ambiente, visto que as alturas ótimas preconizadas para o manejo do pasto se originam de estudos conduzidos em terras altas. / The lowland environment in Southern Brazil is predominantly explored with the irrigated rice crop. Based on a very low diversified system, in such environment is very common the successive use of the same areas year after year, with management practices that involve soil tillage. This leads to damages such as the degradation of soil and natural resources, in addition to recurrent profitability problems. The insertion of winter pasture species associated with the no-till, as cover crops or for animal grazing, may bring improvements to the system. The objective of the current work was to evaluate the benefits and potentialities that the utilization of such plants can provide. For this, two main studies were performed. The first, conducted in the Cachoeirinha County (Rio Grande do Sul State – RS), evaluated the soil aggregation status and its organic carbon content, by comparing successive irrigated rice croppings in a long-term experiment. The treatments consisted of one system under conventional soil tillage and three others under no-till, being the treatments the following cover crops: Italian ryegrass, birdsfoot trefoil and spontaneous vegetation. The results indicated that, in 0 to 5 cm soil layer, the treatments under no-till presented higher organic carbon contents and greater aggregation, as compared to the conventional system. In the 5 to 10 cm soil layer, the treatment with Italian ryegrass has its aggregation highlighted among the others. The second study was conducted in the Cristal County (RS). The animal and pasture production was evaluated during three years in the winter season, under different combinations of integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS). The summer croppings were irrigated rice, soybean, Sudan grass and a succession field (native pasture), while the winter pastures consisted of Italian ryegrass and its mix with white clover and birdsfoot trefoil. The results confirmed the adaptability and potentiality of such pasture species and livestock exploration in the lowland environment. However, it is needed further studies for a better management adjustment of the areas. Finally, a third study was performed, comparing the relationship between forage mass and winter pasture height in ICLS conducted in highland and lowland. It was demonstrated that in lowland such relationship is lower, corroborating the necessity of more studies in these conditions, because the optimum heights preconized for pasture management are originated from studies conducted in highlands.

No Cerrado do Oeste baiano o clima dificulta a formação de palhada para o plantio direto. O consórcio de culturas é uma alternativa à limitação do clima, por produzir biomassa ao sistema. Os cotonicultores dessa região utilizam o milho para rotação e, em alguns casos, para formação de palha, com adubação exclusiva na semeadura em solos arenosos, baixo teor de matéria orgânica e precipitação média de 1.500 mm. Realizaram-se duas pesquisas: (i) produtividade de milho e de resíduos em razão do sistema de produção e da dose de nitrogênio e (ii) balanço de nitrogênio (15N) em sistemas de cultivo de milho solteiro e consorciado com braquiária. O objetivo da primeira foi avaliar o uso de doses de N na semeadura, em milho solteiro e consorciado com braquiária, em São Desidério, BA; para implantar o plantio direto. Adotou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com dez tratamentos e quatro repetições; T1: milho sem nitrogênio; T2: milho-braquiária sem N; T3: milho com 50 kg ha-1 N; T4: milhobraquiária com 50 kg ha-1 N; T5: milho com 100 kg ha-1 N; T6: milho-braquiária com 100 kg ha-1 N; T7: milho com 150 kg ha-1 N; T8: milho-braquiária com 150 kg ha-1 N; T9: milho com 200 kg ha-1 N; T10: milho-braquiária com 200 kg ha-1 N. Avaliou-se produtividade, extração e exportação de nitrogênio, produção de biomassa e extração de N pela forrageira e a correlação ente a quantidade determinada e estimada de N nos grãos. O consórcio foi eficiente para a formação de palhada (5.056 kg ha-1) para adoção do plantio direto; o milho respondeu ao uso de 50 kg ha-1 nitrogênio, independentemente do sistema de cultivo e a braquiária não respondeu a adubação; a extração de nitrogênio nos sistemas de cultivo foi prejudicada apenas na ausência do nutriente, enquanto a exportação reduziu no cultivo consorciado, somente sem N; a estimativa de exportação de N pode ser obtida pela expressão: NGE = PG x 0,09 x 0,16. A segunda pesquisa objetivou avaliar a dinâmica do N com a aplicação de 150 kg ha-1 de 15N-uréia na semeadura do milho solteiro e consorciado com braquiária no mesmo local. Adotou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com dois tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram; T1: milho solteiro e T2: milho-braquiária, com 150 kg ha-1 de 15N - uréia na semeadura. Avaliou-se o acúmulo de 15N na parte aérea e raízes; a EUFN pelo milho e braquiária e a quantidade residual no solo proveniente do fertilizante. A braquiária em consórcio com o milho não restringiu a disponibilidade de N. A EUFN variou entre 60,4% no consórcio e 64,8% no milho solteiro. A braquiária recuperou 1,4% do 15N aplicado. A RFNS foi de 18% e 25% para milho solteiro e consorciado. O 15N não recuperado foi de 25,5 kg ha-1 de N no milho solteiro e 19,5 kg ha-1 no consórcio com braquiária. / In Cerrado of the west of Bahia state the climate difficulties the formation of vegetable residue for no-tillage. Intercropping cultures is an alternative for climate limitation, for producing biomass to the system. Cotton producers from this region use maize culture for rotation and, in some cases, for formation of straw, with fertilization done exclusively during sowing in sandy soils, with low level of organic matter and an average precipitation of 1500 mm. Two researches were performed: (i) maize productivity and remaining residues due to production system and nitrogen dosage and (ii) nitrogen (15N) balance in maize single crop systems and intercropped with Brachiaria ruziziensis. The objective of the first research was to evaluate the use N doses, in sowing, in maize single crop and intercropped at São Desidério, BA; to establish no-till. It was adopted the randomized block design, with 10 treatments and four repetitions: T1 maize without nitrogen; T2 maize-brachiaria without N; T3 maize with 50 kg ha-1 of N; T4 maize- brachiaria with 50 kg ha-1 of N; T5 maize with 100 kg ha-1 of N; T6 maize- brachiaria with 100 kg ha-1 of N; T7 maize with 150 kg ha-1 of N; T8 maizebrachiaria with 150 kg ha-1 of N; T9 maize with 200 kg ha-1 of N; T10 maizebrachiaria with 200 kg ha-1 of N. Productivity was evaluated, nitrogen extraction and exportation, biomass production and N extraction by the brachiaria and the correlation between determined and estimated N grain quantity. Intercropping was efficient for formation of straw (5.056 kg ha-1) intending to adopt of no-till; maize responded to 50 kg ha-1 of nitrogen, independently of cropping system and brachiaria did not respond to fertilization; nitrogen extraction in the cropping systems was harmed only in the absence of N; while the exportation was reduced in the intercropped system, only in the absence of nitrogen; the estimative of N exportation can be obtained by the expression: NGE = PG x 0,09 x 0,16. The second research had objective of evaluate dynamics of N with 150 kg ha-1 of 15N-urea application in the sowing of maize single crop and intercropped with brachiaria in the same place. The randomized blocks design was adopted, with two treatments and four repetitions. Treatments were: T1 single crop maize and T2 maize- brachiaria, with 150 kg ha-1 of 15N urea at sowing. It was evaluated the accumulation of 15N by aboveground and roots; the EUFN by maize crop and brachiaria and the residual amount in the soil derived from the fertilizer. The brachiaria intercropped with maize did not restrict N avaibility. The EUFN varied between 60,4 % for intercropped and 64,8 % for single crop. Brachiaria recovered 1,4 % of the 15N applied. The RFNS were of 18% and 25% for single crop and intercropped maize. The 15N not recovered from urea was 25,5 kg ha-1 of N in the maize single crop and 19,5 kg ha-1 in the intercropped maize.