Cover Crops and Tillage: Effects on Soil Chemical Properties and Rice Yield

Vagner do Nascimento, Orivaldo Arf, Marlene Cristina Alves (), Epitácio José de Souza, Paulo Ricardo Teodoro da Silva, Flávio Hiroshi Kaneko, Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho, Evandro Pereira Prado, Samuel Ferrari, Loiane Fernanda Romão de Souza and Fernando Shintate Galindo
Additional contact information
Vagner do Nascimento: Department of Plant Production (DPV), College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences (FCAT), São Paulo University (UNESP), Dracena 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Orivaldo Arf: Department of Phytotechnics, Food and Socio Economics, Faculty of Engineering (FEIS)—Ilha Solteira Campus, São Paulo University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira 15385-000, SP, Brazil
Marlene Cristina Alves: Department of Plant Health, Rural and Soil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (FEIS)—Ilha Solteira Campus, São Paulo University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira 15385-000, SP, Brazil
Epitácio José de Souza: Centro Universitário de Votuporanga, UNIFEV, Votuporanga 15500-006, SP, Brazil
Paulo Ricardo Teodoro da Silva: Fundação Chapadão, Chapadão do Sul 79560-000, MS, Brazil
Flávio Hiroshi Kaneko: University Campus of Iturama, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro (UFTM), Iturama 38280-000, MG, Brazil
Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho: Department of Plant Health, Rural and Soil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (FEIS)—Ilha Solteira Campus, São Paulo University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira 15385-000, SP, Brazil
Evandro Pereira Prado: Department of Plant Production (DPV), College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences (FCAT), São Paulo University (UNESP), Dracena 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Samuel Ferrari: Department of Plant Production (DPV), College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences (FCAT), São Paulo University (UNESP), Dracena 17900-000, SP, Brazil
Loiane Fernanda Romão de Souza: Department of Plant Health, Rural and Soil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (FEIS)—Ilha Solteira Campus, São Paulo University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira 15385-000, SP, Brazil
Fernando Shintate Galindo: Department of Plant Production (DPV), College of Agricultural and Technological Sciences (FCAT), São Paulo University (UNESP), Dracena 17900-000, SP, Brazil

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-24

Abstract: Mechanical soil intervention with a chisel in cover crops (CCs) is a promising strategy for minimizing the superficial compaction of soil in a no-tillage system (NTS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of mechanical chiseling associated with successive crops and preceding cover crops to assess grain yield and changes in soil chemical properties after rice cultivation for two consecutive years. The experimental design comprised randomized blocks in a 5 × 2 factorial scheme with four replications. The treatments consisted of five cover crops ( Cajanus cajan, Crotalaria juncea, Urochloa ruziziensis, Pennisetum glaucum , and fallow), with or without soil mechanical chiseling. Soil samples from the 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm layers were collected, and the chemical properties were analyzed after rice cultivation. Under U. ruziziensis , the chemical properties were improved by mechanical scarification; however, the initial acidity increased in the 5–40 cm layer. The cultivation of P. glaucum and C. juncea prior to rice, regardless of scarification, improved the soil chemical properties in the 0–40 cm layer. Mechanical soil scarification and the use of C. cajan as a cover crop increased the grain yield of upland rice by approximately 552 and 1454 and 1330 kg ha −1 compared to the P. glaucum and U. ruziziensis , respectively.

Keywords: Oryza sativa L.; soil chemical quality; no-tillage management; sustainable agriculture; soil compaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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