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The implementation of more sustainable soil management strategies, such as the use of cover crop for no-till system with crop rotation, can help increase nutrient use efficiency and consequently decrease the use of mineral fertilizers for agriculture. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the efficiency of desiccation, decomposition and release of nutrients in the biomass of forage plants of the genus Brachiaria after intercropping with sorghum in integrated systems for soybean productivity. The experiment was conducted in the field in two agricultural seasons in randomized block design with four repetitions. The treatments consisted of biomass obtained after sorghum intercropping with forage plants of the Brachiaria genus (Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés, Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Piatã, Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguás, Brachiaria cv. BRS Ipyporã), sorghum biomass in monoculture, which after cutting for grain production, remained fallow for one year and an additional soybean treatment without soil cover biomass. The results showed that Cropping systems on sorghum and forage biomass resulted in a 25.64% increase in soybean yields compared to soybeans grown without soil cover. The use of tropical forage as a cover crop in integrated systems proved to be an efficient technique for biomass production, in order to minimize the effect of water deficit during soybean development, and nutrient cycling, which resulted in the replacement of mineral potassium fertilization for the no-till soybean system, by making better use of soil nutrients and contributing to greater sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pastures are the most practical and cost-effective way to feed cattle and are the basis of livestock production in Central Brazil. Grass–legume intercropping is essential for increasing production in sustainable animal-feeding systems. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the productive and nutritional characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha (A.Rich.) Stapf (palisade grass) cultivars intercropped with Stylosanthes cv. Campo Grande (multiline 80% S. capitata and 20% S. macrocephala) in different forage systems, in different seasons of the year, over a 2-year period. A randomised block experimental design was used, with three replicates. The treatments consisted of the following seven forage systems: Piata palisade grass, Paiaguas palisade grass, Stylosanthes cv. Campo Grande, row intercropping of Piata palisade grass and Stylosanthes , mixed intercropping of Piata palisade grass and Stylosanthes , row intercropping of Paiaguas palisade grass and Stylosanthes , and mixed intercropping of Paiaguas palisade grass and Stylosanthes. Evaluations were performed in each season of the year (winter, spring, summer, autumn) on the same plots over the 2-year period. Piata and Paiaguas palisade grass behaved similarly in all forage systems, indicating that both can be intercropped with Stylosanthes. Grass–legume intercropping had a positive effect on the productive and nutritional characteristics of the forage plants, increasing dry matter production, crude protein concentrations and in vitro dry matter digestibility, and decreasing the fibre fractions. Row intercropping was more efficient at maintaining high proportions of legume plants in the system, resulting in greater forage production and quality. Strategies need to be defined to maintain legume persistence in grass–legume intercropping. We found that row intercropping was more efficient than mixed intercropping at maintaining high proportions of legume plants. Grass–legume intercropping had a positive effect on the productive and nutritional characteristics of the forage and maintaining sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ciência Animal Brasileira is the property of Universidade Federal de Goias, Escola de Veterinaria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)