African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6915

Full Length Research Paper

Grain sorghum intercropping with Brachiaria brizantha cultivars in two sowing systems as a double crop

Matheus Gonçalves Ribeiro
  • Matheus Gonçalves Ribeiro
  • Goiano Federal Institute, Rio Verde, Goias– Brazil.
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Katia Aparecida de Pinho Costa
  • Katia Aparecida de Pinho Costa
  • Goiano Federal Institute, Rio Verde, Goias– Brazil.
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Alessandro Guerra da Silva
  • Alessandro Guerra da Silva
  • University of Rio Verde, Rio Verde, Goias– Brazil.
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Eduardo da Costa Severiano
  • Eduardo da Costa Severiano
  • Goiano Federal Institute, Rio Verde, Goias– Brazil.
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Gustavo Andre Simon
  • Gustavo Andre Simon
  • University of Rio Verde, Rio Verde, Goias– Brazil.
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Welma Santos Cruvinel
  • Welma Santos Cruvinel
  • Goiano Federal Institute, Rio Verde, Goias– Brazil.
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Valdevino Rodrigues da Silva
  • Valdevino Rodrigues da Silva
  • Goiano Federal Institute, Rio Verde, Goias– Brazil.
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Jessika Torres da Silva
  • Jessika Torres da Silva
  • Goiano Federal Institute, Rio Verde, Goias– Brazil.
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  •  Received: 11 March 2015
  •  Accepted: 20 August 2015
  •  Published: 24 September 2015

Abstract

The intercropping of grain sorghum with forage grasses is a promising cultivation technique for the production of grains and forage in the Midwest region of Brazil. However, few studies have been performed with the goal of evaluating the development of the two species when cultivated simultaneously in the same area. The goal of the present study was to evaluate agronomic characteristics and grain yield of grain sorghum intercropped with Brachiaria brizantha cultivars under two sowing systems (row and inter-row) as a double crop in the midwest region of Brazil. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Institute of Goiás (Instituto Federal Goiano), Rio Verde Campus. A randomized block design was used, with a 3x2+1 factorial scheme, with three replicates. Three cultivars of B. brizantha (Marandu palisadegrass , Xaraes palisadegrass and Piata palisadegrass) were row or inter-row (sowing systems) intercropped with grain sorghum. In addition, there was one treatment of sorghum monoculture. The inter-row intercropping of grain sorghum with B. brizantha cultivars had no effect on sorghum agronomic characteristics and grain yield. However, row intercropping with X. palisadegrass affected the sorghum stem diameter, dry mass production and grain yield. The M. palisadegrass and P. palisadegrass cultivars are therefore better recommended for intercropping with sorghum. The intercropping of sorghum with the tested B. brizantha cultivars was shown to be a viable cultivation practice for grain production as a double crop in the Midwest region of Brazil.

                     

Key words: Marandu palisadegrass, Piata palisadegrass, Xaraes palisadegrass, integrated crop-livestock farming systems, Sorghum bicolor, grain yield.