Straw formation by brachiaria species to adoption of no-tillage system

With the objective of testing pasture species for formation of straw to initiate a no-tillage system, the potential of Brachiaria decumbens and B. brizantha was studied and compared to millet Pennisetum glaucum. Cover crops were sown on March and conducted until November (time of the chemical management). At 50, 110 and 250 days after sown (DAS) the specific composition of weeds on the cover crops, the visual percentage of the soil cover and the accumulated dry mass of cover crops were evaluated. Brachiaria species were efficient on straw formation (around 11 t ha-1), showing larger production than other species recommended for no-tillage. Also, they presented dense soil covering with suppression of weed development. This was not observed with Pennisetum glaucum, that showed its major potential of soil covering and accumulated dry mass (10.5 t ha-1) at the end of the cycle (110 DAS) and 3.2 t ha-1 of dry mass at 250 DAS. Due to the fast millet straw decomposition, weed reinfestation was also observed.

Cover crops; weed; Brachiaria decumbens; Brachiaria brizantha; Pennisetum glaucum