Selection of sorghum and brachiaria cultivars in intercropping for straw and grains production

Abstract

The sorghum and brachiaria intercropping shows potential to produce grains and straw. However, few studies have been made to select cultivars for the intercropping conditions, in off-season cultivation, at Central-West region of Brazil. The objective of this study was to select sorghum and brachiaria cultivars intercropped in the row, in off-season cultivation, to obtain grains and straw. The experimental was carried out at Rio Verde-GO in the 2010 off-season cultivation. The experimental design was the randomized blocks, in scheme factorial 2x5+2+5 corresponding to two cultivars of grain sorghum (BRS 310 and DKB 599) intercropped in the row with five brachiaria cultivars (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés, Marandu and Piatã, B. decumbens and B. ruziziensis). Additionally, it was carried out seven additional treatments related to monocultures of the two sorghum cultivars and five of the brachiaria. The results demonstrated that the sorghum BRS 310 intercropped with B. ruziziensis and B. brizantha Xaraés provided higher total crude protein, dry matter (straw) and grain yields, being the same fact observed for the DKB 599 intercropped with the B. decumbens. The hybrid DKB 599 showed higher yield potential, but also greater sensitivity to competition with the brachiaria plants. In certain treatments, the brachiaria crop caused reduction of sorghum stand, and thus, decreased the grain yield. The grain sorghum and brachiaria intercropping, in off-season cultivation, shows to be a viable growth technique to produce grains and straw in the Central-West region of Brazil.

Keywords

• Sorghum bicolor
• Forragem
• Plantio direto
• Safrinha
• Sucessão de culturas
• Conservação do solo.