CHARACTERIZATION OF OFF-SEASON MAIZE CROPPING SYSTEM OF HIGH PRODUCTIVITY IN 2008 AND 2009

Abstract

Off-season maize is the rainfed crop cultivated from January through April, after the summer crop, generally early soybean, in the south-central region of Brazil. In order to characterize the production systems of high productivity of off-season maize, data were collected regarding 1138 farms which obtained productivity above 5000 kg.ha-1, spread out in the Midwest states, São Paulo and Paraná. Although some grain yields were found above 8000 kg ha-1, in all main producer states farms presenting yield between 5000 and 7000kg ha-1 were more frequent. In these farms predominates the use of simple hybrids with early cycle; conducted in no till planting system with corn sown after soybean. Approximately 81% of the off-season maize with high yields was sown in February, although there is a variation according to the producer state. In São Paulo and Paraná states predominates the conventional row spacing, meanwhile in the states of Midwest region the reduced spacing is more used, especially in Goiás. Plant population ranged from 45 to 65 thousand plants per hectare, being more frequent populations with 51 to 55 thousand plants per hectare. Around 90% of farm crops received chemical treatment with fungicides for disease control. The number of insecticide applications ranged from zero till four applications, being more frequent two or three applications.

Keywords

• Zea mays
• cropping systems
• plant population
• row spacing
• planting season