Growing corn for silage in no-tillage and conventional systems under differents periods of hydric defict

Abstract

Led-if this work aimed to evaluate the effect of Indian summer periods about the productivity of corn for silage grown in no-tillage and conventional systems.The experiment was conducted in split plots, distributed in randomized block design, and systems were evaluated plots of no-till and conventional tillage and subplots, six periods of dry spells (2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 days) applied from the 34 days after planting, respectively.The crop was irrigated by drip, with individual control of the water supply in each sub-plot, for interruption of the water supply during periods of Indian summer, as well as the irrigation management outside the periods of Indian summer, which was carried out separately for each sub-plot, based on soil water tension, in order to allow for the measurement of water consumption in the cycle of culture.It was found that Indian summer periods of 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22 days reduced dry matter productivity of corn for silage in 8.74; 26.47; 42.5; 48.05 and 64.60% of no-till and in 16.42; 32.04; 47.38; 65.23 and 74.19% in conventional tillage, respectively. The no-tillige system reduced consumption and improved water use efficiency in the production of corn for silage, reduced losses caused by water deficit.

Keywords

• Zea mays; Water deficit; Climate risk; Silage; Efficiency in water use