Mechanical chiseling and cover crops in the growth and yield of upland rice sprinkler irrigated

Abstract

The compactation in the surface layer soil on no-tillage (NT) is a serious problem that is increasing in scope and intensity, causing damage to soil quality because it affects the flow of water and air in the soil and reduces crop productivity rice. Among the possibilities to tackle this problem are: the use of cover crops with root (taproot and aggressive) and decompation mechanics. The project will be developed during the agricultural year 2012/13 in the experimental area of the Teaching and Research Farm belonging to the Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira - State São Paulo University , located in Selvíria - Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The local Savannah soil is an Oxisol, clayey. The average annual rainfall is 1370mm, the average annual temperature is 23.5 º C and relative humidity annual average between 60 and 80%. The work will evaluate the effect of mechanical decompaction and use of cover crops in NT, growth and crop yield of upland rice, in addition to changes in soil physical properties after cultivation of upland rice. The experimental design is a randomized complete block arranged in a 5x2 factorial design, with 4 replications. The treatments will be constituted by the combination of different cover crops (Crotalaria juncea, Brachiaria ruziziensis and millet) and mechanical decompaction (with and without soil chisel). It is hoped that the results found in this study may contribute to the improvement of management practices used in the cultivation of upland rice and provide positive changes in the physical properties of the soil in irrigated by sprinkling in NT.(AU)