Timing of nitrogen application on common bean cultivated after single corn or intercropped with palisade grass

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the common bean response to N application timing, under no‑tillage system, after single corn or intercropped with palisade grass. A randomized complete block experimental design was used in a split‑plot arrangement, with four replicates. Plots consisted of: single corn crop or corn intercropped with palisade grass, in two summer cropping seasons precedent to common bean sowing. Subplots consisted of: 100 kg ha^-1 N application in three times – before sowing, at sowing, and at side‑dressing – and a control treatment without N application. Nitrogen fertilization on common bean increased leaf‑N content, the number of pods per plant, and grain yield (33% in the average application timing), only in the cropping after single corn. By providing large mass production and by N cycling, the cultivation of palisade grass intercropped with corn reduced N requirement of common bean in succession, in comparison to previous sole corn cultivation. Early N application before or during common bean sowing time provides grain yield similar to the observed one in the side‑dressing application.