Dry matter production and weed control by intercropped legumes with sugarcane in organic cropping

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate dry matter production and weed control by intercropped legumes with sugarcane, in organic cropping. The legume species Arachis pintoi, Cajanus cajan, Calopogonium mucunoides, Crotalaria anagyroides, Crotalaria juncea, and Stylosanthes 'Campo Grande' were sown on November 2012 in the inter‑rows of sugarcane. A randomized complete block experimental design was used with four replicates and two controls – a weeded treatment and an unweeded one. Legume dry matter was evaluated 142 days after sowing (DAS), and the weed dry matter, at 29, 85, and 142 DAS. Weed dry matter was lower than that of the control in all sampling periods. The production of legume dry matter was low in intercropping. The species Crotalaria juncea, Cajanus cajan, and Calopogonium mucunoides produced higher dry matter than the species Arachis pintoi and Stylosanthes 'Campo Grande'. Stalk yield of sugarcane was not affected by intercropping. The intercropping of organic sugarcane and legumes in late sowing, for green manure, is efficient for weed control.