TITLE:
Growth, Nutrient Content and SPAD Value of Corn in Monoculture and in Intercropping
AUTHORS:
Anna Christina Sanazário de Oliveira, Fábio Cunha Coelho, Henrique Duarte Vieira, Jocarla Ambrosim Crevelari, Raquel Fialho Rubim
KEYWORDS:
Zea mays, Green Manure, Intensity of the Green Color
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.5 No.18,
August
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth, the nutrition,
and the intensity of the green color in corn plants in monoculture and in
intercropping with Mucuna aterrima, Crotalaria
juncea, and Canavalia ensiformis,
cultivated with different handlings. In general, corn plants in monoculture
demonstrated greater growth and greater SPAD value in the first evaluation,
despite presenting lower tenor of phosphorus in the leaves when related to the
corn in intercropping. The weed helps in the growth of the corn plant and
increases the SPAD value during flowering. The monoculture NPK (Nitrogen,
Phosphorus and Potassium) fertilization promoted higher values in corn plant
growth, as well as a greater SPAD value, at 30 d.a.e., of the plants. The
NPK-fertilized corn plants showed a greater tenor of sulphur and a lower tenor
of molybdenum. The corn in intercropping with M. aterrima resulted in smaller plants at 70 d.a.e. It also
presented a greater tenor of molybdenum and lower tenor of nickel when compared
to intercroppings with C. juncea and with C. ensiformis. The corn plants in a intercropping with Crotalaria
juncea presented higher growth at 30 and 70 d.a.e. and greater tenors of
molybdenum when compared to the plants in intercropping with C. ensiformis.