SOIL PROPERTIES AND AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF WATERMELON GROWN IN DIFFERENT TILLAGE AND COVER CROPS IN THE SOUTH EASTERN OF BRAZIL

SUMMARY Much of the watermelon (Citullus lanatus) cultivation in Brazil is conducted in sandy soil and topographic conditions that favour the erosion process. Therefore, conservation tillage methods are critical for the sustainability of the production chain of this vegetable crop. We studied different tillage methods and cover crops in watermelon cultivation in the area of the reform of degraded pasture. For this purpose, two tillage methods were established as experimental treatments: minimum tillage preparation with subsoiling only, and no tillage. As cover crops white lupine (Lupinus albus) and bristle oat (Avena strigosa) were seeded. As control, watermelon was cultivated with conventional tillage, without prior cultivation of cover crops. For the experimental design, randomised blocks in a factorial arrangement with four replications were used. After liming and phosphate fertilisation of the soil, cover crops were cultivated in soil with minimum tillage and no tillage to produce straw to be used for soil cover, where subsequently the watermelon was grown. The productivity of dry mass and nutrient accumulation in the shoot of cover crops, the soil properties and the watermelon agronomic performance were evaluated. White lupine had better performance in the production of dry mass and nutrient accumulation in shoot than bristle oat. There were differences among treatments for soil penetration resistance, where in conventional tillage the values were lower in the first 30 cm of depth in relation to no-tillage cultivation. The tillage method also affected the fertility of the soil at a depth of 0 to 20 cm. The no tillage provided increased nitrogen leaf content in watermelon regardless of cover crops but restricted root growth in relation to minimum tillage and conventional tillage. Watermelon had similar commercial production by different treatments, with reduction only in no tillage on bristle oat straw.

[1]  Carroll P. Vance,et al.  An RNA-Seq Transcriptome Analysis of Orthophosphate-Deficient White Lupin Reveals Novel Insights into Phosphorus Acclimation in Plants1[W][OA] , 2012, Plant Physiology.

[2]  M. V. López,et al.  No tillage in rainfed Aragon (NE Spain): Effect on organic carbon in the soil surface horizon , 2012 .

[3]  Xin-ping Chen,et al.  Phosphorus Dynamics: From Soil to Plant1 , 2011, Plant Physiology.

[4]  A. Adekiya,et al.  SOIL PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND COCOYAM YIELD UNDER DIFFERENT TILLAGE SYSTEMS IN A TROPICAL ALFISOL , 2011, Experimental Agriculture.

[5]  V. H. Zuazo,et al.  Soil-erosion and runoff prevention by plant covers. A review , 2008, Agronomy for Sustainable Development.

[6]  C. Rosolem,et al.  Soybean root growth and yield in rotation with cover crops under chiseling and no-till , 2010 .

[7]  S. Yau,et al.  Conservation versus conventional tillage on performance of three different crops. , 2010 .

[8]  R. Weil,et al.  Penetration of cover crop roots through compacted soils , 2010, Plant and Soil.

[9]  Qingren Wang,et al.  Cover crops and organic mulch to improve tomato yields and soil fertility. , 2009 .

[10]  M. Pereira,et al.  Produção de fitomassa por plantas de cobertura e mineralização de seus resíduos em plantio direto , 2008 .

[11]  G. Pierzynski,et al.  Management of Soil Acidity in No‐Till Production Systems through Surface Application of Lime , 2007 .

[12]  Rattan Lal,et al.  Evolution of the plow over 10,000 years and the rationale for no-till farming , 2007 .

[13]  M. Rashidi,et al.  EFFECT OF DIFFERENT TILLAGE METHODS ON SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND CROP YIELD OF WATERMELON (Citrullus Vulgaris) , 2007 .

[14]  J. Magid,et al.  Taking stock of the Brazilian "zero-till revolution": a review of landmark research and farmers' practice , 2006 .

[15]  E. Caires,et al.  Surface Application of Lime for Crop Grain Production Under a No‐Till System , 2005 .

[16]  Cristina Maria de Castro,et al.  Adubação verde como fonte de nitrogênio para a cultura da berinjela em sistema orgânico , 2004 .

[17]  R. Weil,et al.  Crop Cover Root Channels May Alleviate Soil Compaction Effects on Soybean Crop , 2004 .

[18]  Ricardo Henrique Silva Santos,et al.  Efeito residual da adubação verde no rendimento de brócolo (Brassica oleraceae L. var. Italica) cultivado em sucessão ao milho (Zea mays L.) , 2004 .

[19]  Cowles M.K..  SAS for Linear Models (4th ed.) , 2004 .

[20]  Ramon C. Littell,et al.  SAS for Linear Models , 2002 .

[21]  Ciro Antonio Rosolem,et al.  Root growth and nutrient accumulation in cover crops as affected by soil compaction , 2002 .

[22]  C. Vance,et al.  Symbiotic nitrogen fixation and phosphorus acquisition. Plant nutrition in a world of declining renewable resources. , 2001, Plant physiology.

[23]  D. Drost,et al.  Tillage alters root distribution in a mature asparagus planting. , 2000 .

[24]  R. Morse.  No-till Vegetable Production—Its Time is Now , 1999 .

[25]  C. A. Ceretta,et al.  PLANTAS DE COBERTURA DE SOLO ANTECEDENDO O MILHO E SEU EFEITO SOBRE O CARBONO ORGÂNICO DO SOLO, SOB PLANTIO DIRETO , 1999 .

[26]  R. Dias,et al.  Cultura da melancia. , 1996 .

[27]  D. Wolfe,et al.  Growth and Yield Sensitivity of Four Vegetable Crops to Soil Compaction , 1995 .

[28]  G. Hoyt,et al.  Conservation Tillage for Vegetable Production , 1994 .

[29]  Cwl Henderson.  Sensitivity of eight cereal and legume species to the compaction status of deep, sandy soils , 1991 .

[30]  C. Roth,et al.  Results of studies made from 1977 to 1984 to control erosion by cover crops and no-tillage techniques in Paraná, Brazil , 1980 .