Abstract
Cover crops (CCs) have demonstrated their significance in enhancing the agronomic and economic performance of corn in succession. In this paper, we assess the agronomic responses and short-term economic returns of adopting cover crops (CCs) for corn cultivation in the sandy soils of the semiarid region of northeast Brazil, with the aim of addressing the additional challenges of CCs adoption in semiarid regions. The field study was conducted in Arapiraca, Alagoas, under no-tillage conditions for two cropping seasons. A randomized complete block design was employed, comprising six CCs (sunn hemp, spectabilis, jack bean, pigeon pea, lab lab, and millet) treatments and one fallow, with 18 replications. The CCs were cultivated for 60 days before corn planting. Drip irrigation was applied during the grain-filling stage of corn growth. Over the two cropping seasons, the biomass and nutrient cycling of the CCs, corn yield, and economic returns were determined, as well as the total organic carbon (TOC) and Mehlich-1 extractable P levels in the soil after corn harvest. The grain yields with sunn hemp, spectabilis, and jack bean were superior (~10%) to that of the fallow (7.7 vs. 7.1 Mg ha−1), irrespective of the cropping season. Sunn hemp exhibited a higher biomass accumulation and ensured greater nutrient cycling, except for K, while lab lab and millet displayed a similar potential, although substantial variations were observed between seasons. Under sunn hemp and jack bean, the TOC increased by ~9%, particularly in the second season. Regarding the available P, spectabilis and jack bean exhibited the highest levels, with an increase of ~74% compared to the fallow (~31.1 vs. 17.9 mg dm−3). Spectabilis and lab lab demonstrated more promising results, both agronomically and economically. However, millet and sunn hemp have the potential to reduce costs over multiple cropping seasons. Therefore, the adoption of cover crops is a sustainable and economically viable agricultural practice. However, it is essential to acknowledge that our results do not represent rainfed conditions and require further investigation.
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Claims 15
Claim · model-written summary
Sunn hemp before corn increased grain yield by about 10% against fallow.
- Taxon
- Corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0 - Treatment
- sunn hempe0
- Outcome
- grain yieldse0
- Direction
- superiore0
- Value
- ~10%e0
- Qualifier
- 7.7 vs. 7.1 Mg ha−1e0
- Comparator
- fallowe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The grain yields with sunn hemp, spectabilis, and jack bean were superior (~10%) to that of the fallow (7.7 vs. 7.1 Mg ha−1), irrespective of the cropping season.”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Spectabilis before corn increased grain yield by about 10% against fallow.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- spectabilise0
- Outcome
- grain yieldse0
- Direction
- superiore0
- Value
- ~10%e0
- Comparator
- fallowe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The grain yields with sunn hemp, spectabilis, and jack bean were superior (~10%) to that of the fallow (7.7 vs. 7.1 Mg ha−1), irrespective of the cropping season.”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Jack bean before corn increased grain yield by about 10% against fallow.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- jack beane0
- Outcome
- grain yieldse0
- Direction
- superiore0
- Value
- ~10%e0
- Comparator
- fallowe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The grain yields with sunn hemp, spectabilis, and jack bean were superior (~10%) to that of the fallow (7.7 vs. 7.1 Mg ha−1), irrespective of the cropping season.”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Sunn hemp had higher biomass accumulation.
- Taxon
- Sunn hemp
Crotalaria junceae0 - Outcome
- biomass accumulatione0
- Direction
- highere0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sunn hemp exhibited a higher biomass accumulation and ensured greater nutrient cycling, except for K”
Claim · model-written summary
Sunn hemp provided greater nutrient cycling except potassium.
- Taxon
- Sunn hempCrotalaria junceae0
- Outcome
- nutrient cyclinge0
- Direction
- greatere0
- Qualifier
- except for Ke0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sunn hemp exhibited a higher biomass accumulation and ensured greater nutrient cycling, except for K”
Claim · model-written summary
Lab lab displayed similar cover crop potential with variation between seasons.
Verbatim
e0“lab lab and millet displayed a similar potential, although substantial variations were observed between seasons.”
Claim · model-written summary
Millet displayed similar cover crop potential with variation between seasons.
Verbatim
e0“lab lab and millet displayed a similar potential, although substantial variations were observed between seasons.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sunn hemp increased soil total organic carbon by about 9%, especially in the second season.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- sunn hempe0
- Outcome
- TOCe0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- ~9%e0
- Qualifier
- particularly in the second seasone0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under sunn hemp and jack bean, the TOC increased by ~9%, particularly in the second season.”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Jack bean increased soil total organic carbon by about 9%, especially in the second season.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Under sunn hemp and jack bean, the TOC increased by ~9%, particularly in the second season.”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Spectabilis increased available phosphorus by about 74% versus fallow.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- spectabilise0
- Outcome
- available Pe0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- ~74%e0
- Qualifier
- ~31.1 vs. 17.9 mg dm−3e0
- Comparator
- fallowe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Regarding the available P, spectabilis and jack bean exhibited the highest levels, with an increase of ~74% compared to the fallow (~31.1 vs. 17.9 mg dm−3).”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Jack bean increased available phosphorus by about 74% versus fallow.
- Taxon
- CornZea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- jack beane0
- Outcome
- available Pe0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Value
- ~74%e0
- Comparator
- fallowe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Regarding the available P, spectabilis and jack bean exhibited the highest levels, with an increase of ~74% compared to the fallow (~31.1 vs. 17.9 mg dm−3).”
t0“Corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Spectabilis had promising agronomic and economic performance.
Verbatim
e0“Spectabilis and lab lab demonstrated more promising results, both agronomically and economically.”
Claim · model-written summary
Lab lab had promising agronomic and economic performance.
Verbatim
e0“Spectabilis and lab lab demonstrated more promising results, both agronomically and economically.”
Claim · model-written summary
Millet may reduce costs over multiple cropping seasons.
Verbatim
e0“millet and sunn hemp have the potential to reduce costs over multiple cropping seasons.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sunn hemp may reduce costs over multiple cropping seasons.
- Taxon
- sunn hempCrotalaria junceae0
- Outcome
- costse0
- Direction
- reducee0
- Qualifier
- over multiple cropping seasonse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“millet and sunn hemp have the potential to reduce costs over multiple cropping seasons.”
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Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.