Efeito de resíduos de milho sobre o desenvolvimento de cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.)

Abstract

The knowledge of corn residues effects on cofifee crop planted in succession may permita more rational use of this system. This research had the objective of testing residues of three corn cultivars, grown in the field, on cofifee plants, cv. Ruby, development under greenhouse conditions, at Lavras Agricultural University, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The treatments were constituted by zero, 2, 4, and 8 t ha'1 ofcornresidues either incorporated or ontop of 8 L pots filled with soils. Leaf área, plant height and stem cüameter ofcofifee plants were taken at 60, 120, and 180 days after planting (DAP). At 170 DAP chlorophyll content were determined. At 180 DAP, leaves, roots and the whole cofifee plants were harvested and weighted and leafárea index (LAI) determined. Incorporated com residues promoted leafárea, plant height and stem diameter reduction at 60 DAP, but no reductions were observed afterwards. The AG1051 com cultivar showed stronger inhibitory efifects on cofifee plants when incorporated in soil while C435 stimulated cofifee growth when apphed on top of the soil, except chlorophyll content that was not altered as compared with no com residues treatment.