Abstract
IIn tropical regions, intercropping systems under no-tillage improve biomass quantity, soil conservation, and cash crop productivity. However, the optimal sowing time for forage species in these cropping systems is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two sowing times of palisade and guinea grass on forage production and quality, soybean yield and soil chemical properties. Palisade and guinea grasses were sown for intercropping with maize or after maize silage harvest (hereafter succession) in an experiment carried out over three crop seasons. We evaluated forage dry matter production, pasture nutritive values, straw nutrient content, soybean leaf nutrients, yield, and soil fertility. The highest dry matter production was 8.1 Mg ha−1 for guinea grass in the intercropping system (sum of 3 cuts). Sowing forage after maize silage harvest provided 4% more crude protein compared with intercropping, regardless of grass species. Soybean yield was over 1.0 Mg ha−1 higher when soybean was cropped in succession compared with intercropping; however, the effects of the two forage grasses on soybean production were similar. Soil pH, calcium and magnesium content, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation were higher in the intercropping systems than in the succession systems, particularly when guinea grass was cultivated. Sowing guinea grass after maize harvest provided better forage quality, nutrient cycling, soybean yields, and soil chemical properties in tropical conditions.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Guinea grass in intercropping had the highest forage dry matter production, 8.1 Mg ha−1 across three cuts.
- Taxon
- guinea grass
Megathyrsus maximuse0 - Treatment
- intercropping systeme0
- Outcome
- dry matter productione0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 8.1 Mg ha−1e0
- Qualifier
- sum of 3 cutse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“The highest dry matter production was 8.1 Mg ha−1 for guinea grass in the intercropping system (sum of 3 cuts).”
Claim · model-written summary
Forage sown after maize silage harvest had 4% more crude protein than intercropped forage, regardless of grass species.
Verbatim
e0“Sowing forage after maize silage harvest provided 4% more crude protein compared with intercropping, regardless of grass species.”
Claim · model-written summary
Soybean yield was over 1.0 Mg ha−1 higher in succession than intercropping.
- Taxon
- Soybean
Glycine maxe0 - Treatment
- successione0
- Outcome
- Soybean yielde0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- over 1.0 Mg ha−1e0
- Comparator
- intercroppinge0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Soybean yield was over 1.0 Mg ha−1 higher when soybean was cropped in succession compared with intercropping”
Claim · model-written summary
The two forage grasses had similar effects on soybean production.
- Taxon
- Soybean
Glycine maxt0 - Treatment
- two forage grassese0
- Outcome
- soybean productione0
- Direction
- similare0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“the effects of the two forage grasses on soybean production were similar.”
t0“Soybean”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping increased soil pH, calcium and magnesium content, cation exchange capacity and base saturation relative to succession, particularly with guinea grass.
- Taxon
- Soybean
Glycine maxt0 - Treatment
- intercropping systemse0
- Outcome
- Soil pH, calcium and magnesium contente0
- Direction
- highere0
- Qualifier
- particularly when guinea grass was cultivatede0
- Comparator
- succession systemse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Soil pH, calcium and magnesium content, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation were higher in the intercropping systems than in the succession systems, particularly when guinea grass was cultivated.”
t0“Soybean”
Claim · model-written summary
Intercropping increased soil cation exchange capacity and base saturation relative to succession, particularly with guinea grass.
- Taxon
- Soybean
Glycine maxt0 - Treatment
- intercropping systemse0
- Outcome
- cation exchange capacity, and base saturatione0
- Direction
- highere0
- Qualifier
- particularly when guinea grass was cultivatede0
- Comparator
- succession systemse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Soil pH, calcium and magnesium content, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation were higher in the intercropping systems than in the succession systems, particularly when guinea grass was cultivated.”
t0“Soybean”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors recommend sowing guinea grass after maize harvest for forage quality, nutrient cycling, soybean yields and soil chemistry in tropical conditions.
- Taxon
- guinea grass
Megathyrsus maximuse0 - Outcome
- Sowing guinea grass after maize harveste0
- Qualifier
- tropical conditionse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Sowing guinea grass after maize harvest provided better forage quality, nutrient cycling, soybean yields, and soil chemical properties in tropical conditions.”
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