Use of winter cover crops improves maize productivity under reduced nitrogen fertilization: a long-term study

The objective was to evaluate the effect of winter cover crops on agronomic performance maize during five crop seasons in a clayey Inceptisol with reduced mineral nitrogen (N) inputs. treatments were seven single crops: white oats (Avena sativa L.), black strigose Schreb.), ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum canola (Brassica napus vetch (Vicia fodder radish (Raphanus sativus L. and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.); mix (black + fallow. During summer, succession crops, grown under no-tillage. attributes evaluated two stages development: flowering (morphological components physiological maturation (yield components). Differences morphologica yield variables observed all seasons, emphasis grain yield, number grains per row (NGR ear length (EL). use showed greater contribution development relation other used, promoting an increase stem diameter (SD), E NGR season directly reflecting higher yield. On hand, when commonly used southern Brazil, such as ryegras oats, similar results that promoted yields, probably by N mineralization reinforce hypothesis off-season can aggregate benefits succession, especially terms nutrition.