The sowing of Quênia guinea grass within-row and between-row in maize intercropping affects soil health, physiology, and yield of the succeeding soybean
4 affiliations
- 1Goiano Federal Institute, Rio Verde, GO, CEP 75.901-970, Brazil
- 2Embrapa Cerrados, CPAC, BR020, km 18, Planaltina Caixa Postal, 08223, Brazil
- 3Department of Biology, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, CEP 14040-901, Brazil
- 4Department of Biology, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, CEP 14040-901, Brazil; Corresponding author.
Abstract
Integrated production systems are widely adopted to optimize natural resource use while increasing agricultural productivity and sustainability. However, their effects on soil functioning and the subsequent physiological performance of soybean remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the impact of the residue of maize monoculture, Quênia guinea grass ( Panicum maximum cv. BRS Quênia) monoculture, and maize intercropped with Quênia guinea grass established within rows or between rows on soil respiration, microclimate, chemical properties, enzymatic activity, and the physiological performance of soybean grown in succession. A conventional soybean production system without surface crop residues was included as a reference. The experiment was conducted over two growing seasons on a Typic acriferric red latosol (Oxisol) in central Brazil using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Production systems including Quênia guinea grass, either in monoculture or intercropped with maize, reduced soil temperature and improved soil chemical and biological properties, increasing soil organic matter, total organic carbon, and enzymatic activity compared with the conventional system. These responses were associated with soybean physiological performance, as indicated by higher net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and leaf chlorophyll index, as well as greater shoot biomass accumulation and grain yield. Quênia guinea grass proved to be an effective cover crop regardless of the sowing method, promoting soil health, improving soybean performance, contributing to the sustainability of cropping systems, and potentially enhancing their resilience to climate change.
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BibTeX
@article{costa2026sowing,
title = {{The sowing of Quênia guinea grass within-row and between-row in maize intercropping affects soil health, physiology, and yield of the succeeding soybean}},
author = {Kátia Aparecida de Pinho Costa and João Antônio Gonçalves e Silva and Luciana Maria da Silva and Mariana Borges de Castro Dias and Eduardo da Costa Severiano and Adriano Carvalho Costa and Fabiano Guimarães Silva and Lourival Vilela and Ieda de Carvalho Mendes and Eduardo Habermann and Carlos Alberto Martinez},
journal = {Journal of Agriculture and Food Research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103386},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103386},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The sowing of Quênia guinea grass within-row and between-row in maize intercropping affects soil health, physiology, and yield of the succeeding soybean
AU - Kátia Aparecida de Pinho Costa
AU - João Antônio Gonçalves e Silva
AU - Luciana Maria da Silva
AU - Mariana Borges de Castro Dias
AU - Eduardo da Costa Severiano
AU - Adriano Carvalho Costa
AU - Fabiano Guimarães Silva
AU - Lourival Vilela
AU - Ieda de Carvalho Mendes
AU - Eduardo Habermann
AU - Carlos Alberto Martinez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
DO - 10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103386
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2026.103386
AB - Integrated production systems are widely adopted to optimize natural resource use while increasing agricultural productivity and sustainability. However, their effects on soil functioning and the subsequent physiological performance of soybean remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the impact of the residue of maize monoculture, Quênia guinea grass ( Panicum maximum cv. BRS Quênia) monoculture, and maize intercropped with Quênia guinea grass established within rows or between rows on soil respiration, microclimate, chemical properties, enzymatic activity, and the physiological performance of soybean grown in succession. A conventional soybean production system without surface crop residues was included as a reference. The experiment was conducted over two growing seasons on a Typic acriferric red latosol (Oxisol) in central Brazil using a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Production systems including Quênia guinea grass, either in monoculture or intercropped with maize, reduced soil temperature and improved soil chemical and biological properties, increasing soil organic matter, total organic carbon, and enzymatic activity compared with the conventional system. These responses were associated with soybean physiological performance, as indicated by higher net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and leaf chlorophyll index, as well as greater shoot biomass accumulation and grain yield. Quênia guinea grass proved to be an effective cover crop regardless of the sowing method, promoting soil health, improving soybean performance, contributing to the sustainability of cropping systems, and potentially enhancing their resilience to climate change.
SN - 2666-1543
ER -