Evaluation of sustainability in monoculture and interculture of sunflower with forage legumes in the area of 25 de Mayo, Argentina

Abstract

Sunflower cultivation in the Argentinean pampean region is carried out according to a productivist
approach causing several negative impacts and endangering the productivity of agroecosystems
in the long term. Indicators were constructed to evaluate sustainability in monoculture
of sunflower with and without herbicide and interculture with red clover (Trifolium pratense
L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.) or lotus (Lotus corniculatus). The indicators were: carbon
capture, organic matter balance, forage quality of stubble, suppression capacity of spontaneous
species and biodiversity. Differences were observed in the values of these indicators
in the analyzed systems. Intercultures had higher values than monocultures. The sunflower
with red clover was the consociation that could make a greater contribution to sustainability.
The evaluation of sustainability through indicators allowed to detect in a simple and objective
way some critical points to the sustainability of production systems based on monoculture of
sunflower and its consequences in the long term.