Agronomic performance and control of spontaneous plants in cucumber cultivation in agroecological system

Abstract

In the agroecological system the use of different species of green manures in cover makes enable the improvement and the conservation of the soil, the increase of the organic matter, besides favoring the subsequent cultures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different winter green manures on yield of pickling cucumber plants in an agroecological system and its influence on the germination of spontaneous plants during the cicles 2013/14 and 2014/15. The experiment was arranged in randomized block design with 5 treatments and 4 replicates. Treatments: Soil without cover (control); Avena strigosa Schreb.; Secale cereale L.; Ervilhaca Vicia sativa L.; A. strigosa (1/3) + V. sativa (1/3) + S. cereale (1/3). The dose of organic fertilizer was the same in all treatments, calculated from the N element (200 kg ha^-1). The use of winter green manures did not influence the productivity of the pickling cucumber in agroecological system, possibly due to good initial soil fertility and the use of organic compost as fertilizer. Pre-planting of the A. strigosa and S. cereale cover presented the best suppressive effect of spontaneous plants in cucumber cultivation. The use of intercropping for the suppression of spontaneous plants has its best efficiency when the lodging is carried out before the species reach the physiological maturity of the seeds, avoiding the natural reseeding.