Jean Evens Alcinat

Objective: To evaluate soybean (Glycine max) performance following different winter cover crops and to assess their effects on soil chemical attributes under no-tillage conditions. Theoretical Framework: Soybean productivity is strongly influenced by soil management practices, particularly the use of cover crops, which can improve soil fertility and promote sustainable agricultural systems through integrated physical, chemical, and biological processes. Method: The experiment was conducted under field conditions using a randomized block design with five treatments and four replications: maize (control), white oat, species mix, brachiaria, and crotalaria. Soybean was cultivated after cover crop desiccation. Agronomic traits, productivity, and soil chemical properties were evaluated. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Results and Discussion: Soybean yield was significantly influenced by the treatments, with the highest productivity observed in the species mix. Most individual soil chemical attributes did not show significant differences among treatments. However, PCA revealed multivariate patterns, indicating that cover crops affected soil properties in an integrated manner. Research Implications: The findings highlight the importance of adopting diversified cover crops to enhance soybean productivity and improve soil quality through complex interactions not fully captured by univariate analyses. Originality/Value: This study demonstrates that cover crop diversity promotes soybean performance via integrated soil processes, reinforcing the relevance of multifunctional soil management in tropical agroecosystems.

O trigo (Triticum aestivum) é um dos cereais de maior importância para a economia mundial, sendo utilizado tanto para alimentação humana como animal. Devido aos elevados custos de produção, o seu cultivo acabou se tornando menos atrativo. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o uso da cama de frango de corte em substituição à adubação nitrogenada na produtividade do trigo em Latossolo Vermelho do estado do Paraná. O trabalho foi realizado em Bom Sucesso no Paraná, com os seguintes tratamentos: T1- Testemunha (ausência de adubação); T2- 2 t ha-1 de Cama de Frango; T3- 1 t ha-1 de Cama de Frango; T4- 3 t ha-1 de Cama de Frango e T5- 250 kg ha-1 do formulado 10-15-15. A cama de frango aplicada neste experimento foi obtida na propriedade rural onde o experimento foi implantado oriundo de sistema de criação de frango de corte. Cada tratamento foi aplicado em uma parcela de 5x5 m, com 4 repetições por tratamento em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Avaliou-se as variáveis morfológicas e reprodutivas do trigo via análise de variância. O tratamento 4 (3 t ha-1 de cama de Frango) apresentou-se como uma boa alternativa à adubação mineral 5 (250 kg ha-1 de 10-15-15), tendo em vista que ele se igualou as características morfológicas da planta quando comparado ao tratamento 5 e foi mais lucrativo ao produtor. Conclui-se, portanto, por meio deste trabalho que a adubação orgânica com cama de frango é uma alternativa eficiente para reduzir os custos de produção com adubação no trigo.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of composting Stevia rebaudiana associated with poultry litter on the development of maize (Zea mays L.), aiming to promote sustainable practices for soil fertility management and the utilization of agro-industrial residues as alternative sources of organic fertilization. Theoretical Framework: Organic fertilization is an essential practice for agricultural sustainability, as it improves soil structure and fertility, stimulates microbial activity, and enhances nutrient cycling. Plant- and animal-based composts, when combined, exhibit synergistic effects on nutrient availability and crop yield, reducing dependence on mineral inputs and mitigating environmental impacts. Method: The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design with nine treatments and three replications, using different proportions of S. rebaudiana compost and poultry litter (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, and 25:75), in addition to an unfertilized control. Plant height, number of leaves, ear length, weight, diameter, and average yield per hectare were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), and means were compared using the Tukey test at a 5% probability level, employing the R statistical software. Results and Discussion: Treatments with higher proportions of poultry litter showed significant increases in all evaluated variables, with yield gains of up to 37% compared to the control. Organic fertilization promoted nutritional balance and enhanced microbial activity, resulting in improved plant development. Research Implications: The integration of plant and animal residues through composting proved to be an efficient strategy to increase productivity and improve soil quality. Originality/Value: The study highlights the innovative potential of Stevia rebaudiana compost associated with poultry litter as a sustainable and economically viable alternative for organic fertilization.