Effects of Tillage on Forage Legumes Growth and Subsequent Dry Matter Yields of Corn Planted for Livestock Feeding

Two field experiments were conducted to find a simple tillage method to introduce centro (Centrosema pubescens Benth.) and calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.) on native grasslands and to find out the effects of the tillage and legume phase on the growth of subsequent corn planted for livestock feeding.
A 4 x 3 factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design was conducted with three replications. The first factor was the methods of tillage viz. undisturbed, cutting followed two weeks afterwards by glyphosate application at 3.0 kg ha-1 active ingredients (a.i.), burning which was cutting followed after two weeks by burning and conventional tillage. The second factor consisted of three treatments viz. introducing centro, calopo and no legume introduction. After one year, using the same plots and design that had been used in Experiment 1, the Experiment 2 was conducted, by planting corn for cattle feeding.
Cutting the native grasses followed two weeks afterwards by glyphosate application was superior compared to other methods of tillage for the growth of legumes. Combining these treatments with legume inclusion resulted in 300% increase in dry matter of corn planted after the legume phase compared to without legume introduction, with nitrogen absorbtion increased almost seven fold. However there was no difference between using centro or calopo. Nitrogen content of corn stover and nitrogen absorption of corn plants were similar to those in conventional tillage.