Research has investigated the best nitrogen rate for maize under the most diverse types of soil management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of cover crops, soil management and topdressed N rates on the dry matter production, nutritional status, plant lodging, plant height and first-ear insertion of maize. Field experiments were carried out in Selvíria, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, in the growing seasons of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, on a clayey Rhodic Haplustox (20º 20' S and 51º 24' W, at 340 m asl). Thirty-six treatments were established with four replications, in a randomized blocks design, to test combinations of cover crops (millet, Crotalaria juncea and millet + Crotalaria juncea), soil management (tillage with chisel plow + lightweight disking, heavy disking + lightweight disking, and no-tillage system) and N rates (0, 60, 90 e 120 kg ha-1 - urea as source). The maize hybrid DKB 350 YG® was used and topdressing N applied at stage V5 (fifth expanded leaf). Previously grown sunn hemp and millet + sunn hemp resulted in a higher shoot dry matter, P leaf content and total N, P and K uptake. In the no-tillage system, the initial and final population and shoot dry were highest, and first-ear insertion and plant height lower. The application of 120 kg ha-1 topdressed N increased the P leaf content, N and P in the entire plant, shoot dry matter, total N, P and K uptake, plant height, and the first-ear insertion of maize.
Zea mays; millet; sunn hemp; nitrogen fertilization; no-tillage system
