An important alternative to supply the growing demand for organic fertilizers in Brazil is the growth of legumes as green manures as they may add biologically fixed nitrogen and organic matter to the soil. For successful green manuring, it is necessary to identify plant species with characteristics such as high yield of biomass, high capacity to accumulate N, hardness and viability to be used in various management systems. This study investigated sowing and cutting dates more appropriate for biomass mass production and accumulation of N in sunhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) in the lowlands region of Rio de Janeiro (Baixada Fluminense). Four planting dates, during the Spring-Summer seasons and three cutting dates were tested. With cuttings obtained at 3 or 4 months, the highest values of mass production occurred in mid-Spring, and the lowest values occurred in late-Summer. The highest accumulations of N achieved by crotalaria sowed in mid-Spring were obtained with cuttings at 3 or 4 months. In the late-Spring sowing, plants with cutting at 4 months showed higher accumulation of N than plants with cutting at 2 months. In the summer sowing, there were no significant differences between cutting dates.
green manure; organic fertilization; Crotalaria juncea L.; photoperiodism
