The intensive and inadequate use of soils accelerates its degradation, requiring the intervention by means of conservation practices to restore the productive capacity of the same. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior and development of different legumes used as green manure in soils of the Cerrado, High Jequitinhonha Valley in Turmalina, MG. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with seven treatments and four replications, the treatments were the leguminous: Mucuna nivea, Mucuna aterrima, Dolichos lablab, Canavalia ensiformis, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria spectabilis and Cajanus cajan. The early cycle of Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria spectabilis and Canavalia ensiformis, favors the insertion of these in cropping systems. At 40 days, the Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna nivea stood out to cover the soil with 67 and 63 %, the Cajanus cajan and Crotalaria juncea presented the highest development in this period. The contents of N, P and K tend to decrease in the evaluations realized in different vegetative stages, which contributes to better choice of the time management of legumes. Crotalaria juncea, Mucuna nivea, Canavalia ensiformis and Mucuna aterrima, were the leguminous that stood out for fitomass production, making these promising species for green manure in the region. The leguminous in your mostly, presents potential for recycling of macronutrients and the contribution of N to production systems.
green manuring; nutrient cycling, soil management; cover crops
