PRODUÇÃO DE BIOMASSA E CONTROLE DE PLANTAS DANINHAS POR MIX DE PLANTAS DE COBERTURA NA REGIÃO DO CERRADO: AVALIAÇÃO DA EFICIÊNCIA DE DIFERENTES PLANTAS DE COBERTURA NO CONTROLE DE PLANTAS DANINHAS

Abstract

The use of cover crops associated with the application of plant growth-promoting microorganisms is an important strategy for improving soil quality and enhancing the sustainability of agricultural systems. This study evaluated the effect of different species and combinations of cover crops, in association with multifunctional microorganisms, on biomass production and weed dynamics in the Cerrado region of Goiás, Brazil. The experiment was carried out at the Capivara Farm, Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, in Santo Antônio de Goiás (GO), during the 2023 growing season, in a randomized block design arranged in a 5 × 3 factorial scheme with four replications. Five cover crops (fallow, pearl millet, buckwheat, mix 1, and mix 2) and three types of microorganism applications (Embrapa, commercial, and control) were tested. There was a significant effect of cover crops on plant and weed dry biomass, as well as interaction between cover crops and microorganisms. At 90 days after sowing (DAS), pearl millet and mix 1 showed the highest cover crop biomasses, with 8,526 and 7,513 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. Weed biomass varied among treatments: pearl millet showed an increase of 1,319%, buckwheat 237%, and mix 2 around 115%, while mix 1 and fallow decreased by 57.7% and 21.9%, respectively. The Embrapa microorganisms presented a tendency toward better performance, with an average biomass of 1,665 kg ha⁻¹ at 60 DAS. It is concluded that the combination of diversified cover crops and beneficial microorganisms increases biomass, improves soil health, and contributes to more sustainable agricultural systems in the Cerrado region.