Global Maize Project in Brazil: Ponta Grossa, Paraná
IPNI-2009-BRA-GM19
18 Feb 2010
2009 Annual Interpretive Summary
Cropping system intensification will be necessary to meet the future demands for corn. The established
system of Ecological Intensification (EI) seeks cereal production systems that satisfy these future demands while developing cultivation practices with minimum interference to the surrounding environment. A Global Maize Project was established to identify gaps in yield between current technology and improved technology aimed at achieving EI.
This experiment is located in Ponta Grossa, Paraná. At experiment initiation in April/May 2010, all winter
treatments will be established. The soil in the area is an Oxisol that has been under no-till cultivation for 6 years. The experiment has a split-plot design with the main plots involving three types of cultivation systems and the sub plots being three levels of N input plus a control. The levels of cultivation are: (1) farmers’ practice (FP) involving a 2-year complete crop rotation cycle of black oats, corn, wheat, and soybean, (2) FP + silage production, and (3) EI of black oats + forage peas, corn, black oats, and soybean. The EI treatment will occur twice, alternating the crop rotation initiation point to permit the production of corn every summer. The levels of N application are 60, 120, and 180 kg N/ha plus a control with no N added. This is a long-term project intended to influence current opinions on how to best manage cereal production in the region. IPNI-19