Performance of Crotalaria micans Link. in dystrophic Ultisol in west Acre, Brazil

Abstract

Species of Crotalaria are commonly used as annual green manure, especially Crotalaria juncea L.,Crotalaria breviflora DC.,Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don and Crotalaria spectabilis Roth. The species of natural occurrence in Amazoniais Crotalaria micans Link, which has a wide geographical distribution, high plasticity to abiotic factors and drought resistance, however is little studied and used. In this approach, the present study aimed to evaluate the use of this species as annual green manure in yellow podzolic soil of Acre, planting at the end of the rainy season. The seeds were harvested manually from plants occurring in natural regeneration areas in Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with one treatment and 4 plots. The parameters evaluated were: period of flowering initiation, fresh and dry biomass weight, N contents and protein percentage of leaves in the ideal time for cropping. In the experimental conditions, Crotalaria micans took 1 60 days to initiate flowering, fresh biomass of 11 .29 t/ha, dry biomass of 3.32 t/ha, 3.41 % of N content and 21 .33% of protein