Corn-soybean Double Cropping Yield Potential in Southern of Brazil

Background and Objective: Corn-soybean double cropping is an important tool for farmers as it improve farm’s assets (e.g. soil, machinery, fixed labor, etc.) uses and soil/plant agronomical traits due to better crop rotation (avoiding soybean after soybean). This study aimed to study the corn-soybean double cropping system yield potential. Materials and Methods: Experiment was laid out as a random block designed in a split-plot scheme with four replications. Corn hybrids (P1680YH and 30F53YH) were established at the main plots and its uses (silage and grains) were assigned to subplots where after it, soybean development and yield potential was evaluated. Results: Corn hybrid 30F53 with medium-maturity cycle showed greater biomass and grain yield compared to hybrid P1630 with early-maturity cycle (19481 versus 17066 kg DM haG1 and 11195 versus 8746 kg grain haG1, respectively), however, soybean yield potential was reduced as sowing is delayed (from 3490-2681 kg haG1 to the sowing data of December, 17 and January, 29). Conclusion: Corn-soybean double cropping yields were very interesting showing a great potential to be used by the Brazilian southern farmers. New genetic material with shorter maturity cycle and greater yield potential may increase this system adoption allowing greater yield per area and income to the farmers.