Geometric arrangements of the corn-brachiaria intercropping under climatic risk in Neossolo Quartzarênico in the Cerrado of Tocantins

The corn-brachiaria intercropping has been widely studied from many points of view, both in terms of crop yield and in terms of improving the production system. The purpose of this study was to evaluate geometric arrangements of the corn-brachiaria intercropping under climatic risk in Neossolo Quartzarênico in the Cerrado of Tocantins. A randomized block experimental design was adopted with a factorial scheme (2 x 2 x 2), and four replications. The combination of two corn and brachiaria sowing orientations (North-South; East-West), two corn sowing spacings (0.45 m; 0.90 m) and two brachiaria sowing positions (row; inter-row) were studied for three consecutive years. No significant effect was observed on the following variables: grain yield, 100-grain weight, number of grain rows, corn ear length, forage mass and forage crude protein. For the variables leaf area index and chlorophyll ‘b’, there was an effect of corn spacing. As for the interaction, it was found effect on corn height (sowing orientation x brachiaria sowing positions) and corn ear insertion height (sowing orientation x corn sowing spacing). Thus, the geometric arrangements of the corn-brachiaria intercropping under climatic risk in Neossolo Quartzarênico in northern Tocantins do not affect corn yield or its correlated measures.