Produção de hortaliças em sistema de plantio direto

Abstract

Direct planting of vegetables eliminates the need for soil tillage, using organic matter to protect against erosion and enhance fertility. Species are planted in the mulch, resulting in benefits such as reduced soil loss, increased biodiversity, and water savings. The aim of this study was to assess the development of vegetables in a direct planting system. Cultivation was carried out in consortium in an area previously managed with a mix of legumes. The experiment was implemented in the interrows of the Agroforestry System at the IFG campus in Goiás City, Brazil. A randomized block design with 3 treatments and 6 replications was used. The species used in the consortium were lettuce, arugula, and green onion. The installed treatments were T1 - conventional planting without vegetative cover, T2 - conventional planting with cover, and T3 - direct vegetable planting system. Analyses were conducted on fresh weight and root length per species. The results indicate that conventional management with vegetative cover excelled for fresh matter and root length parameters. Direct planting showed inferior results, suggesting soil compaction. The analysis suggests that the use of vegetative cover provides significant benefits for vegetable development even in conventional cultivation systems. However, choosing the appropriate management should consider additional factors such as costs, sustainable practices, and long-term impacts.