There is currently a growing interest in the practice of green manure and its effects on agricultural production systems. In order to evaluate different seeding rates and effects of pruning on seed production of C. juncea an experiment was conducted in the Unit of Research Support in UENF in Campos - RJ. The experiment was arranged in split-plots, with pruning (and without) in the plots and sowing densities (10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 per plant) in the subplots in a randomized block design with four replications. The experimental units consisted of six rows spaced 0.5 m apart, and 4 feet long. Without pruning, crotalaria plants were 0.634 m higher. The number of branches of pruned crotalaria plants was larger than the non-pruned plants and the density of 10 and 15 plants per meter had lager number of branches. At the density of 30 plants per meter, the plants produced higher amount of dry matter. With pruning, the crotalaria plants showed on average 7.2 small pods, while the non-pruned plants had mean of 5.1 small pods. At the density of 30 plants per meter, there was approximately 25% more seeds per large pod of pruned plants in relation to the seeds of large pods of non-pruned plants. Besides, at this density, plants had larger number of seeds per large pod compared with other densities. It is recommended pruning and density of 10 plants per meter due to the lower cost of seeds and seeds with more vigor.
legume; green manure; MEIOSI system
