The objective of this research was to verify, in an integrated agriculture-pasture system, the viability of using a pasture crop which residue allow enough mulch for a no-tillage system management. Forage yield and residue at different distances from a central pivot, in three periods, and an economical analysis of the system were also evaluated. The impact of rotating grazing, in a 75 ha no-tillage sorghum forage system, irrigated by a central pivot, on forage sorghum dry matter yield, mulch residues and animal weight gain were evaluated. The site presented a dystrophic, dark red "latossol" (oxisol). The experimental design was a split plot, with four main (sampling points at different distances from the central of the pivot) and three secondary (grazing periods) treatments, with seven replications (seven 9.37 ha paddocks for grazing, in a pizza-like shape). Forage sorghum allowed a 621 kg ha-1 gain in live weight and the volume of sorghum mulch left after grazing was enough to sustain a no-tillage system. The area, even after grazing, provided conditions to be used in the no-tillage system, proving technically and economically feasible.
sorghum forage; rotating grazing; mulch production
