This work aimed to evaluate the consequences of adopting a living mulch system on the growth and final fresh weight yield of forage grasses intercropped with corn crop. The treatments resulted from a combination of three levels of the factor forage species (Brachiaria decumbens, Brachiaria brizantha and Panicum maximum) and three levels of the factor weeds (Ipomoea grandifolia, Amaranthus hybridus and Digitaria horizontalis). An absolute check was also included (forage species growing without corn crop and without weeds). During the experiment, leaf area (cm² per plant), dry weight (g per plant) and final total fresh weight yield (t ha-1) of the forage species were evaluated, when submitted to the different treatments. It was observed that B. decumbens was the least efficient forage species in relation to inter-specific competition; P. maximum was the species that produced the most fresh weight, while B. brizantha was the most competitive against the weeds. It could be inferred that P. maximum and B. brizantha were the species least damaged by the system adopted. It can be concluded that this work has demonstrated the viability of adopting this living mulching system.
living mulch system; management systems; competition; growth
