Avaliação da temperatura de um argissolo em função dos níveis de cobertura proveniente do feijão – fava (Phaseolus lunatus L.)

Abstract

Soil temperature is a fundamental factor for the development of agricultural crops, and it can be influenced by the use of cropping systems and the presence of plant cover. In this context, the present work aims to evaluate the variation in soil temperature in maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation carried out alone and intercropped with lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.), analyzing how the use of plant cover could influence soil temperature and other crop development characteristics. The experiment was conducted at the University of Maranhão’s School Farm, using three treatments with different cover levels: maize alone, maize intercropped with lima bean at a spacing of 1.0 m, and maize intercropped with lima bean at a spacing of 0.5 m. Temperatures were monitored at depths of 10 cm and 20 cm over 12 weeks, allowing the identification of thermal patterns throughout the experiment. The results showed greater thermal instability in the surface layer, as well as greater stability and statistical significance in the 20 cm layer in specific weeks, highlighting the treatment with broad beans at 1.0 m spacing. It is concluded that the corn-broad bean intercropping showed potential for regulating soil temperature at greater depths, especially under conditions of higher radiation incidence, contributing to a more stable edaphic environment for corn development.