Grain yield and agronomic traits in soybean according to crop rotation systems

The effects of crop rotation systems (CRS) on soybean yield and agronomic characteristics were evaluated from 1996/1997 to 2010/2011 at Embrapa Trigo, Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil. Four soil management systems (SMS) were compared, namely: 1) no tillage, 2) minimum tillage, 3) conventional tillage using a disk plow and a disk harrow, and 4) conventional using a moldboard and a disk harrow - and three CRS: system I (wheat/soybean), system II (wheat/soybean and common vetch/corn or sorghum) and system III (wheat/soybean, white oats/soybean and common vetch/corn or sorghum). This is a split-plot, randomized, complete block design with three replications. SMS were assigned in the main plot and CRS systems in the split-plots. This work addressed only data on crop rotation systems. There were no significant differences between the CRS for number of grains per plant, 1,000 grain weight and first pod height in soybean. The crop rotation for a summer, with corn or sorghum, propitiates a higher soybean yield compared with the other systems and monoculture soybean. The combination of conservation systems (no tillage and minimum tillage) and CR resulted in a higher soybean yield. The lowest grain yield and grain weight per plant were obtained in monoculture soybean.