An experiment was carried out from May 1992 to January 1996 to study the residual effect of grain and green manure crops on the grain yield of irrigated common bean, variety IAC-Carioca. The experiment was installed at the Experimental Station of Instituto Agronômico, at Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil, in a typic Haplorthox soil. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with six treatments and six replications. The rotation schemes consisted of irrigated common bean from July to December, followed by an early variety of corn, from December to April and by fallow, corn, oats (Avena strigosa), sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] and velvet beans (Mucuna aterrima), from March to August. The soil nutrient contents at 0-20 cm depth, were reduced during the three year period, being normal for organic matter and medium for phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The medium to high acidity level did not restrict the grain yield of common beans. The inclusion of velvet bean, sunnhemp and corn in rotation with common bean and corn is feasible. These crops produced the greatest amounts of green matter. The basic infiltration rate of the soil was also increased. There was an effect of the rotations during the years with the inclusion of velvet bean, in the non-conventional Autumn-Winter season, which increased the grain yield of irrigated common beans in relation to the fallow treatment.
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