Green manures and covering nitrogen fertilization in maize.

Aiming to evaluate the performance of maize (Zea mays L.) under notillage system, with or without covering nitrogen application succeeding green manures, an experiment was carried out at 2008/2009 growing season, in a reddish-yellow Oxisol typic, clayey, in an experimental area of UNEMAT, Alta Floresta, MT. A split-plot scheme was used, being green manures the plots ((sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea), sun hemp (Crotalaria spectabilis), jack bean (Canavalia ensiformes), millet (Pennisetum americanum) an spontaneous vegetation (fallow ground)) and nitrogen application the subplots (0 and 120 kg ha-1), in a randomized blocks design with five replications. The following characteristics were evaluated: plant height, ear height, ear diameter and length, number of grains per ear, 100-grain weight and productivity. The corn culture presented positive response to green manure application, even in the absence of nitrogen. However, when N was used an increase in productivity was observed, highlighting the leguminous as the best crops to precede maize.