Abstract
ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the variability and characterizedthe spatial dependence between some soil attributes in the Eastern Cariri microregion of Paraíba,and analyzed the spatial correlations in order to identify the interactions between such attributes in cowpea bean(Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)production. Harvest data of the agricultural years of 2000-2017 in the Eastern Cariri microregion of Paraíba were analyzed. Parameters of the fitted models wereestimated using the Maximum Likelihood method and the performance of the models was evaluated based on coefficients of determination(R2), maximum log-likelihood function, and Schwarz’s Bayesian information criterion (BIC). Correlation and spatial autocorrelation between the cowpea productivity and agrometeorological elements was detected through the spatial analysis, using techniques such as the Moran’s index I. The study showed that, according to the performance indicators used, the spatial error model offered better results in relation to the classical multiple regression models and the self-regressive spatial models, indicating that the inclusion of spatial dependence in the models improves the estimate of productivity of cowpea in the microregion of Cariri Oriental da Paraíba.
Highlights
The semiarid region of northeastern Brazil is characterized by high daytime and low nighttime temperatures, high solar radiation, low air humidity and low rainfall volume with intermittent, infrequent, random rainsconcentrated in a few months
The present study evaluated the variability ofsome soil attributes, characterize their spatial dependence in the Eastern Cariri microregion of Paraíba, and analyze thespatial correlations so as to identify the interactions between these attributes in cowpea productivity
SILVA et al (2010) pointed out that an increase in air temperature affected the availability of adequate agricultural areas, in particularforcowpea beanin northeastern Brazil, and recommended that cowpea varieties better adapted to high temperatures should be adopted in the region
Summary
The semiarid region of northeastern Brazil is characterized by high daytime and low nighttime temperatures, high solar radiation, low air humidity and low rainfall volume with intermittent, infrequent, random rainsconcentrated in a few months. With low water-holding capacity, acidic pH, and poor drainage. In some sites they are salinized and have low levels of some nutrients essential to plant growth and development. All of these characteristics limitagricultural and livestock production; and reflect on the regional economy and quality of life of the population (ALVES et al, 2017). Swidden agriculture based on rainfed crops and slash-and-burn land clearing is the traditional model adopted in the semiarid region. In this system, farmers rely on their ability to interpret natural signs in order toplantheir agricultural calendar
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