Growth, water use and efficiency of forage cactus sorghum intercropping under different water depths

Lucivania R. Lima,Thieres G. F. da Silva,Maria G. de Queiroz,Carlos A. A. de Souza,Alexandre M. da R. F. Jardim,José N. Tabosa

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v22n2p113-118

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effects of the forage cactus sorghum configuration and different irrigation depths on the growth, water use and efficiency of the forage cactus production system were investigated in this study. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Serra Talhada, Pernambuco State, Brazil, between the years 2012 and 2013. Forage cactus was distributed in randomized blocks with factorial scheme and four replicates, in split plots (5 x 2), with five irrigation depths (0, 8.75, 17.5, 26.25 and 35% of the reference evapotranspiration, ET0) and two cropping systems (forage cactus monocropping and forage cactus sorghum intercropping). Crop evapotranspiration was calculated through soil water balance. The ratio between crop and reference evapotranspiration, and land use and water use efficiencies, were estimated. Irrigation depths and the intercropping affected only forage cactus canopy width and cladode biomass. The ratio between crop and reference evapotranspiration increased with the increase of irrigation depths, while the highest water use efficiency based on dry matter occurred at irrigation depths higher than 1,096 mm year-1 in the intercropping (21.8 ± 6.8 kg ha-1 mm-1). Irrigation depths did not affect land use efficiency (0.83). Water depths from 1,096 to 1,202 mm year-1 are recommended in the forage cactus sorghum system.

Highlights

Forage cactus stands out as an excellent forage species for semi-arid environments, since it can tolerate long periods of water deficit (Silva et al, 2014a)
The efficiency of forage cactus sorghum intercropping under different conditions of irrigation has still been little researched, but studies demonstrate that using irrigation in forage cactus plantations is an excellent alternative to improve yield (FloresHernández et al, 2004; Queiroz et al, 2015)
It is believed that in the forage cactus sorghum intercropping, there is a reduction in the performance of both crops, the adoption of irrigation events can maximize the production in comparison to the forage cactus monocropping system

Summary

Introduction

Forage cactus stands out as an excellent forage species for semi-arid environments, since it can tolerate long periods of water deficit (Silva et al, 2014a). The efficiency of forage cactus sorghum intercropping under different conditions of irrigation has still been little researched, but studies demonstrate that using irrigation in forage cactus plantations is an excellent alternative to improve yield (FloresHernández et al, 2004; Queiroz et al, 2015). It is believed that in the forage cactus sorghum intercropping, there is a reduction in the performance of both crops, the adoption of irrigation events can maximize the production in comparison to the forage cactus monocropping system. This type of information is important to increase the efficiency of the crops, but depends on their evapotranspiration (ET) (Djurovic et al, 2016; Kiremit & Arslan, 2016)

Methods

Results

Conclusion