Abstract
ABSTRACT The northeastern semiarid region faces some of the droughts of the last centuries, resulting in serious reductions of agriculture yields. The water scarcity for agricultural requires rational use practices and reuse of water, such as use of domestic effluent sewage. Alternatively, the use of treated domestic sewage effluent utilizing for irrigation of forage species, such as the forage cactus, can be highlighted. In order to evaluate the effects of fertirrigation with treated sewage effluent on mineral nutrient composition of forage cactus (Opuntia Tuna L. Mill, Mexican elephant ear), an experiment was carried out utilizing a split plot 3 x (4 + 1) with a randomized complete block design randomized block and four replications, being three planting density (66,667.00, 52,282.00 and 33,333.00 plants ha-1) and two water sources associated with irrigation frequency of plates fixed on 3.5 mm per irrigation (Frequencies of 2.3 days with water tap and 7, 14 and 21 days with Sewage Effluent) and cactus cultivated in Rainfed agriculturerainfed (control). The analyze of the nutritional contents of cladodes indicated that there was a significant effect of the intervals from irrigation events only for Ca and Mg concentrations. The highest levels of Ca and Mg were found with the irrigation frequency of 2.3 using tap water. The macronutrients concentration in greater quantity by the forage cactus were N e, K followed by, Ca, Mg and P. The nutritional balance indicated excess of K and P and deficiency of N, Ca and Mg, in this order.
Highlights
The Northeastern semiarid zone of Brazil, faces serious cyclic water crisies due to its geographic position and meteorological processes
Maximum N export was obtained by the product between mean values of N export (26.33 g ha-1) and total dry matter production (69.39 t ha-1), at 375 days after planting (DAP), and was equal to 1,827.03 kg ha-1
Souza (2015), in an experiment with NPK fertilization at 620 days after planting, found that the mean export of N was 177.88 kg ha-1 for every 10 t ha-1 of dry matter. Both these studies reported similar results, the values were below those found in the present study and the time after planting was twice as long
Summary
The Northeastern semiarid zone of Brazil, faces serious cyclic water crisies due to its geographic position and meteorological processes This region has faced the most severe drought of the last few centuries, with impacts on the primary production due to its dependence on water in these areas. One opportunity the water crisis provides are conditions suitable for the adoption of techniques compatible with the maximizing water potential including, catchment and conservation techniques and reuse strategies. One of these strategies involves the reuse of treated domestic sewage in agriculture, especially in the production of forage and ornamental species. Harvesting of the plants that have been fed the treated effluent can help to remove these elements from the soil, and avoid excessive accumulation of nutrients in the soil, especially nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) (ERTHAL et al, 2010)
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