WATER AVAILABILITY IN A PLANOSOL UNDER INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK-FORESTRY SYSTEM IN THE AGRESTE REGION OF PARAIBA, BRAZIL

Pedro Luan Ferreira Da Silva,Danillo Dutra Tavares,Flávio Pereira De Oliveira,Camila Costa Da Nóbrega,André Julio Do Amaral

doi:10.1590/1983-21252019v32n218rc

Pedro Luan Ferreira Da Silva, Danillo Dutra Tavares + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252019v32n218rc

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Integrated agricultural production systems, involving agriculture, livestock, and forest are strategies that improve soil quality. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the integrated crop-livestock-forest system (ICLF) on water availability of a Planosol in the Agreste region of the state of Paraíba (PB), Brazil. The experiment was conducted at the experimental site of the Agricultural Research Company of Paraíba (EMEPA), in Alagoinha, PB. The soil evaluated was a Eutric Planosol, with a moderate A horizon. The following intercrops (treatments) were implemented in June 2015: I. Gliricidia sepium + Brachiaria decumbens; II. Mimosa caesalpiniifolia + Brachiaria decumbens; III. Tabebuia alba + Brachiaria decumbens; IV. Zea mays + Brachiaria decumbens; and V. Brachiaria decumbens. A randomized block experimental design was used, with five treatments. The analyzed variables were field capacity, permanent wilting point, soil available water, granulometry, degree of flocculation, total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, resistance to penetration, and aggregate stability index. The results showed that the water availability in the ICLF implemented in the Agreste region of Paraíba had no significant variation after three years. After the three-year period, the ICLF promoted no significant physical improvement in the attributes of the evaluated Planosol.

Highlights

Monitoring soil moisture is a very important tool for the study of water dynamics and rational planning of water management in agricultural activities (ALMEIDA et al, 2017), especially in irrigated agriculture
Water retention is one of the variables to be considered for soil water management since it is strongly altered by inadequate cultivation practices, especially in poor soil physical conditions (SANTOS et al, 2013b)
Adopting management systems that enhance the soil water retention and water availability to plants is necessary, especially in regions where the economy is essentially agricultural and its development depends on climatic conditions (KLEIN; KLEIN, 2015)

Summary

Introduction

Monitoring soil moisture is a very important tool for the study of water dynamics and rational planning of water management in agricultural activities (ALMEIDA et al, 2017), especially in irrigated agriculture. Inadequate management of pastures, and lack of soil conservation practices, pest and weed control, and soil fertilization or soil fertility maintenance in the Brazilian Northeast (KICHEL et al, 2011) have been the most important factors for the degradation of pastures. Adopting management systems that enhance the soil water retention and water availability to plants is necessary, especially in regions where the economy is essentially agricultural and its development depends on climatic conditions (KLEIN; KLEIN, 2015). The integrated crop-livestock-forest system (ICLF) emerges as an alternative for soil recovery and conservation in degraded areas (SILVA et al, 2016) by enhancing the synergistic effects between plant and animal species used, enabling a sustainable increase in the production per area (BALBINO et al, 2011)

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