Abstract
Xerophyticplants are well adapted to the semiarid conditions because they have a high potential for the use of rainwater. They can store it in their roots (xylopodiums). The Amburanacearensis, commonly called Cumaru, native of the Brazilian semiarid, is very important because of its multiple-use: good quality wood, active food ingredient, perfume and medicine production. However, its management is practically unknown. Aiming to know more about this culture, an experiment was conducted to quantify the Cumaruwater needs, evaluate its water-use efficiency and the capacity of roots to store water. Five levels of water (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of evapotranspiration) and five-plant spacing (0.20 × 0.20 m, 0.20 × 0.10 m, 0.20 × 0.05 m, 0.10 × 0.10 m and 0.05 × 0.05 m) were tested, and the results obtained analyzed statistically throughout F test. No influence of soil water level and plant spacing in the moisture content of the whole plant, in the aerial part or in the xylopodiums was observed. However, there was an effect of the treatments on the water stored in the whole plant in the aerial part or in the roots, per unit area. More than 80% of the water was stored in the roots. The crop growing with the smaller spacing without irrigation was shown to be quite efficient in using the rainwater, compared with traditional cultures irrigated.
Highlights
Duke states that one of the ways to resist the pauperism in the semiarid regions is to eliminate the uncertainness of annual tillage due to the periodic wet and dry weather conditions, giving the farmer a safe agricultural based on the use of drought-resistant plants which provides food for the creation of cattle with plenty of fodders, and way of life more methodical
The experiment was conducted at the Center for Environmental Education (NEA), of the Brazilian Institute of Environment (IBAMA), at Quixeramobim, one of the largest municipalities of Central Ceará State, with an area of 3275 km2. It is located in the semiarid region, with geographic coordinates with 5th 12'08" south latitude, 39 ̊17'11'' west longitude and altitude of 196 m above sea level, 204 km from Fortaleza, capital of Ceará
2) The water content of the whole plant, xylophodiums and aerial part of the plant per m2 of bed was not influenced by the soil water content, increased with the decrease of plant spacing which meant increase of plants per m2
Summary
Duke states that one of the ways to resist the pauperism in the semiarid regions is to eliminate the uncertainness of annual tillage due to the periodic wet and dry weather conditions, giving the farmer a safe agricultural based on the use of drought-resistant plants which provides food for the creation of cattle with plenty of fodders, and way of life more methodical. As forage, its leaves and pods are eaten by goats, both green and dry, and by the cattle after drying It is of great importance for beekeeping and meliponiculture, providing nectar in the dry season, ranking among the 18 most used species by native bees for pollen and/or nectar and as nesting sites, besides the use of its wood in the construction of hives [6]. It already studies the possibility of plant cultivation in flower beds to produce herbals of broad popular use. The objective of this study, was to quantify the water needs of Cumaru in flower beds, determining how much of this water is stored in the xilopodiums and its water-use efficiency
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