Banca de DEFESA: EDES TORRES DA SILVA

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : EDES TORRES DA SILVA
DATE: 25/02/2025
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: UFAPE
TITLE:

FORAGE CACTUS INTERCROPPED WITH GLIRICIDIA: AN ALTERNATIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE FORAGE PRODUCTION IN THE BRAZILIAN SEMIARID REGION

 

KEY WORDS:

Agriculture; Consortium; Brazilian semi-arid.

PAGES: 55
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Agronomia
SUBÁREA: Fitotecnia
SUMMARY:

Livestock farming is one of the main economic activities in the Brazilian Semi-Arid region. However, the irregularity of the rainfall regime in the region results in imbalances between the supply and demand of forage for livestock feed. To mitigate this problem, the intercropping of forage species has been widely recommended due to its numerous benefits, such as increasing both the quantity and quality of forage, reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizers, and enhancing natural mechanisms for pest and disease control. Given these advantages, it is essential to evaluate the performance of forage cactus when cultivated in association with forage tree legumes. In the context of agricultural management in the Semi-Arid region, this practice is still rarely explored on a commercial scale. Thus, this study aims to evaluate and promote improvements in the intercropped cultivation of forage cactus with legumes, investigating how this association influences forage quality. To achieve this, a field experiment was conducted, established in January 2023 at the experimental station of the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA), located in Caruaru-PE. The experimental design included five treatments, covering both the isolated cultivation of cactus and legumes, as well as three intercropping arrangements. The tested arrangements were: (T3) four rows alternating legume and cactus, (T4) five rows with legumes on the edges and cactus in the center, and (T5) five rows with cactus on the edges and legume in the center. To standardize plant density, the first pruning of the legumes will be carried out 365 days after planting when the plants reach 60 cm in height. Morphological and agronomic traits, as well as the production components of both the forage cactus and the legume, were evaluated, considering both qualitative and quantitative aspects, with measurements taken every 60 and 90 days, respectively. Additionally, bromatological analyses of the studied species were conducted. The biometric results indicated that the forage cactus did not show significant differences in height and width among the treatments. However, the legume Gliricidia sepium exhibited significant variation in plant width, with the treatment consisting of double rows of cactus and single rows of Gliricidia showing the highest value (185 cm). The green matter yield of Gliricidia, considering the stem fraction, also presented significant differences, with the highest productivity observed in the isolated cultivation of the species (T2). Overall, the most efficient treatment for producers was the one in which single rows of Gliricidia were intercropped with double rows of forage cactus. The results of this study are expected to contribute to optimizing agricultural management in the Brazilian Semi-Arid region, promoting more sustainable, economical, and efficient forage production. Moreover, reducing dependence on nitrogen fertilizers may represent a significant advancement in the productive and environmental feasibility of livestock systems in the region, addressing local demands in a more balanced and resilient manner.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - ALBERICIO PEREIRA DE ANDRADE
Externo à Instituição - ANTÔNIO CLEMENTINO DOS SANTOS
Externo à Instituição - CLEYTON DE ALMEIDA ARAÚJO - UNIVASF