Desempenho de fontes alternativas de biomassa cultivadas em solos da Chapada do Araripe/PE : nutrição mineral, atributos energéticos e emissão de CO2

Abstract

The Gypsum Pole of Araripe is responsible for about 97% of the national production of plaster and has the wood coming from the Caatinga as the main component of the energy matrix of this productive chain, causing a severe impact on native vegetation. As the areas of forest management in the region are insignificant in relation to demand, the introduction of alternative sources of biomass for power generation is necessary, as the gramineae sugarcane and elephant grass. However, for these cultures to achieve higher productivity is necessary to develop more studies on suitable soils, nutrition, energy indicators and their impact on the semi-arid environment, predominantly occupied by native vegetation of the Caatinga. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of the mineral plaster Araripe and how it can influence changes in soil chemical properties due to its application; assess nutritional status, content, efficient use of nutrients and indicators of energy sugarcane and elephant grass grown in the presence and absence of mineral plaster; and finally evaluate the soil CO2 efflux and the influence of soil moisture and temperature that efflux in Caatinga areas preserved in the areas of cultivation of exotic grasses in the region and eucalyptus forests in the Araripe in Pernambuco. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station of the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA) in Araripina, in a Oxisol. They used three varieties of sugarcane: : two Cuban origin (C90-176 and C90-178), called energy cane; one improved by the Genetic Improvement Program RIDESA (RB962962), and two varieties of elephant grass (Cameroon and Venezuela) in the presence and absence of mineral plaster. At 320 days after the application of gypsum, soil samples were collected separately in the depths 0.0-0.2; 0.2-0.4 and 0.4-0.6 m. All samples proceeded to determine the pH (H2O) Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Al3+ and SO42-. At 120 and 180 days after planting (DAP) it was collected of +3 leaf to assess the nutritional status of grasses. At 320 DAP was carried out the harvest of the gramineae and the shoots were separated into leaf and stalk.In the compartments evaluated the levels of nutrients, extracted quantity and efficiency of biological utilization of these nutrients. energy indicators as fiber content, lignin and the gross calorific value (PCS) were evaluated in four different periods: at three months, six months, nine months and a half and ten and a half months of plant growth . To evaluate the soil CO2 efflux in Caatinga areas preserved, gramineae cultivation and eucalyptus forests were conducted five evaluations, two in the dry season and three in the rainy season. The application of mineral plaster did not increase the levels of Ca2+ in the soil subsurface, but increased the sulfate content of up to 0.6 m deep and reduced the Al saturation. Mg2+ and K+ levels did not change with the application of plaster. There was a difference in Ca2+ and Mg2+ levels in soil under different types of gramineae. The content of K, Ca and Mg in the shoot was influenced by the use of gypsum, regardless of the cultivated grass. Except the variety of sugarcane RB962962 the gramineae extracted more S when the plaster was applied. The efficiency of biological utilization of N, P, K, Ca and Mg of the grass was not influenced by the application of plaster. The varieties of sugarcane Cuban C90-176 and C90-178 and variety of Cameroon elephant grass showed lower efficiency of biological utilization of S when the plaster was applied. There was little variation in energy indicators in the stalk and leaf of different gramineae in evaluation periods. The increase in lignin content in elephant grass stalk Cameron suggests that cutting this grass for energy use must not take place before 200 after planting. The application of plaster increased the dry matter production in increments of up to 9 Mg ha-1 for the variety of elephant grass Venezuela. The overall average CO2 soil efflux was 2.07; 2.73 and 1.67 μmol m-2 s-1 for the areas of Caatinga, grasses and eucalyptus, respectively. Areas had the same CO2 soil efflux behavior. In dry periods the emissions were lower than in the rain periods. There was a correlation among CO2 soil efflux with temperature and soil moisture.