Desempenho de técnicas conservacionistas no controle da umidade, erosão hídrica e na produtividade do milho no semiárido pernambucano

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the performance of conservation techniques in experimental plots in the Ultisol abrúptico Eutrophic, to support planning and management of rainfed agriculture and availability of water resources in Pesqueira / PE. In additionally, it was determined the influence of mulching on soil and water losses by erosion in dystrophic Ultisol, using simulated rainfall in laboratory. This experiment was conducted with soil different from the previous due to the high cost of transporting the same. We performed the analysis of the dynamics of moisture and productivity of maize, considering natural rainfall in plots under different land cover types: bare soil (SD); growing corn vegetative drawstring with cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica Mill., (P) to form barriers to contain runoff, spaced 0.25 x 0.5 x 3.0 m, soil with natural cover (CN), corn cropped using stones, with approximately 8 cm high and 10 cm wide with 1 m distance between the rails, associated with mulch (BCM) and maize cultivation downhill (MA). Maize (Zea mays L.) in the period from April 14 to July 19 of the year 2011, and mulch used, available in the region, was the straw elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), with a density of 7 Mg ha -1, applied 20 days after sowing of maize. It was conducted biweekly monitoring of soil moisture, as well as biometrics culture. For the tests performed in the laboratory, used a rainfall simulator and experimental plots of dimensions 1.0 x 0.5 (0.5 m2), and 20 cm deep, with three replicates for each treatment, which were made 9 tests in total, with the absence and presence of mulch. The density of soil mulch, used the plots were 6 and 12 Mg ha-1 straw of sugar cane. Among the treatments evaluated in the field as well as in the laboratory, the mulch allowed greater control water erosion and maintaining humidity, to contribute to the process of water infiltration into the soil in relation to treatment with bare soil, and encourage the development maize under rainfed conditions.