Soil physical attributes and citrus productivity in agroforestry system under different levels of shadows

• Grant number: 21/11764-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Soil and Water Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Zigomar Menezes de Souza
• Grantee: Rebeka Priscila Goncalves
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola (FEAGRI). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The environmental degradation caused by conventional agriculture, which often uses commonly monoculture and cultivation in full sun, it's getting even more distinct. The high pesticide and chemical fertilizers consumption degrades the soil, which causes high levels of erosion, water, and food contamination, harming the development of future crops. The preservation of natural resources is extremely important, the reduction of chemical contamination by pesticides is necessary, mainly in Brazil, due to the fact that it's the country that consumes the most of the number of pesticides in the world and it's the fourth largest consumer of fertilizers. A sustainable model for the agricultural sector is necessary and it can be listed in the Agroforestry System, which allows the diversification of crops and provides the conservation of natural resources that contributes to the reduction of soil degradation. This current research has the objective to analyze the influence of the Agroforestry System over the productivity of citrus plants and the physical attributes of the soil and for that three varieties of citrus: Rangpur lime (Citrus bigarade), Sicilian lemon (Citrus limon) and Finger lime (Citrus australasica) will be analyzed. The natural research will be analyzed at a farm called Toca located in Itirapina-SP. The experimental design of the area will be investigated in different blocks with four treatments and three repetitions, totaling twelve plots. The soil's physical attributes will be analyzed by the granulometry, density and porosity, water quantity in the soil, and soil resistance to penetration (0.00-0.10, 0.10-0.20, and 0,20-0,40 m). Therefore, By the realization of this scientific research, it's expected to obtain data that proves the interference of the Agroforestry System considering different conditions of natural shadow, soil physical attributes, and citrus plants' productivity. (AU)