Environmental Seasonality Affects the Growth, Yield and Economic Viability of Irrigated Forage Species in Dry Regions

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dos Santos, Agda Raiany Mota ; de Morais, Jose Edson Florentino ; Salvador, Kaique Renan da Silva ; de Souza, Carlos Andre Alves ; Araujo Junior, George do Nascimento ; Alves, Cleber Pereira ; Jardim, Alexandre Manicoba da Rosa Ferraz ; da Silva, Marcelo Jose ; de Carvalho, Francie Gomes ; dos Santos, Ashlei Shaina Lopes ; dos Santos, Wilma Roberta ; Campos, Fleming Sena ; Gois, Glayciane Costa ; da Silva, Thieres George Freire

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE; v. N/A, p. 29-pg., 2025-01-19.

Abstract

Irrigation in semi-arid regions overcomes edaphoclimatic limitations, guaranteeing livestock farming and reducing the seasonality of forage production. The objective is therefore to evaluate the influence of seasonal variations on the development and accumulation of forage species. The study was conducted in the semi-arid region of Brazil over several harvests from 2020 to 2023 in a randomized block design with four replications, comprising pasture grasses (Brachiaria, buffel, Mombasa and Tanzania), silage crops (BRS Capia & ccedil;u, elephant grass, maize and sorghum) and protein sources (alfalfa, Gliricidia, Leucaena and Moringa) subjected to a fixed irrigation regime based on 100% reference evapotranspiration. Tanzania, BRS Capia & ccedil;u and Leucaena presented relatively high dry matter yields of 27.0, 111.3 and 36.2 Mg ha-1, respectively. The buffelgrass-sorghum-pigeonpea intercropping system was more efficient in terms of dry matter production (44.5 Mg ha-1). The economic viability varied greatly between cycles and seasons, with sorghum, BRS Capia & ccedil;u and Gliricidia standing out as having a positive benefit-cost ratio during all the cycles evaluated. This study reveals how environmental changes affect the development and yield of forage crops, providing insights for productive and economic sustainability in semi-arid regions with the use of irrigation. L'irrigation dans la r & eacute;gion semi-aride permet de surmonter les limites & eacute;daphoclimatiques, de garantir l'& eacute;levage et de r & eacute;duire la saisonnalit & eacute; de la production fourrag & egrave;re. L'objectif est donc d'& eacute;valuer l'influence des variations saisonni & egrave;res sur le d & eacute;veloppement et l'accumulation des esp & egrave;ces fourrag & egrave;res. L'& eacute;tude a & eacute;t & eacute; men & eacute;e dans la r & eacute;gion semi-aride du Br & eacute;sil sur plusieurs r & eacute;coltes de 2020 & agrave; 2023 dans un plan en blocs al & eacute;atoire avec quatre r & eacute;p & eacute;titions, comprenant des gramin & eacute;es de p & acirc;turage (Brachiaria, buffel, mombasa et tanzanie), des cultures d'ensilage (BRS Capia & ccedil;u, herbe & agrave; & eacute;l & eacute;phant, ma & iuml;s et sorgho) et des sources de prot & eacute;ines (alfalfa, Gliricidia, Leucaena et Moringa) soumises & agrave; un r & eacute;gime d'irrigation fixe bas & eacute; sur l'& eacute;vapotranspiration de r & eacute;f & eacute;rence de 100%. La Tanzanie, le BRS Capia & ccedil;u et le Leucaena ont pr & eacute;sent & eacute; des rendements en mati & egrave;re s & egrave;che plus & eacute;lev & eacute;s de 27,0, 111,3 et 36,2 Mg ha-1, respectivement. Le syst & egrave;me du culture intercalaire herbe & agrave; buffles-sorgho-pois d'Angole a & eacute;t & eacute; plus efficace en termes de production de mati & egrave;re s & egrave;che (44,5 Mg ha-1). La viabilit & eacute; & eacute;conomique a fortement vari & eacute; entre les cycles et les saisons, le sorgho, le BRS Capia & ccedil;u et le Gliricidia se distinguant par un rapport co & ucirc;t-b & eacute;n & eacute;fice positif pendant tous les cycles & eacute;valu & eacute;s. Cette & eacute;tude r & eacute;v & egrave;le comment les changements environnementaux affectent le d & eacute;veloppement et le rendement des cultures fourrag & egrave;res, fournissant des indications pour la durabilit & eacute; productive et & eacute;conomique dans les r & eacute;gions semi-arides avec l'utilisation de l'irrigation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 23/05323-4 - Plant phenology and environmental information for biodiversity and climatic change
• Grantee: Alexandre Maniçoba da Rosa Ferraz Jardim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training
• FAPESP's process: 17/22269-2 - Transition to sustainability and agriculture-energy-water nexus: exploring an integrated approach with case studies in the Cerrado and Caatinga
• Grantee: Jean Pierre Henry Balbaud Ometto
• Support Opportunities: Research Program on Global Climate Change - Thematic Grants