WATER REQUIREMENT AND CROP COEFFICIENT OF MAIZE AND COWPEA IN SOLE AND INTERCROPPING SYSTEMS

Authors

  • Luciana Sandra Bastos de Souza Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada - UAST/UFRPE, Caixa Postal 063, CEP 56900-000, Serra Talhada, PE.
  • Magna Soelma Beserra de Moura Embrapa Semiárido, BR 428, km 152, Caixa Postal 23, CEP 56302-970, Petrolina, PE.
  • Gilberto Chohaku Sediyama Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV/DEA, CEP 36570-000, Viçosa, MG.
  • Thieres George Freire da Silva Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada - UAST/UFRPE, Caixa Postal 063, CEP 56900-000, Serra Talhada, PE.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252015v28n417rc

Keywords:

Crop coefficient. Water demand. Soil water balance. Irrigation. Intercropping.

Abstract

In order to determine the water requirement and crop coefficient for the different phenological stages on corn plants (Zea mays L.) and cowpea plants (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in intercropping and sole cropping systems under the climatic conditions of the Brazilian semiarid. The experiment was conducted in the city of Petrolina, PE. Shoots total dry mass and photosynthetically active radiation intercepted for both crops were monitored. Furthermore, it was obtained the evapotranspiration (ETc) by the soil water balance method. With these data and reference evapotranspiration it was obtained crop coefficient (Kc), which were subsequently used to adjust models as a function of accumulated degree days. With the results, it was found the water re-quirements from maize and cowpea intercropped system were greater than the sole system. Kc in the intercropped system was 0.90, 1.30, 1.20 and 0.72 for maize and 0.86, 1.30, 1.21 and 0.91 for cowpea, respectively, for the vegetative, flowering, grain filling and ripening stages. In the sole system, these values were, 0.86, 1.23, 0.97 and 0.52 for maize and 0.68, 1.02, 1.06 and 0.63 for cowpea in those phases mentioned. The variations of the Kc values for both systems and cultures have been associated to the increase of biomass and light interception. The Gaussian model adjusted properly described the relationship between Kc and accumulated degree days.

Author Biographies

  • Luciana Sandra Bastos de Souza, Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada - UAST/UFRPE, Caixa Postal 063, CEP 56900-000, Serra Talhada, PE.
    Meteorologia Agrícola
  • Magna Soelma Beserra de Moura, Embrapa Semiárido, BR 428, km 152, Caixa Postal 23, CEP 56302-970, Petrolina, PE.
    Dr. em Recursos Naturais
  • Gilberto Chohaku Sediyama, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV/DEA, CEP 36570-000, Viçosa, MG.
    Prof. Titular
  • Thieres George Freire da Silva, Unidade Acadêmica de Serra Talhada - UAST/UFRPE, Caixa Postal 063, CEP 56900-000, Serra Talhada, PE.
    Dr. em Meteorologia Agrícola

Published

18-11-2015

Issue

Section

Agricultural Engineering