AGRO-CLIMATIC SUITABILITY AND WATER REQUIREMENT FOR TANZANIA GUINEAGRASS CULTIVATION IN THE STATE OF CEARÁ

Authors

  • Nailson Lima Santos Lemos Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Nossa Senhora da Glória, SE
  • Ana Clara Rodrigues Cavalcante Center of Forage and Grassland, EMBRAPA Caprinos e Ovinos, Sobral, CE
  • Thieres George Freire da Silva Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, PE
  • José Ricardo Macedo Pezzopane Center of Research and Development, EMBRAPA Pecuária Sudeste, São Carlos, SP
  • Patrícia Menezes Santos Center of Research and Development, EMBRAPA Pecuária Sudeste, São Carlos, SP
  • Magno José Duarte Cândido Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252017v30n424rc

Keywords:

Dry matter accumulation rate. Mathematical model. Panicum maximum. Water storage capacity.

Abstract

This study aimed to define areas suitable, and the irrigation water requirement for, cultivation of Tanzania guineagrass in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Tanzania guineagrass yield was estimated by a mathematical model, which considers the crop actual evapotranspiration, resulting from the crop climatological water balance. The water requirement throughout the year was estimated for soils with a water holding capacity of 20 (shallow soils), 40 (sandy soils), 60 (soils with medium texture) and 100 mm (clay soils). The relative frequency of occurrence of monthly productions greater than 2,750 kg DM ha-1 month-1 was obtained for different areas in Ceará, representative of most of the state's economic mesoregions. Tanzania guineagrass annual yields in the state of Ceará were between 20,000-30,000 kg DM ha-1 year-1. During the rainy season, the productive potential varies with the economic mesoregion, which presents different climatic conditions. The state of Ceará is only suitable for the rainfed production of Tanzania guineagrass for 4 months each year, predominantly from February to May, while weather conditions do not favor the development of this grass in the remaining months.

Author Biographies

  • Nailson Lima Santos Lemos, Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Nossa Senhora da Glória, SE
    Departamento de zootecnia Área: forragicultura e produção de ruminantes
  • Ana Clara Rodrigues Cavalcante, Center of Forage and Grassland, EMBRAPA Caprinos e Ovinos, Sobral, CE
    Área: avaliação e manejo de forrageiras nativas e cultivadas
  • Thieres George Freire da Silva, Academic Unit of Serra Talhada, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, PE
    Departamento de agronomia Área: modelagem aplicada a sistemas agropecuários
  • José Ricardo Macedo Pezzopane, Center of Research and Development, EMBRAPA Pecuária Sudeste, São Carlos, SP
    Área: agrometeorologia
  • Patrícia Menezes Santos, Center of Research and Development, EMBRAPA Pecuária Sudeste, São Carlos, SP
    Área: fisiologia e manejo de plantas forrageiras
  • Magno José Duarte Cândido, Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE
    Departamento de zootecnia Área: Manejo e Conservação de Pastagens

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Published

14-06-2017

Issue

Section

Zootechnics