Search

The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics and chemical composition for different cropping systems of the culture of forage palm (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) P. Mill). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement 2x2x2 with four repetitions. The factors corresponded to plants exposed to the sun or shaded (by Spondias spp.), Cladodes planting position of forage palm (facing wide face east/west or north/south) and with or without organic fertilization with cattle manure cutting. The Forager Palma was planted with a spacing of 1,0m x 0,5m in Quixadá, Ceará, Brazil. The experiment was conducted from November 2003 to November 2007, being held two cutting. green mass production every two years and the dry matter production was evaluated. The chemical composition was evaluated in the final cut. Shading with Caja (Spondias ssp.) With 1,5m tall promoted reduction in green mass production of forage cactus, which was not observed in the second cut to dry mass. In the second cut palm that received organic fertilizer obtained higher green mass production with 60,48t ha-1. Planting position of the spineless cactus cladodes influenced the amount of acid detergent fiber. The spineless cactus must be planted without shading, with direction of the widest part of cladodes in the east/west planting and organic fertilization of manure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to evaluate growth responses of Gliricídia sepium under different cutting managements. The statistical design was a randomized block design with split plots. The plots consisted of four cutoff frequencies (45, 60, 75 and 90 days) and three heights residue (30, 60 and 90 cm) with four replications, and the cut off frequency comprised the major portion of the residue height of the subplot. The analysis of growth was obtained through specific leaf area, leaf area index, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate and growth rate of the culture, and also evaluated the dry mass of leaves per cutting, stem dry weight by cutting, leaf dry mass and total dry mass of stem full. The plants managed with 90 days cutoff frequency had higher specific leaf area and leaf area index, the same was observed for 90 cm waste of time. The highest growth rate cultural was 2.63 g/m²·dia obtained in the management of cutting frequency of 45 days and residue height of 90 cm. At the same management cut off was observed for the maximum relative growth rate which was 0.016 g g-1 dia-1 and higher net assimilation rate with 1.32 g/m²·dia, both rates were obtained in period of 3° to 4° cut (rainy season). For cutting management often 90 days and then observed a higher dry matter yield of leaf and stem by cutting and total. In the 90 cm height residue was higher dry matter yield of leaf and stem by cutting and total. The management of cut influences the growth and production of herbage mass of G. sepium, according to rainfall in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]