Manejo da irrigação no cultivo da melancia, sob diferentes coberturas e déficits hídricos, utilizando o modelo ISAREG

Abstract

A growing shortage of water due to population growth and economic development is increasing the challenges for agriculture, is which wasteful in its use, and thus necessitates effective new solutions for the management of water resources in irrigated areas, mainly located in the semiarid region, where water is limited. Moreover, in the semiarid Northeast of Brazil, predominantly irrigation is still empirical, ie, it is not performed in the appropriated irrigation management, causing wastage of scarce water resources in the region. One alternative to improve this scenario is the use of computer software used in irrigation management. The ISAREG has been used in many countries, being able to assist in the simulation of irrigation. Moreover, with adjustments in the input data it should be possible to quantify water irrigation depths that may allow maintenance of soil moisture at different percentages of storage (the available water capacity, CAD), saving water resources and increasing efficiency irrigation. Another way to reduce the use of water in agriculture is through the use of soil cover, which is a simple technology and the whose benefits on production and crop yields are compelling, especially in situations of low water availability. Added to this, it is the fact that the interaction of these technologies can extend these effects. Therefore, this research aimed to diffuse a rational management of irrigation, in the cultivation of watermelon in semiarid region, from different proposition of the "software" ISAREG and the use of different coverage on the soil to increase efficiency in water use, and reduction in resource use of water. To this end, six (6) research actions were performed in UEPE Unit (Teaching, Research and Extension) IFCE the campus Limon North-Ce, the District Irrigation Jaguaribe-Apodi DIJA. In Research Action I was setting up a field experiment with watermelon crop, aiming at determining the variables used in the simulation of ISAREG software. In Action II a field research was carried out with the DIJA irrigators, regarding irrigation management adopted by them. During the Research Action III simulations using the ISAREG, and the preparation of proposals for irrigation were performed. The Action IV consisted of the analysis of efficiency in the simulation of the ISAREG model process. In the Action V field experiments, with the propositions generated by ISAREG model, and the modal management adopted by the DIJA irrigators versus differentiated coverage conditions in soil were performed. These were conducted under design in randomized complete block, split-plot design with 4 replications. Treatments included a combination of 04 irrigation propositions (three propositions of ISAREG: M1 = 100% maintenance of CAD, M2 and M3 80% 60% and M4, modal water depth irrigators) that constituted the plots and 04 sub-plots, with 03 soil cover conditions (coverage with rice husk with "mulching" white and "mulching" black, called C1, C2 and C3), and the sub-plot 4, the bare soil, called C0. Moisture conditions of the soil and the characteristics of development, production, productivity and post-harvest watermelon crop were analyzed. The results were subjected to analysis of variance, and when significant, were submitted to regression analysis (quantitative, water depths), the average (qualitative, coverage) and trend graphs (interaction between factors) test. The results were also certain financial indicators (TIR and VPL) and calculated the efficiency of water use. Finally, through Action Research VI was eddied a handbook of practical and informative nature, for distribution DIJA to extension agents and public users of these technologies and innovations. In conclusion, among others, can be said that: the factor of water availability (p) was 0.20 in F1, phenological phase 1; 0.19 in stage 2; 0.175 in phase 3; 0.17 to 4; F5 0.19; and 0.205 in F6; irrigators do not practice proper irrigation management, applying daily modal water depth of 6.3 mm; the irrigator applies throughout the life of the watermelon, more water than the indication of the larger water depth ISAREG (100% CAD), generating considerable loss by deep percolation; the larger moisture in the soil were observed in the experimental conditions with larger water depths applied to coverages of rice husk and "mulching" white; the lowest were found in bare soil; In general, plants irrigated M1 irrigated by the depth and covered on soils of rice hulls and "mulching" white plants demonstrated better productive and post-harvest characteristics; financial indicators showed that in all situations analyzed the investment is feasible, however, the highest returns were mainly in plants under M1 and rice husk and "mulching" white, as opposed to the M3 and bare soil; greater efficiency of water use was observed in the condition M3 with depth cover "mulching" white and the smallest in M4 with bare soil; ISAREG the model when fed properly with all the variables required for it, proved to be efficient in simulating the water balance, even under deficit irrigation in the cultivation of watermelon in DIJA.