Herbaceous biomass yield in the saline soils during the dry and rainy seasons in the municipality of Pentecoste, CE, Brazil

ABSTRACT: This study was an endeavor undertaken to assess the biomass yield of the species that are native to a particular region characterized by saline soil, in the Irrigated Perimeter Curu-Pentecoste, in the municipality of Pentecoste-CE, corresponding to the qualities of moisture, pH and electrical conductivity (EC) of the soil. The experiment was conducted in six areas, with area 1, the one nearest to the collecting drain, the end having the highest salinity and area 6, the one furthest away from the collecting drain, the end with the lowest salinity. The factorial design with the 2 x 6 scheme was adopted, in which the first and second factors referred, respectively, to the seasons (drought and rain collection) and collection areas. In each area, eight permanent 5 x 5 m plots were demarcated, which included 8 repetitions per treatment. Within each permanent plot the quantity of forage was gathered within an area of 0.25 x 0.25 m. Soil samples were taken from a depth of 0-20 cm, and the EC, pH and soil moisture were determined. The phytomass was oven dried, after which the water content and yield were recorded. Three subsamples per area were burned in a muffle furnace to determine the percentage of ash content. The resultant high pH and EC values, typical of arid soils and related to the significantly low humidity, can cause harm to most of the crops cultivated in the Northeast of Brazil. However, the biomass yield was substantial, indicating that the species occurring there possessed adaptive mechanisms to enable them to tolerate the conditions of saline soil and water stresses prevalent there.