The Effect of Using Compost on Cowpea Productivity in the Semi-Arid Region of Brazil
Debora Viviane Alves
Researcher and Member of the Jitirana Research group of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Paulo César Ferreira Linhares *
Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, leader of the Jitirana Research Group, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Maria Eduarda Pereira dos Santos
Researcher and Member of the Jitirana Research group of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Leonardo Angelo Mendonça
Researcher and Member of the Jitirana Research group of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Rita de Cássia dos Santos Dantas
Researcher and Member of the Jitirana Research group of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Mateus de Freitas Almeida dos Santos
Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Bruno Lucas Medeiros de Freitas
Researcher and Member of the Jitirana Research group of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Thiffany Louhanne Alves Dantas
Researcher and Member of the Jitirana Research group of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Maria Cecília Costa Godeiro
Researcher and Member of the Jitirana Research group of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Lunara de Sousa Alves
Jitirana Research Group (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development-CNPQ), Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Jezimiel Oliveira da Silva
Researcher and Member of the Jitirana Research group of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Uilma Laurentino da Silva
Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Walter Martins Rodrigues
Federal Rural University of the Semi-arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
Bianca Alves Souza
Researcher and Member of the Jitirana Research group of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The production of cowpea is part of the agricultural activities of farmers in the semi-arid region of Brazil, being important in the aspect of acquiring income and source of food, in this sense, the use of rooster tree (Calotropis procera) mixed with cattle manure in cowpea productivity in the semi-arid region of Brazil. The experiment was conducted from August to November 2023 at the Rafael Fernandes experimental farm, in the district of Alagoinha (5º03'37 "S, 37º23'50" W), northwest of Mossoró, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with an area of 400 hectares. The experimental design used was randomized complete blocks in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, with three replications. The first factor consisted of four quantities of cattle manure (0.0; 1.1; 2.2 and 4.4 kg m-2), the second factor being the presence and absence of rooster tree. Each plot consisted of dimensions of 2.2 m x 1.2 m, with a total area of 2.64 m2. Each plot had eight holes with three plants, making a population of 90,900 plants ha-1. After harvesting the dried pods, they were stored in plastic bags, identified and taken to the DCAF/UFERSA Post-Harvest laboratory, where the following characteristics were measured: pod length, expressed in cm, number of pods plant-1, expressed in plant-1 units, weight of five pods, expressed in grams, weight of 100 grains, expressed in grams and dry grain productivity, expressed in kg ha-1. The highest cowpea productivity was observed at a dose of 4.4 kg m-2, with a maximum value of 2,858.85 kg ha-1. The presence of rooster tree did not influence any of the characteristics evaluated. The use of cattle manure is an option for farmers in the semi-arid region.
Keywords: Food production, agroecological agriculture and family farming