Fitometria do milheto (pennisetum galucum L.) e do sorgo (sorghum bicolor L.) sob dois espaçamentos e adubação orgânica no Cariri Paraibano.

Abstract

Considering the advance of soil degradation that severely compromises the quality of life and food security, sobreturo in the areas of family agro-ecosystems of semiarid region, it is essential that research enable viable alternatives for farmers, for the establishment of economic, ecological and social balance of region. In this sense it is important to identify forage species with a short cycle that can contribute to animal feed and the promotion of soil fertility, identifying the best means of production. It is important to know the best spacing for biomass production of short-cycle fodder, to promote a productivity that is interesting for local producers. This study aimed to evaluate the fitometria of pearl millet and sorghum produced under organic fertilization and in two spaces, when grown in Cariri of Paraiba. The experiment was conducted in a Luvisol. It was used the experimental randomized block design, with four replications. The treatments were two spacings, and two fodder. The survey results indicate that the reduction in spacing influenced the growth in height of the two cultures, and although the sorghum has shown higher values, millet was evident as good fodder for the production of green biomass. Depending on the results and considering the demand for forage species of short cycle, linked the need for conservation of the family agro soils, it is possible to recommend the use of millet without losses to the farmer, due to its potential, its tolerance conditions edaphoclimatic local and culture has potential use in any of the phenological stages, by the absence of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and tannins that are toxic to cattle, and that millet exceeds sorghum in crude protein, being great alternative for the production of straw.