Avaliação de estratégia de enriquecimento com Cereus jamacaru dc. introduzido por propagação vegetativa em área de clareira no semiárido paraibano.

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the survival and development rates of Cereus jamacaru DC., by vegetative propagation in clearing areas in the semiarid region of Paraíba. The work was carried out in the Experimental Space Reserved for Studies on Ecology and Dynamics of the Caatinga - Area II (7°39'42.03'' S and 36°53'46.61'' W; 528 m altitude). Three clearings were planted, totaling 223 cladodes, arranged in rows spaced 1 m between plants and 2 m between rows. cladodes height and diameter were measured after planting, and monthly monitoring of survival and reproductive phenophases. In addition to the monitoring, precipitation data were collected for the period of the experiment, in order to relate them to the behavior of the plants. Regarding plant mortality, it was observed that it did not occur in the months following planting, but from May, when the peak was recorded with 33 individuals, and mortality was observed in July, when the death of nine individuals, accounting for 18.8% of the total number of cladodes implanted. Analyzing rainfall data for the period from May to July, we observed the occurrence of regular and well distributed rainfall, with a cumulative total of 105.7 mm in the three months. As for reproductive phenology, it is possible that the cladodes began to express the phenophases in the month of May, when the flowering of 33 and the fruiting of 21 individuals were registered. For the month of June the number of individuals was observed decreasing, expressing flowering (14) and fruiting (three). The dispersion was only verified in July in six individuals. Analyzing the occurrence of the phenophases and the precipitation recorded in the period, it is observed that in the month of May, when the peaks of flowering and fruiting occurred, the precipitation was still expressive, remaining constant and well distributed also in the month of June, when there was a decrease of the fruiting and began the dispersion of the fruits. In general, C. jamacaru was feasible for planting in a clearing area, and could become an alternative crop for farmers on their properties, serving as an important biological component of space occupation and assisting in the recovery of areas.