Análise de viabilidade da irrigação de precisão na cultura do milho (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The hydrous availability in the soil, within the same cultivated area, varies on space and time. However, the application of the irrigation lamina is accomplished likewise in the entire irrigate tilth, without taking into account the variance of the physical-hydro characteristics of the soil that influence in its capacity of retention. This present work had as objective the analysis of the variability of physical-hydro characteristics of the soil in the cultivation area, connecting them to the morphologic characteristics of two corn cultivation types (BM 1120 e BM 1115), in an irrigate area with no variation of the irrigation lamina, in order to build up a scenery that allows us to evaluate the viability of the irrigation precision for the cultivation. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area of Technologic Center from Jaguari Valley , in a town called Jaguari, in RS, in an area of 4,35ha, with a sectorial pivot irrigation system of 270º, divided in six sectors of 45º each. Within each sector were made collection points for the characterization of physical and chemical properties of soil. To evaluate the different components of the plant canopy, were collected five whole plants, within each sector, every twenty days. The irrigation was carried out equally across the area through the estimation of crop evapotranspiration by a class "A", also monitored daily to the water content of soil from the dielectric humidity sensors, installed in different sectors. At the end of the cycle were determined components of crop production for estimation of grain production in different sectors. The results were subordinate to an analysis of variation, and the averages were compared to the Tukey test to 5%. Through the generated maps the spatial variability of productivity and the physical-hydro chemical characteristics of the soil were observed. Due to the variability of the area of study, the cultivation of corn presented a variation in the 40 % productivity to the BM 1120 variety and from 56 % in the BM 1115 variety. The S6 sector was the one that presented the greatest hydrous availability to the cultivations, ergo, it showed up in more grain productivity. The cultivated area must be considered, no matter how small it is, in a heterogeneous way, accomplishing the division in sub-areas for the precise application of the irrigation lamina, in order to optimize the use of natural resources and minimize the expenditures.