Biomass Use of Merremia Aegyptia and Calotropis Procera in Coriander Cultivation in Semiarid Environment

Abstract

Green manuring with spontaneous species from the Caatinga has emerged as a viable alternative to supply vegetables with nutrients and thus increase their productivity. This study aimed to evaluate and estimate the maximum physical and economic efficiencies of coriander productive characteristics as a function of equitable biomass amounts of hairy woodrose [Merremia aegyptia (L.) Urban] and roostertree [Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T.] in different cropping seasons. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five treatments and five replicates. The treatments consisted of green manure amounts (16, 29, 42, 55, and 68 t ha-1 on a dry basis). A treatment without fertilization (control) was used in each experiment. The maximum agronomic efficiency (coriander green mass yield) was possible with the incorporation of equitable amounts of 49.56 t ha-1 of M. aegyptia and C. procera biomass, respectively. The maximum economic efficiency of production (evaluated in terms of net income and rate of return) of this leafy vegetable was achieved with the addition to the soil of 42.68 and 41.64 t ha-1 of biomass of these green manures, respectively. The net income and the rate of return optimized for these amounts of green manures were 30,243.92 R$ ha-1 and 2.79 reais for each real invested in the production of this leafy vegetable. The use of biomass from Merremia aegyptia and Calotropis procera from the Caatinga biome proved to be a viable technology for producers who practice the cultivation of coriander when monocropping in a semiarid environment.

Agro-bioeconomic feasibility of immature cowpea and beet cultivar combinations in a semi-arid environment

“…The economic indexes evaluated in the intercropping system were gross income (GI), determined by multiplying the value of production obtained per hectare by the price paid to the producer at the market level in the region in October 2016 and December 2017. The net income (NI) was calculated using the following expression: NI = GI -TC, where TC represents the total costs of the treatment (FERREIRA et al, 2022). The rate of return (RR) was obtained by the ratio between gross income and total costs (RR = GI / TC).…”

Agro-economic optimization of radish cultivation fertilized with doses of roostertree in a semi-arid environment

“…The economic indicators quantified in each treatment studied were: gross income (GI) expressed in R$ ha -1 (obtained by multiplying the productivity of commercial roots of each treatment, by the value of the product paid to the producer in the region, in the value of 6.15 R$ kg -1 in September 2022; net income (NI) also expressed in R$ ha -1 (calculated by subtracting from gross income), total production costs (TPC) of each treatment in the use of inputs and services. The rate of return (RR) was obtained through the relationship between the GI and the production total costs (TPC) of each treatment, corresponding to how many reals would be obtained, for each real invested as a function of the treatment factor studied, and the profit margin (PM), determined by the ratio between NI and GI, expressed as a percentage (FERREIRA et al, 2022).…”

“…It shows medicinal properties, being a natural expectorant and stimulant of the digestive system. It is also rich in phosphorus, calcium, potassium, sulfur, thiamine, and riboflavin, as well as vitamins A, B1, and B2 (FILGUEIRA, 2013;NUNES et al, 2020). Its cultivation occurs in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil, where there are 281 production units (IBGE, 2017).…”