Captación de agua de lluvia y retención de humedad edáfica en el establecimiento de buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris L.)

Abstract

Drylands are of high ecological vulnerability due to low vegetative cover and erratic and torrential rainfalls. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of different sources and rates of soil moisture retainers in the establishment of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L) in a micro watershade system of rainwater. A randomized block design with three replications was used. Four hydrogel doses: 0, 5, 10 and 15 kg ha -1 and two vermicompost doses: 0 and 40 t ha -1 , were tested. The dose effect of the hydrogel was independent of vermicompost dose effect, on soil moisture retention and the growth and development of the plant. The soil moisture values when 5, 10 and 15 kg hydrogel ha -1 were applied (25, 23.2 and 23.4 %, respectively) were higher (P0.05), than the control (17.5 %) 241 d after sowing (das). However, there were not statistical differences among doses of hydrogel other than the control. A similar effect was found at 346 das; but not to 372 das, where the effect was lost. Plant emergency was significantly higher (47.7 %) when 15 kg ha -1 of hydrogel were applied, compared to the control (29 %) (P0.05). Plant height and weight of dry matter and a higher photosynthetic activity were significantly greater in treatments with hydrogel than in the control; there were not statistical differences among doses. Finally, the application of 40 t ha -1 vermicompost significantly increased the moisture content in the soil and a higher amount of buffel grass dry matter.

Management Practices and Bioproductivity in Grassland of Dry Areas

“…Hydrogels offer properties of retention and slow release of water in the soil, either under conditions of immediate or prolonged irrigation, in addition to conserving moisture in the root zone of crops [37]; however, in this study, the properties of the hydrogel were not observed. Other authors highlighted hydrogel applications in buffel grass in arid climates, improved seedling emergence, plant height, dry matter weight and vegetation cover [34]. This positive effect was associated with hydrogels that significantly improved absorption capacity of easily removable water of the soils; although the effectiveness of the gel in improving water retention varies according to the type of soil [38].…”

“…The integration of vegetation covering, as well as the use of moisture retainers, as a way to reduce the high rate of evaporation, key options to be widely adopted. However, so far, they are little explored and hence poorly implemented environment degraded by soil erosion and desertification [34,35].…”

Water Harvesting and Soil Water Retention Practices for Forage Production in Degraded Areas in Arid Lands of Mexico

“…In this survey, four dosages of hydrogel were evaluated: 0, 5, 10, and 15 kg ha −1 as well as two compost dosages: 0 and 40 t ha −1 based on dry weight, in the catch system of rainfall water as an experimental unit of 2 m 2 each one. The hydrogel and organic compost were incorporated to the soil manually [27].…”

Efecto de la cobertura del suelo sobre el crecimiento y productividad del zacate buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) en suelos degradados de zonas áridas

“…El levantamiento de bordos en curvas a nivel, construcción de mampostería que disminuya la velocidad del agua de lluvia, sistemas de captación de agua de lluvia in situ a base de microcuencas, la resiembra de pastos nativos con métodos de labranza convencional, establecimiento de diferentes especies de plantas nativas o introducidas de potencial forrajero y uso de diferentes tipos de retenedores de la humedad del suelo (9) , son algunas de las tecnologías que se aplican para mitigar el problema de la erosión. La mayor parte de estas técnicas están dirigidas a la retención de la humedad en el suelo ante las altas tasas de evaporación potencial, la cual llega a ser hasta diez veces mayor que la precipitación en zonas semiáridas.…”

“…El pasto buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) es una especie introducida en México que ha mostrado adaptación a condiciones críticas de tipo ambiental en zonas semiáridas, las cuales sustentan en gran medida, su economía en la ganadería extensiva de agostadero (13,14) . Aun cuando esta especie de pasto tiene un alto potencial de adaptación y desarrollo en suelos degradados de zonas semiáridas (9,15) , el establecimiento de esta especie forrajera en condiciones ambientales marginales requiere de un manejo adecuado de los recursos naturales, que garantice su germinación, crecimiento y productividad acorde a su potencial de desarrollo (16,17) . Desde esta perspectiva, las coberturas vegetales en el suelo y otros retenedores de humedad edáfica, entre otras prácticas, están probando ser una estrategia eficaz en el desarrollo sustentable de áreas ganaderas a base de pastizal en suelos degradados de zonas áridas (6,18,19) .…”