Desempenho produtivo e necessidades hídricas da cultura do milho em diferentes texturas de solo em Imperatriz, MA

Abstract

The ideal development of agricultural crops depends directly on the interaction between the components of the soil-plant-atmosphere system, which include factors such as soil water availability, the evapotranspiration process, and the efficiency with which plants use this water. In corn crops, productivity losses are largely caused by water deficits. Therefore, analyzing the appropriate time when critical periods occur is of great importance for satisfactory yield performance. Thus, through the analysis of the water balance and according to the soil texture, this study aims to estimate the productivity and water requirements of corn crops in the municipality of Imperatriz, MA. The meteorological data for calculating the crop water balance were obtained from the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), in which the available water capacity (CAD) values were also adopted for each type of soil: sandy, clayey, and medium texture, in which the corn crop cycle was 110 days. From the results obtained, it can be inferred that corn productivity is directly impacted by water availability in relation to total rainfall. In the months of June to September, the combination of lack of rainfall and high-water demand of the crop (evapotranspiration) compromises productivity, especially in sandy soils. With the cycle beginning during the months of January, February and December, water availability is satisfactory to meet the needs of the crop, with relative productivity above 90% in all soil types.