Climate change has become a global threat and a cause of uncertainty for numerous economic sectors, particularly agriculture. Several studies addressing the impacts of climate change can be found in ...the literature; however, studies on strategies to improve sustainability in orchards are scarce. Bananas are of great economic importance in tropical regions, and their production is characterized by high consumption of natural resources, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts. This study aimed to identify critical points in banana production, understand how they influence future footprints, and develop strategies to reduce current footprints. Life cycle assessment was used to estimate water scarcity (ISO 14046) and carbon (ISO 14067) footprints. Results are presented per 1 kg of banana. Primary data from 10-year averages were collected from farms located in the Lower Jaguaribe sub-basin. The results revealed that the carbon footprint ranged from 0.21 to 0.84 kg CO2 eq kg−1 in 2023, whereas the water scarcity footprint reached 1441 m3 eq kg−1. Under the current scenario, yield improvement could reduce carbon footprint by up to 57.9%, and greater efficiency in water use could decrease water footprint by up to 77%. In 2055, projections suggest that improvements in irrigation could lead to reductions of 5% in carbon footprint and 24.9% in water scarcity footprint. The findings of this study highlight the importance of adopting a sustainable approach to banana production, emphasizing the need to improve natural resource management and promote conscious agricultural practices, such as no-till farming and polyculture, which favor carbon sequestration. The use of plants that perform biological nitrogen fixation can reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizers, in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Public policies focused on providing technical assistance to farmers are crucial for achieving environmentally sustainable production and enhancing resilience to climate change and water scarcity.
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•Urgent action is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in banana production.•Water scarcity results from uncontrolled water use in banana cropping systems.•Future alert: high carbon and water scarcity footprint demand better water management.
A salinidade é um estresse abiótico recorrente em regiões áridas e semiáridas, que afeta negativamente o estabelecimento e crescimento das plantas, porém, o cultivo de espécies ornamentais como a ...Celosia argentea pode tolerar condições salinas. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a emergência e o crescimento de plântulas de Celosia argentea cultivada sob diferentes condutividades elétricas da água de irrigação. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, no mês de julho de 2021. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram cinco condutividades elétricas da água de irrigação (CEa), sendo: 0,5; 1,5; 2,5; 3,5 e 4,5 dS m-1. Foram analisadas as variáveis de emergência (porcentagem de emergência, tempo médio de emergência, velocidade média de emergência e índice de velocidade de emergência) e as variáveis de crescimento (altura de plântula, número de folhas, diâmetro do caule, comprimento da raiz primária, massa seca da parte aérea e massa seca de raiz). 1- A salinidade moderada melhora o vigor das sementes, aumentando a porcentagem de mudas de C. argentea que emergem, culminando em crescimento inicial satisfatório. A condutividade elétrica 2,5 dS m-1 é o limiar de salinidade que mantém a espécie C. argentea tolerante, acima do limiar torna-se sensível aos sais.
ABSTRACT Proper management of brackish water can increase plant production in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production performance and water use ...efficiency of two peanut genotypes irrigated with brackish water during the reproductive stage, in soil with and without soil cover. The study was conducted in a greenhouse. The experimental design used was randomized blocks, with four replicates, in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial scheme (two electrical conductivities of irrigation water - ECw 0.9 and 5.0 dS m-1, two peanut genotypes - AC 130 and cv. BR1, and the presence or absence of soil cover). At 72 days after sowing, harvest was performed and the following variables were evaluated: number of marketable pods, number of non-marketable pods, pod mass, diameter and length, production and water use efficiency. Salinity impacted production more than the water use efficiency in the two peanut genotypes, with the relative reduction in production being higher in cv. BR-1. Soil cover with dead plant material mitigated the effects of salinity on production and increased water use efficiency, only in genotype AC 130.
Dry spells in rainfed agriculture lead to a significant reduction in crop yield or to total loss. Supplemental irrigation (SI) with brackish water can reduce the negative impacts of dry spells on net ...CO2 assimilation in rainfed farming in semi-arid tropical regions and maintain crop productivity. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the net carbon assimilation rates, indexes for water use efficiency, and indicators of salt and water stress in maize plants under different water scenarios, with and without supplemental irrigation with brackish water. The experiment followed a randomized block design in a split-plot design with four replications. The main plots simulated four water scenarios found in the Brazilian semi-arid region (Rainy, Normal, Drought, and Severe Drought), while the subplots were with or without supplemental irrigation using brackish water with an electrical conductivity of 4.5 dS m−1. The dry spells reduced the photosynthetic capacity of maize, especially under the Drought (70% reduction) and Severe Drought scenarios (79% reduction), due to stomatal and nonstomatal effects. Supplemental irrigation with brackish water reduced plant water stress, averted the excessive accumulation of salts in the soil and sodium in the leaves, and improved CO2 assimilation rates. The supplemental irrigation with brackish water also promoted an increase in the physical water productivity, reaching values 1.34, 1.91, and 3.03 times higher than treatment without SI for Normal, Drought, and Severe Drought scenarios, respectively. Thus, the use of brackish water represents an important strategy that can be employed in biosaline agriculture for tropical semi-arid regions, which are increasingly impacted by water shortage. Future studies are required to evaluate this strategy in other important crop systems under nonsimulated conditions, as well as the long-term effects of salts on different soil types in this region.
Cotton yield under the rainfed farming system in tropical semi-arid regions is significantly decreased by prolonged dry spells. In this context, supplemental irrigation (SI) with treated wastewater ...emerges as a strategy for the sustainability of agricultural production besides contributing to the reduction of fertilizer costs. The objective of this research was to evaluate the productivity, photosynthetic parameters, fiber quality, and profitability of cotton cultivation, under supplemental irrigation (SI) with municipal treated wastewater (MTW), with and without mineral fertilization. The treatments consisted of three water scenarios (normal, drought, and severe drought), defined by the historical series of precipitation data of 30 years, and two treatments of supplemental irrigation with MTW, with or without NPK fertilization. SI with treated wastewater increased cotton yield in all three scenarios (normal, drought, and severe drought) by approximately 29%, 255%, and 251%. Longer dry spells in drought and severe drought scenarios increased the volume of SI with MTW, resulting in greater nutrient input to the soil, improved photosynthetic response, higher physical water productivity, reduction in fertilizer costs, and higher farmers’ income. Therefore, our results show the importance of using treated wastewater in supplemental irrigation of cotton under scenarios of water scarcity in tropical semi-arid regions.
Climate change significantly impacts agriculture and forage production, requiring the implementation of strategies toward increased water and energy use efficiency. So, this study investigated the ...yield of forage cactus (Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw) under different irrigation depths using brackish groundwater (1.7 dS m−1), whose management was based on reference evapotranspiration (ETo) estimated by the Hargreave–Samani (HS) and Penman–Monteith (PM) equations. The research was conducted in Independência, Ceará, Brazil, under the tropical semi-arid climate. A randomized block design in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme was employed, varying the ET0 estimation equations (HS and PM) and irrigation levels (0; 20; 40; 70; and 100% of total required irrigation—TRI). Growth, productivity, and water use efficiency variables were evaluated at 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment initiation. The economic analysis focused on added value, farmer income, and social reproduction level. The results showed no isolated effect of the equations or their interaction with irrigation depths on the analyzed variables, suggesting that irrigation management can be effectively performed using the simpler HS equation. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference between the means of 100% and 70% TRI as well as between 70% and 40% TRI for most variables. This indicates satisfactory crop yield under deficit irrigation. Dry matter productivity and farmer income at 12 months resulting from complementary irrigation with depths between 40% and 70% of TRI were significantly higher than under rainfed conditions. The 70% depth resulted in yields equivalent to those at 100% TRI, with the social reproduction level being achieved on 0.65 hectares in the second year.
ABSTRACT The fava bean crop makes an important socioeconomic contribution to the Northeast region of Brazil. However, in this region, there is a quantitative and qualitative shortage of water, being ...necessary the use of brackish water for irrigation. This study aimed to evaluate the saline stress on the yield and water-use efficiency in fava bean crop cultivated under monoculture and intercropping systems. The experiment was conducted under field conditions, using a randomized blocks experimental design, in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement, with four replications. The first factor corresponded to five levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 dS m−1) and the second comprised two cropping systems: fava bean grown in monoculture and intercropped with corn. The salt stress negatively affected the number of pods in the intercropped system, but with less intensity. The increase of salts in the irrigation water reduces the pod length, diameter and mass, as well as the yield and water-use efficiency, while the monoculture system is less affected by these effects.
RESUMO A cultura da fava desempenha importante contribuição socioeconômica para a região Nordeste do Brasil. Contudo, nessa região, há escassez quantitativa e qualitativa de água, sendo necessária a utilização de água salobra para a irrigação. Objetivou-se avaliar o estresse salino na produtividade e eficiência do uso de água na cultura de fava cultivada em sistemas de monocultivo e consorciado. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de campo, com delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 5 × 2, com quatro repetições. O primeiro fator correspondeu a cinco níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação (1,0; 2,0; 3,0; 4,0; e 5,0 dS m−1) e o segundo compreendeu dois sistemas de cultivo: fava cultivada em monocultivo e em consórcio com milho. O estresse salino afetou negativamente o número de vagens no sistema consorciado, porém com menor intensidade. O aumento dos sais da água de irrigação reduz o comprimento, diâmetro e massa de vagens, produtividade e eficiência no uso da água, sendo que o sistema de monocultivo é menos afetado por esses efeitos.
Objetivou-se avaliar o crescimento inicial e os teores foliares de macronutrientes em plantas de quiabo (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) em função de diferentes doses e tipos de biofertilizantes. O ...experimento foi conduzido na fazenda experimental Piroás da Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (Unilab), no município de Redenção (CE). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2, referente a cinco doses de biofertilizante (0,0; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5 e 2,0 L planta-1 semana-1) e a dois tipos de biofertilizante (bovino e caprino). Foram analisadas as variáveis: altura de planta (AP), área foliar (AF), número de folhas (NF), diâmetro do caule (DC) e teores foliares de nitrogênio (N), fósforo (P), potássio (K), cálcio (Ca) e magnésio (Mg). O incremento das doses de biofertilizante contribuiu de forma positiva nas variáveis AP, AF, NF e DC. O insumo bovino foi mais eficiente quando comparado ao caprino para as variáveis AF e NF. O teor de N nas folhas foi elevado com o incremento das doses de biofertilizante. O fertilizante caprino promoveu um maior conteúdo de K nas folhas quando comparado ao bovino. Com a elevação das doses dos biofertilizantes bovino e caprino, os teores foliares de P, Mg e Ca foram reduzidos.
ABSTRACT The use of management strategies or changes in the cultivation environment can reduce the impacts of irrigation water salinity on plant development. Therefore, in this research, ...physiological responses, initial growth, and plant quality of Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan (Angico Branco) were evaluated under different levels of shading and electrical conductivity of the irrigation water, seeking to identify the most favorable conditions for the development of this species using brackish water. The experiment was carried out in randomized blocks with split plots and four replications. The plots were formed by four environments with different shading levels: 0 (full sun), 30, 50, and 70%, and the subplots, formed by five increasing levels of electrical conductivity of the irrigation water: 0.4, 1.6, 2.8, 4.0, and 5.2 dS.m−1. The following variables were evaluated: substrate electrical conductivity, leaf gas exchange, plant height, biomass production, and Dickson quality index at 40 days in a nursery. The use of artificial shading favored plant development and photosynthesis rate, even when irrigated with moderate and high salinity water. The DQI showed that A. colubrina plants presented higher quality index when produced under intermediate shading (30% and 50%), with yield losses below 20% when irrigated with water with electrical conductivity up to 2.8 dS.m−1.
RESUMO O uso de estratégias de manejo ou alterações no ambiente de cultivo podem reduzir os impactos da salinidade da água de irrigação sobre o desenvolvimento vegetal. Assim, nessa pesquisa foram avaliadas respostas fisiológicas, crescimento inicial e qualidade de plantas de Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan (Angico Branco) sob diferentes níveis de sombreamento e condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação, buscando-se identificar as condições mais favoráveis para o desenvolvimento dessa espécie utilizando-se águas salobras. O experimento foi realizado em blocos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas e quatro repetições. As parcelas foram formadas por quatro ambientes com diferentes níveis de sombreamento: 0 (pleno sol), 30, 50 e 70%, e as subparcelas, formadas por cinco níveis crescentes de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação: 0,4, 1,6, 2,8, 4,0 e 5,2 dS.m−1. Foram avaliadas as variáveis: condutividade elétrica do substrato, trocas gasosas foliares, altura de plantas, produção de biomassa e índice de qualidade de Dickson aos 40 dias em viveiro. O uso do sombreamento artificial favoreceu o desenvolvimento das plantas e a taxa de fotossíntese, mesmo quando irrigadas com água de moderada e elevada salinidade. O IQD mostrou que as plantas de A. colubrina apresentaram maior índice de qualidade quando produzidas sob sombreamento intermediário (30% e 50%), com perdas no rendimento inferiores a 20% quando irrigadas com água com condutividade elétrica de até 2,8 dS.m−1.
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