Use of carnauba palm bagana in irrigated coriander production in a semi-arid region

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Abstract
In regions with limited water resources, such as the Brazilian semiarid region, the use of soil cover can make irrigated agriculture more efficient. The present work aims to analyze the potential use of carnauba bagana as mulch to reduce water use in irrigated coriander production. The experiment was conducted between June and October 2018, in the municipality of Pentecoste, State of Ceará, Brazil, in a randomized block design with four replications in a 5 x 5 factorial scheme, with five irrigation depths (50%; 75%; 100%; 125% and 150% of crop evapotranspiration) and five levels of soil cover (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% equivalent to 16 t ha-1 of carnauba bagana), totaling 100 experimental plots. Growth and yield data were evaluated: number of leaves; plant height, root length, root number, root fresh mass, shoot fresh mass, shoot and root dry mass, yield and water productivity. For shoot fresh mass in the second production cycle, the regression fit as a function of soil cover was linear with an increase of 1.292 g m-2 for each unit increase of carnauba bagana in the soil. Using carnauba bagana as mulch can contribute to the production of irrigated coriander, increasing water productivity and consequently reducing water use..