Temperature and humidity of soil covered with perennial herbaceous legumes in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Abstract

Agricultural sustainability of areas in semiarid region, is directly related to soil management, emphasizing especially the continuous coverage strategy. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of perennial legumes on soil coverage, temperature and moisture in the semiarid region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study used a randomized blocks experimental, with 9 m2, design and treatments consisted of bare soil cultivated with the following legumes: tropical kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides), calopo (Calopogonium mucunoides), perennial peanut (Arachis pintoi), perennial soybean (Glycine wightii) and stylosanthes Campo Grande (mixture of Stylosanthes capitata and Stylosanthes macrocephala), with four replications. Soil coverage, temperature and moisture rates were evaluated. Due to the soil protection provided by the biomass production, the use and management of cover plants in semiarid region of Minas Gerais contributed to the temperature reduction and to the conservation of soil moisture, both essential for the agricultural production in this region. Calopo, tropical kudzu and perennial peanut provided greater soil coverage and, consequently, they provided greater reduction in temperature and higher moisture retention in soil. In more advanced stages of the cycle, the perennial soybean also provided good soil coverage, temperature reduction and moisture retention in the soil.