Aplicação de lodo de esgoto e ureia no consórcio maracujazeiro amarelo e algodoeiro

Abstract

Optimizing production systems is challenging in irrigated fruit farming, especially cultivating yellow passion fruit. Although it provides an alternative source of income for farmers, the crop has high nitrogen requirements and begins to produce only six to seven months after transplantation. When intercropped with short-cycle crops such as cotton and supplemented with alternative fertilization methods, like treated sewage sludge, these strategies show promising potential for maximizing the use of cultivated space with productive efficiency. Therefore, the growth and development of yellow passion fruit were evaluated when intercropped with cotton and fertilized with treated sewage sludge. The experimental design was a randomized block layout, with treatments consisting of two cultivation systems (intercropped and monoculture) and two nitrogen sources (urea and sludge), plus a control treatment where passion fruit was grown alone without fertilization. The treatments were replicated in four blocks, each plot corresponding to two passion fruit plants. Data were subjected to the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, followed by an analysis of variance and Tukey's test, using Rstudio® software. The types of fertilizers and intercropping with cotton did not affect the initial growth or water status of the passion fruit plants. However, the passion fruit's SPAD index and chlorophyll content were influenced by the type of fertilizer and intercropping. Additionally, the type of fertilizer and cultivation system affected the chemical and physical quality of the passion fruit fruits.