SHEEP MANURE INCREASES THE WATER HOLDING AND MAINTENANCE CAPACITY OF SOIL IN THE CARIRI PARAIBANO REGION

Abstract

Soil organic matter contributes to the sustainability of agricultural systems, as it influences the physical, chemical and biological attributes of the soil, stabilizing the productivity of agroecosystems. The organic matter content in the soil benefits the increase of the cation exchange capacity, ensuring the nutrients in the soil and reducing its losses due to leaching. In this sense, the objective was to evaluate different doses of sheep manure for retention and maintenance of water in the soil in the Microregion of Cariri, in Paraíba state. The design used was completely randomized with six doses of sheep manure (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%, w/w) and four replications. Weighing evaluations were carried out for six days, every 24 h, to determine the percentage of available water in relation to the soil dry mass (w/w). Data were subjected to analysis of variance at a 5% probability of error and means of sheep manure doses were submitted to polynomial regression. Sheep manure increases the capacity of retaining and maintaining water in the soil of Cariri, in Paraíba state, being an alternative to alleviate the problems caused by the loss of water through leaching and, therefore, improving the productive capacity of the soil and the life of producers.