Efeitos dos espaçamentos entre linhas e entre plantas, associado ao índice de vegetação NDVI na produção de sementes de feijão-de-porco Canavalia ensiformis L DC.

Abstract

This thesis addresses the current quest for more efficient and sustainable methods in agricultural production, considering the challenges in food and environmental domains. The significance of cowpea is underscored, not only for human consumption but also for soil quality improvement through nitrogen fixation and organic material enhancement. The thesis comprises three chapters: I) General Introduction and Literature Review; II) Effect of Plant and Row Spacing on Jack Beans Seed Production (Canavalia ensiformis) (L) DC.; and III) Correlation of Biometric Data and NDVI to Estimate Jack Beans Productivity in Tropical Conditions. The first chapter focuses on investigating the effects of different spacings on jack beans growth and development, recognizing that spacing variation influences resource allocation and, consequently, crop productivity. The second chapter explores the correlation analysis between biometric and NDVI data collected during the spacing experiment and at harvest, aiming to establish a non-destructive approach to estimate crop yield and identify the most relevant factors influencing productivity. The experiment revealed that denser spacings resulted in higher cowpea productivity, with the arrangement of 0.5 m x 0.25 m showing the best average productivity of 5241.20 kg/ha. Correlation analysis indicated a strong positive correlation (R = 0.81) between NDVI values and grain production, suggesting NDVI as an effective tool for estimating productivity, unlike the biometric factors studied in this section. The coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.66) suggested that other factors, such as environmental conditions and management practices, also influence production. The study emphasizes the importance of spacing in cowpea production, with denser spacings promoting higher productivity and plant vigor. Furthermore, the correlation of NDVI data with grain productivity proves to be a promising non-invasive tool. However, it stresses the need to consider factors beyond spacing, such as environmental conditions and management, for optimizing sustainable jack beans production. Keywords: Canavalia ensiformis L. DC., Spacings, NDVI, Correlation.