Evaluation of the potential of irrigated agricultural production of forage palm (opintia sp.) in a semi-arid region

Resumen

This work aimed to evaluate and map the potential of irrigated agricultural production for forage palm for the watershed of the region of the middle course of the Paraíba River. Using SPRING, a map of soil irrigation potential and soil retention capacity was prepared and a partial map was generated through matrix crossing. Using average annual rainfall data, the climate condition map was prepared. After using LEGAL, the agricultural production potential map was generated through the matrix crossing between the partial map and the climate scenario. A full climatic condition (C1) was identified in 68.34% of the basin's total; the full climatic condition with prolonged rainy season (C2) in 9.40%, and the climatic condition moderated by water excess (C3) in 3.92%, the climatic condition Moderate by water deficiency (C4) in 18.34%, the unfit condition due to severe water deficit (C5) did not occur in the basin. The potential of irrigated agricultural production for the culture of forage cactus did not present Very High (MA) and High (A) potential, the Medium (M) potential at 10.54%, Low (B) at 9.45%, and the Very Low potential (MB) in 80.01% of the basin.