Impactos do uso de herbicidas no cultivo do cártamo e o potencial da cultura para agricultura familiar do Nordeste

Abstract

Safflower, Carthamus tinctorius L., is an oilseed species from the Asteraceae family that is cultivated all over the world, has many uses in the industrial sector and is adapted to semi-arid conditions due to its tolerance to low rainfall and high temperatures. It is currently considered a plant with great potential for biodiesel production due to the high oil content in its seeds, with around 72% linoleic fatty acid in its composition. The species in question has not yet managed to develop attributes favorable to its survival when exposed to situations of competition with other species, such as weeds, the most limiting factor, which can lead to yield losses of up to 88%. The chemical control method has proved effective in oilseed crops in Brazil, and is made possible through the use of herbicides, although safflower crops do not have any herbicides registered in Brazil. As a result, there is a need to expand studies into the performance of this control method, highlighting its effects on the crop. One of the aims of this study was to evaluate the effects caused by the pre-emergence use of 10 herbicides, widely used in Brazil, in a field experiment in the semi-arid northeast of Brazil. The use of Atrazine compared to the use of Trifluralin and Oxadiazon showed statistically significant results when compared to each other, causing a reduction in the number of leaves of the individuals, but there were no significant changes when compared to the control group. The social aspect of this project is aimed at introducing safflower to family farming, as it is a crop of great economic importance in various industrial sectors, as well as being a promising species in the production of biodiesel in Brazil, making it possible to generate employment and income for various farmers. The cultivation of safflower in semi-arid areas could contribute to the demand for vegetable oil in Brazil, and with this, the importance of investing in local farmers is clear. After applying a semi-structured questionnaire to family farmers in the Apodi/RN region, it was possible to identify positive results regarding the level of acceptance of the species as a new source of local income, with a 90% approval rate for the introduction of the species.