Avaliação e seleção de cultivares promissores de feijão-caupi em ensaios de valor de cultivo e uso na região de Uruçuí - PI

Abstract

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is emerging as a strategic alternative to diversify agricultural production in the municipality of Uruçuí, Piauí, showing high potential to increase regional economic profitability and contribute significantly to promoting food security. The selection of cultivars adapted to regional soil and climate conditions can increase productivity, meeting the demand for food. This study evaluated the agronomic performance of different cowpea cultivars in value of cultivation and use (VCU) trials carried out at the IFPI Experimental Farm - Uruçuí campus, under rainfed conditions. A randomized block design with 10 treatments and four replicates was used, covering the cultivars BRS Pajeú, BRS Olhonegro, BRS Bené, BRS Imponente, BRS Verdejante, BRS Guirá, BRS Inhuma, BRS Utinga, BRS Exuberante and BRS Natalina. Characteristics such as number of days to flowering, cultivation value, length and weight of pods, number and weight of grains, weight of 100 grains and productivity were evaluated. The results revealed significant variability among cultivars, with emphasis on BRS Utinga and BRS Verdejante, which exceeded the state and national average in productivity, reaching values above 800 kg ha⁻¹. The analyses also indicated good adaptation of most cultivars to local soil and climate conditions, except for BRS Exuberante, which presented inferior performance. It is concluded that the test was effective in recommending promising cultivars, promoting advances in sustainable production and in the selection of genetic materials adapted to the region