CONDIÇÕES TÉRMICA E LUMINOSA EM CONSÓRCIO DE CAPIM-BUFFEL E MORINGA EM DIFERENTES ESPAÇAMENTOS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tree spacing on the thermal conditions of buffel grass and moringa cultivated in a consortium. The experimental design was randomized block with four treatments (0.5 x 2.0 m, 0.83 x 2.0 m, 1.25 x 2.0 m and 1.66 x 2.0 m). The evaluations were done through a digital luxmeter and an infrared thermal imager, twice a day (12 and 14 h). The results indicated that tree spacing had an effect (P<0.05) on shading, temperatures and reduction in temperature. A reduction of up to 22.5% in the shading level was observed for the largest spacing in relation to the least spaced. The moringa and buffel temperatures under the canopy decreased as the spacing decreased, with reductions of up to 1.29 and 0.71 °C, respectively. The smaller spacing provided milder temperatures in both species, but increased the level of shading.