RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficiência agronômica de combinações de cenoura e rúcula em diferentes densidades populacionais em bicultivo nas condições semiáridas do Nordeste brasileiro. O estudo foi realizado na Fazenda Experimental "Rafael Fernandes" da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), durante o período de setembro de 2011 a fevereiro de 2012. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, com os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial 4 x 4 com quatro repetições. As combinações foram quatro densidades populacionais de cenoura (40, 60, 80 e 100% da população recomendada em cultivo solteiro - PRCS) com quatro densidades populacionais de rúcula (40, 60, 80 e 100% da PRCS). As densidades populacionais recomendadas para os cultivos solteiros de cenoura e rúcula são 500.000 e 1.000.000 de plantas por hectare, respectivamente. Todos os tratamentos foram adubados com jitirana (Merremia aegyptia L.), uma espécie espontânea do bioma Caatinga. A maior eficiência agronômica da cenoura consorciada com a rúcula em bicultivo foi alcançada na combinação populacional de 40% da PRCS da cenoura e 100% da PRCS de rúcula. A produção comercial máxima (33,74 t ha-1) de raízes de cenoura e os rendimentos máximos de massa verde (8,06 e 2,67 t ha-1) de rúcula nos dois cultivos foram obtidos também na combinação de densidades populacionais de 40% da PRCS de cenoura e 100% da PRCS de rúcula. | ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of intercropping combinations of carrot and arugula at different population densities in bicropping in the semi-arid conditions of the Brazilian Northeast. The study was conducted at the "Rafael Fernandes" Experimental Farm of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) during the period September 2011 to February 2012. The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks with treatments arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme with four replications. The combinations were four population densities of carrot (40, 60, 80 and 100% of the recommended population in sole crop - RPSC) with four population densities of arugula (40, 60, 80 and 100% of the RPSC). The recommended population densities for sole crops of carrot and arugula are 500,000 and 1,000,000 plants per hectare, respectively. All treatments were fertilized with hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia L.), a spontaneous species of the Caatinga biome. The highest agronomic efficiency of carrot intercropped with arugula in bicropping was achieved in the combination of 40% of RPSC for the carrot and 100% of RPSC for the arugula. The commercial maximum yield (33.74 t ha-1) of carrot roots and the maximum yields of arugula green mass (8.06 and 2.67 t ha-1) in both cultivations were also obtained in the combination of population densities of 40% of RPSC for carrot and 100% of RPSC for arugula.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic efficiency of intercropping combinations of carrot and arugula at different population densities in bicropping in the semi - arid conditions of the Brazilian Northeast. The study was conducted at the "Rafael Fernandes" Experimental Farm of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi - Árido (UFERSA) during the period September 2011 to February 2012. The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks with treatments arranged in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme with four replications. The combinations were four population densities of carrot (40, 60, 80 and 100% of the recommended population in sole crop – RPSC) with four population densities of arugula (40, 60, 80 and 100% of the RPSC). The recommended population densities for sole crops of carrot and arugula are 500,000 and 1,000,000 plants per hectare, respectively. All treatments were fertilized with hairy woodrose ( Merremia aegyptia L.), a spontaneous species of the Caatinga biome. The highest agronomic efficiency of carrot intercropped with arugula in bicropping was achieved in the combination of 40% of RPSC for the carrot and 100% of RPSC for the arugula. The commercial maximum yield (33.74 t ha - 1 ) of carrot roots and the maximum yields of arugula green mass (8.06 and 2.67 t ha - 1 ) in both cultivations were also obtained in the combination of population densities of 40% of RPSC for carrot and 100% of RPSC for arugula.