FLORISTIC DIVERSITY AND HALOFORAGE POTENTIAL OF HERBACEOUS-SHRUBBY SPECIES RECORDED IN ANTHROPIZED AREAS OF THE FORQUILHA-CE IRRIGATED PERIMETER

Caatinga vegetation is an important food source for livestock in the Brazilian Semi-Arid region, and some species show promise as alternative forage options for animal feeding. However, soil salinization in this region has emerged as a problem, compromising agriculture and biodiversity in this biome, leading to economic and environmental impacts. This study aimed to analyze plant communities in anthropized areas of the irrigated perimeter of Forquilha-CE, identifying forage species tolerant to soil salinity. Four collections were conducted in an area of Lot 77 in Sector III of the irrigated perimeter, at four different times between 2021 and 2023 (dry seasons of 2021 and 2022 and rainy seasons of 2022 and 2023), consisting of plant identification and soil sampling. It was recorded a total of 95 species distributed across 30 families, with Malvaceae being the most representative. Eighteen species were identified as halophytic or halotolerant, among which Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn., Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd., Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K.Simon & S.W.L. Jacobs, Distimake aegyptius (L.) A.R. Simões & Staples, Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand., and Lantana camara L. show promise for research in halophytic forage cultivation programs. Thus, it was possible to record species tolerant to soil salinity with potential use in ruminant feeding.