Resumen

DE MELO, Celine  y  CHESCHINI, Juliana. Damage caused by birds in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) crops in Central Brazil. Bioagro [online]. 2012, vol.24, n.1, pp.33-38. ISSN 1316-3361.

The impact of birds on crops, especially grains, is a worldwide problem. The objective was to evaluate the richness, composition and impact of birds on sorghum in the region of Cerrado, Brazil, and to observe the type of surrounding matrix that can reduce the predation rates. We analyzed two sorghum plots (4 ha each) with similar surroundings: arboreal environment (forest or windbreak), pasture, nearby road, and adjacent crops (corn or sorghum). Visiting avifauna was surveyed at eight points by plot, one at each transition between cultivar and matrix. Both morning and afternoon observations were made during the period of grain maturation, totaling 65 hours. Nineteen species of birds visited the crops, predominantly granivores and frugivores. The species Volatina jacarina, Patagioenas picazuro, Aratinga leucophthalma and Columbina talpacoti were the most frequent visitors (76.7 % of the visits). The most abundant species were A. leucophthalma and P. picazuro. The cluster predation rate was 32.6 %, being higher in the pasture/crop transition (53.7 %) and lower in the arboreal environment/crop transition (19.2 %). It is recommended the use of forest matrix around sorghum crops and, whenever possible, harvest during the fifth week after the beginning of cluster production. Adherence to the suggested management measures would reduce visits by crop-consuming birds and avoid the use of nutritionally inferior cultivars.

Palabras clave : Pest birds; bird predation; agricultural management; Cerrado.